प्रतिस्पर्धा (pratispardhaa)

noun A formal, single-sense noun meaning 'competition' or 'rivalry' -- the state of two or more parties vying for the same goal.
Sense 1 : competition, rivalry
noun, feminine
Synonyms: स्पर्धा (spardhaa), प्रतियोगिता (pratiyogitaa), होड़ (hod, everyday)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This word shows up constantly in news and office-speak -- बाज़ार में प्रतिस्पर्धा (baazaar men pratispardhaa, market competition), प्रतिस्पर्धा की परीक्षा (pratispardhaa kii pariikshaa, competitive exam) -- the kind of vocabulary students prepping for government job exams (प्रतियोगी परीक्षा, pratiyogii pariikshaa) live and breathe. In daily chatter among friends, though, लोग होड़ (hod) या मुक़ाबला (muqaablaa) कहना पसंद करते हैं (log hod yaa muqaablaa kahnaa pasand karte hain, people prefer to say hoड़ or muqaabalaa) -- so keep प्रतिस्पर्धा for the newspaper register and switch to मुक़ाबला (muqaablaa) at the dinner table.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for this word in casual speech about a race or game, where होड़ (hod) or प्रतियोगिता (pratiyogitaa) sounds more natural; प्रतिस्पर्धा (pratispardhaa) leans toward formal, written, or business/economic contexts (market competition, exam competition at a societal level) rather than a one-off playground contest. 2) It takes से (se) for 'competition with someone/something' -- उससे प्रतिस्पर्धा (usse pratispardhaa, competition with him/her) -- not को (ko) or के साथ (ke saath), which learners sometimes default to.
Sample Sentences:
बाज़ार में प्रतिस्पर्धा दिन-ब-दिन बढ़ रही है। Competition in the market is increasing day by day.
(baazaar men pratispardhaa din-b-din badh rahii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
दोनों कंपनियों के बीच प्रतिस्पर्धा हमेशा तेज़ रहती है। The competition between the two companies always stays fierce.
(donon kampniyon ke biich pratispardhaa hameshaa tez rahtii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
पिछले साल इन कंपनियों में प्रतिस्पर्धा इतनी नहीं थी। Last year the competition among these companies was not this intense.
(pichhle saal in kampniyon men pratispardhaa itnii nahiin thii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अगर सरकार नई नीति लागू करे तो प्रतिस्पर्धा और बढ़ सकती है। If the government implements the new policy, competition could increase further.
(agar sarkaar naii niiti laagoo kare to pratispardhaa aur badh saktii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
अगर उस समय बाज़ार में इतनी प्रतिस्पर्धा होती तो कीमतें कम होतीं। If there had been this much competition in the market back then, prices would have been lower.
(agar us samay baazaar men itnii pratispardhaa hotii to kiimten kam hotiin।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
प्रतिस्पर्धा की परीक्षा की तैयारी में लाखों छात्र दिन-रात जुटे रहते हैं। Millions of students remain engrossed day and night in preparing for competitive exams.
(pratispardhaa kii pariikshaa kii taiyaarii men laakhon chhaatr din-raat jute rahte hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
वैश्विक स्तर पर तकनीकी क्षेत्र में प्रतिस्पर्धा को नज़रअंदाज़ नहीं किया जा सकता। Global competition in the technology sector cannot be ignored.
(vaishvik star par takniikii kshetr men pratispardhaa ko nazraandaaz nahiin kiyaa jaa saktaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
अर्थशास्त्रियों का मानना है कि स्वस्थ प्रतिस्पर्धा से उपभोक्ताओं को लाभ होता है। Economists believe that healthy competition benefits consumers.
(arthshaastriyon kaa maannaa hai ki svasth pratispardhaa se upbhoktaaon ko laabh hotaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
नई कंपनियों के आने से इस उद्योग में प्रतिस्पर्धा और तीखी हो गई है। With new companies entering, competition in this industry has become even sharper.
(naii kampniyon ke aane se is udyog men pratispardhaa aur tiikhii ho gaii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
रिपोर्ट में कहा गया है कि आने वाले वर्षों में प्रतिस्पर्धा और बढ़ेगी। The report states that competition will increase further in the coming years.
(riport men kahaa gayaa hai ki aane vaale varshon men pratispardhaa aur badhegii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Passive
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): प्रतिस्पर्धा (pratispardhaa)
(sg.f.oblique): प्रतिस्पर्धा (pratispardhaa)
(pl.f.direct): प्रतिस्पर्धाएँ (pratispardhaaen)
(pl.f.oblique): प्रतिस्पर्धाओं (pratispardhaaon)