घूँघट (ghoonghat)

noun A veil or the act of veiling the face -- specifically the fold of a woman's saree or dupatta pulled forward over the face. One core sense, with a common extended use for the practice/custom of veiling itself.

Sense 1 : the veil/face-covering itself

noun, masculine

Synonyms: पर्दा (pardaa, broader term, also covers seclusion generally), नकाब (nakaab, associated with Muslim face-covering rather than saree veiling)

Frequency: medium

Cultural Note: घूँघट (ghoonghat) is deeply tied to North Indian rural and traditional family life: a new bride (बहू, bahoo) is traditionally expected to keep her घूँघट (ghoonghat) down in front of elders or in-laws as a sign of modesty and respect, especially in villages of Haryana, Rajasthan, and western UP. In Delhi-NCR itself the practice is largely faded in daily life but remains a strong symbol in songs, soap operas, and conversations about tradition versus modernity.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes reach for पर्दा (pardaa) as a direct substitute, but पर्दा (pardaa) is broader (curtain, seclusion, or veiling in general), while घूँघट (ghoonghat) specifically names the cloth drawn over the face, usually the end of a saree or dupatta. 2) The common verb pairing is घूँघट करना (ghoonghat karnaa) or घूँघट लेना (ghoonghat lenaa) 'to veil oneself' and घूँघट उठाना (ghoonghat uthaanaa) or घूँघट हटाना (ghoonghat hataanaa) 'to lift/remove the veil' -- learners sometimes try to pair it with the wrong verb.

Sample Sentences:

उसने अपने घूँघट को थोड़ा और नीचे खींच लिया। She pulled her veil down a little further.

(usne apne ghoonghat ko thodaa aur niiche khiinch liyaa।)

दुल्हन का घूँघट लाल रंग के कपड़े का बना था। The bride's veil was made of red cloth.

(dulhan kaa ghoonghat laal rang ke kapde kaa banaa thaa।)

हवा चलते ही उसका घूँघट उड़ने लगा। As soon as the wind blew, her veil started to fly up.

(havaa chalte hii uskaa ghoonghat udne lagaa।)

घूँघट उठाओ, ज़रा मुझे तुम्हारा चेहरा तो देखने दो। Lift your veil, just let me see your face.

(ghoonghat uthaao, zaraa mujhe tumhaaraa chehraa to dekhne do।)

घूँघट इतना लंबा था कि उसके पैर तक ढक जाते थे। The veil was so long that it used to cover her feet as well.

(ghoonghat itnaa lambaa thaa ki uske pair tak dhak jaate the।)

अगर घूँघट थोड़ा छोटा होता तो उसे चलने में इतनी दिक्कत न होती। If the veil had been a little shorter, she wouldn't have had so much trouble walking.

(agar ghoonghat thodaa chhotaa hotaa to use chalne men itnii dikkat n hotii।)

गाँव की औरतें अक्सर सुनहरी कढ़ाई वाला घूँघट पहनती हैं। Village women often wear a veil with golden embroidery.

(gaanv kii aurten aksar sunahrii kadhaaii vaalaa ghoonghat pahantii hain।)

फ़िल्म के गाने में नायिका का घूँघट हवा में लहरा रहा था। In the film's song, the heroine's veil was fluttering in the wind.

(film ke gaane men naayikaa kaa ghoonghat havaa men lahraa rahaa thaa।)

क्या तुम अपना घूँघट थोड़ी देर के लिए हटा सकती हो? Can you remove your veil for a little while?

(kyaa tum apnaa ghoonghat thodii der ke lie hataa saktii ho?)

शायद उसने जानबूझकर अपना घूँघट थोड़ा हल्का रखा हो। Perhaps she deliberately kept her veil a bit thin.

(shaayad usne jaanboojhkar apnaa ghoonghat thodaa halkaa rakhaa ho।)

Sense 2 : the custom/practice of veiling

noun, masculine

Synonyms: पर्दा प्रथा (pardaa prathaa, more formal, names the custom explicitly)

Frequency: low

Cultural Note: Used abstractly, as in घूँघट की प्रथा (ghoonghat kii prathaa, 'the custom of veiling'), this sense comes up whenever people discuss changing gender roles or rural versus urban attitudes -- a topic Delhi families with village roots often debate at weddings and family gatherings.

Sample Sentences:

आज भी कुछ गाँवों में घूँघट की प्रथा चलती है। Even today, the custom of veiling continues in some villages.

(aaj bhii kuchh gaanvon men ghoonghat kii prathaa chaltii hai।)

मेरी दादी कहती हैं कि पहले घूँघट का रिवाज़ बहुत सख्त था। My grandmother says that earlier the custom of veiling was very strict.

(merii daadii kahtii hain ki pahle ghoonghat kaa rivaaz bahut sakht thaa।)

शादी में मामा जी ने घूँघट की परंपरा पर लंबी बहस शुरू कर दी। At the wedding, uncle started a long debate about the tradition of veiling.

(shaadii men maamaa jii ne ghoonghat kii parampraa par lambii bahas shuroo kar dii।)

शहरों में घूँघट की प्रथा धीरे-धीरे खत्म हो रही है। In cities, the custom of veiling is gradually dying out.

(shahron men ghoonghat kii prathaa dhiire-dhiire khatm ho rahii hai।)

क्या घूँघट की प्रथा को महिलाओं की आज़ादी के खिलाफ माना जाना चाहिए? Should the custom of veiling be considered against women's freedom?

(kyaa ghoonghat kii prathaa ko mahilaaon kii aazaadii ke khilaaph maanaa jaanaa chaahie?)

अगर यह रिवाज़ इतना पुराना न होता, तो घूँघट की प्रथा इतनी बहस का विषय न बनती। If this custom were not so old, the practice of veiling would not have become such a topic of debate.

(agar yah rivaaz itnaa puraanaa n hotaa, to ghoonghat kii prathaa itnii bahas kaa vishay n bantii।)

समाज सुधारकों ने घूँघट की प्रथा के खिलाफ आवाज़ उठाई थी। Social reformers had raised their voices against the custom of veiling.

(samaaj sudhaarkon ne ghoonghat kii prathaa ke khilaaph aavaaz uthaaii thii।)

गाँव और शहर के बीच घूँघट की प्रथा को लेकर सोच में बड़ा फ़र्क़ है। There is a big difference in thinking between village and city regarding the custom of veiling.

(gaanv aur shahar ke biich ghoonghat kii prathaa ko lekar soch men badaa farq hai।)

Morphology

Noun

(sg.m.direct): घूँघट (ghoonghat)

(sg.m.oblique): घूँघट (ghoonghat)

(pl.m.direct): घूँघट (ghoonghat)

(pl.m.oblique): घूँघटों (ghoonghton)