शिष्य (shishy)
noun
A student or disciple, especially one formally learning under a guru or master; carries a respectful, traditional flavor rather than the casual sense of 'student in a classroom.'
Sense
1
:
disciple, pupil (of a guru or master)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: छात्र (chhaatr, classroom student), विद्यार्थी (vidyaarthii, classroom student), चेला (chelaa, colloquial, often for a guru's devoted follower)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This word carries the weight of the guru-shishya (guru-shishy) tradition -- the old Indian model of learning where a student lives with, serves, and absorbs wisdom from a master over years, not just attends classes. You'll hear it used for disciples of classical musicians, yoga teachers, spiritual gurus, or even someone who considers themselves the intellectual heir of a famous thinker.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for शिष्य (shishy) to mean any 'student,' but it's mainly used for someone learning under a specific guru, teacher, or master in a mentorship relationship (music, martial arts, spirituality, classical arts) -- for a school or college student, छात्र (chhaatr) or विद्यार्थी (vidyaarthii) is the natural choice. 2) The feminine form शिष्या (shishyaa) is used for a female disciple; don't default to शिष्य (shishy) for women in careful speech.
Sample Sentences:
वह अपने गुरु का सबसे प्रिय शिष्य है।
He is his guru's most beloved disciple.
(vah apne guru kaa sabse priy shishy hai।)
गुरु-शिष्य परंपरा में शिष्य कई साल तक गुरु के साथ रहकर सीखता था।
In the guru-shishya tradition, the disciple used to live with the guru for years and learn.
(guru-shishy parampraa men shishy kaii saal tak guru ke saath rahkar siikhtaa thaa।)
पंडित जी के शिष्य आज भी उनकी शैली में गाते हैं।
Pandit ji's disciples still sing in his style even today.
(pandit jii ke shishy aaj bhii unkii shailii men gaate hain।)
उस्ताद ने अपने सबसे होनहार शिष्य को अपनी विरासत सौंप दी।
The maestro handed over his legacy to his most promising disciple.
(ustaad ne apne sabse honahaar shishy ko apnii viraasat saump dii।)
काश मैं भी उस स्वामी जी का शिष्य होता।
I wish I too were a disciple of that swami ji.
(kaash main bhii us svaamii jii kaa shishy hotaa।)
अगर तुम सच में सीखना चाहते हो, तो पहले एक अच्छे गुरु के शिष्य बन जाओ।
If you really want to learn, then first become the disciple of a good guru.
(agar tum sach men siikhnaa chaahte ho, to pahle ek achchhe guru ke shishy ban jaao।)
वे खुद को गांधी जी का वैचारिक शिष्य मानते हैं।
He considers himself Gandhi ji's intellectual disciple.
(ve khud ko gaandhii jii kaa vaichaarik shishy maante hain।)
शायद यह शिष्य ही आगे चलकर आश्रम की बागडोर संभाले।
Perhaps this disciple is the one who will eventually take charge of the ashram.
(shaayad yah shishy hii aage chalkar aashram kii baagdor sambhaale।)
जब गुरु जी बीमार पड़े, तो उनकी सेवा उनके शिष्यों द्वारा ही की गई।
When guru ji fell ill, he was cared for by none other than his own disciples.
(jab guru jii biimaar pade, to unkii sevaa unke shishyon dvaaraa hii kii gaii।)
यार, वो तो अपने ताऊ जी को गुरु मानकर उनका शिष्य बन गया है।
Dude, he's basically become his uncle's disciple, treating him like a guru.
(yaar, vo to apne taaoo jii ko guru maankar unkaa shishy ban gayaa hai।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
शिष्य
(shishy)
(sg.m.oblique):
शिष्य
(shishy)
(pl.m.direct):
शिष्य
(shishy)
(pl.m.oblique):
शिष्यों
(shishyon)