डाकू (daakoo)

noun A single, concrete meaning: a bandit or dacoit, typically one who operates in an armed gang.
Sense 1 : bandit, dacoit, armed robber (usually part of a gang)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: लुटेरा (luteraa), डाकुओं का सरदार (daakuon kaa sardaar, gang leader, narrower), बागी (baagii, rebel/outlaw, not identical but overlaps in ravine-bandit contexts)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: डाकू (daakoo) is inseparable from the image of the Chambal ravines (चंबल के बीहड़, chambal ke biihad) in central India, historically home to famous gangs and folk-legend figures like Phoolan Devi. The word carries a slightly old-fashioned, dacoit-era flavor -- in a modern city robbery, Hindi speakers are more likely to say लुटेरा (luteraa) or चोर (chor) than डाकू (daakoo).
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes use डाकू (daakoo) for any thief, but it specifically implies violence and often a gang -- a lone pickpocket or sneak-thief is चोर (chor), not डाकू (daakoo). 2) डाकिया (daakiyaa, postman) looks and sounds similar but means the opposite kind of visitor to your door -- do not confuse the two.
Sample Sentences:
चंबल के बीहड़ों में कभी बड़े-बड़े डाकू रहते थे। Big dacoits used to live in the Chambal ravines once upon a time.
(chambal ke biihdon men kabhii bade-bade daakoo rahte the।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
डाकुओं ने गाँव पर हमला करके सारा अनाज लूट लिया। The dacoits attacked the village and looted all the grain.
(daakuon ne gaanv par hamlaa karke saaraa anaaj loot liyaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
फूलन देवी की कहानी सबसे मशहूर डाकुओं में से एक की कहानी है। Phoolan Devi's story is the story of one of the most famous dacoits.
(phoolan devii kii kahaanii sabse mashahoor daakuon men se ek kii kahaanii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
पुलिस उस डाकू को कई सालों से खोज रही है। The police have been searching for that dacoit for many years.
(pulis us daakoo ko kaii saalon se khoj rahii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर वह डाकुओं के गिरोह में शामिल होता तो अब तक पकड़ा जा चुका होता। If he had joined the dacoits' gang, he would have been caught by now.
(agar vah daakuon ke giroh men shaamil hotaa to ab tak pakdaa jaa chukaa hotaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Perfective -- Voice: Passive
डाकुओं का सरगना घोड़े पर सवार होकर आया। The leader of the dacoits came riding on a horse.
(daakuon kaa saragnaa ghode par savaar hokar aayaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
दादाजी बचपन में डाकुओं की कहानियाँ सुनाया करते थे। Grandfather used to tell stories of dacoits when I was a child.
(daadaajii bachpan men daakuon kii kahaaniyaan sunaayaa karte the।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
सरकार ने डाकुओं के आत्मसमर्पण के लिए एक योजना बनाई थी। The government had made a scheme for the surrender of dacoits.
(sarkaar ne daakuon ke aatmasmarpan ke lie ek yojnaa banaaii thii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
उस पुरानी फिल्म में एक डाकू का किरदार बहुत मशहूर हुआ था। The character of a dacoit in that old film became very famous.
(us puraanii philm men ek daakoo kaa kirdaar bahut mashahoor huaa thaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
काश वह डाकू पकड़ा जाता और गाँव को चैन मिलता। If only that dacoit had been caught and the village had found peace.
(kaash vah daakoo pakdaa jaataa aur gaanv ko chain miltaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Passive
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): डाकू (daakoo)
(sg.m.oblique): डाकू (daakoo)
(pl.m.direct): डाकू (daakoo)
(pl.m.oblique): डाकूों ([[डाकूों]])