चेतावनी (chetaavnii)

noun A single-sense noun meaning 'warning' -- used for formal cautions, official notices, and everyday cautionary remarks alike.
Sense 1 : warning, caution
noun, feminine
Synonyms: चेताना (chetaanaa, the related verb 'to warn', not a noun synonym), हिदायत (hidaayat, instruction/caution), आगाह (aagaah, often used with करना as 'to alert')
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You will see this word everywhere from a mother's stern चेतावनी (chetaavnii) to a misbehaving child, to official signs like अंतिम चेतावनी (antim chetaavnii, 'final warning') on government notices or workplace memos. It carries a slightly formal, serious weight -- closer to 'warning/notice' than a casual heads-up.
Common Mistakes: 1) चेतावनी (chetaavnii) pairs with देना (denaa, to give) or मिलना (milnaa, to receive) rather than verbs like कहना (kahnaa); learners sometimes try to 'say' a warning instead of 'giving' one. 2) The verb चेताना (chetaanaa, to warn) looks related but is a separate lemma -- do not use चेतावनी (chetaavnii) as if it were a verb.
Sample Sentences:
पुलिस ने भीड़ को चेतावनी दी। The police gave a warning to the crowd.
(pulis ne bhiid ko chetaavnii dii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
यह तुम्हारे लिए आखिरी चेतावनी है, अगली बार माफी नहीं मिलेगी। This is your final warning -- there will be no forgiveness next time.
(yah tumhaare lie aakhirii chetaavnii hai, aglii baar maaphii nahiin milegii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
मौसम विभाग ने भारी बारिश की चेतावनी जारी की है। The weather department has issued a warning of heavy rain.
(mausam vibhaag ne bhaarii baarish kii chetaavnii jaarii kii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
माँ ने उसे बार-बार चेतावनी दी, फिर भी वह नहीं माना। Mom warned him again and again, but he still didn't listen.
(maan ne use baar-baar chetaavnii dii, phir bhii vah nahiin maanaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अगर तुमने फिर से यह गलती की, तो यह मेरी आखिरी चेतावनी होगी। If you make this mistake again, this will be my final warning.
(agar tumne phir se yah galtii kii, to yah merii aakhirii chetaavnii hogii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
कर्मचारियों को दफ्तर की तरफ से एक चेतावनी भेजी गई। A warning was sent to the employees from the office.
(karmchaariyon ko daphtar kii taraph se ek chetaavnii bhejii gaii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
काश तुमने उसकी चेतावनी को गंभीरता से लिया होता, तो यह हादसा न होता। If only you had taken his warning seriously, this accident wouldn't have happened.
(kaash tumne uskii chetaavnii ko gambhiirtaa se liyaa hotaa, to yah haadsaa n hotaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Perfective -- Voice: Active
ध्यान दो, यह कोई साधारण सुझाव नहीं, बल्कि सीधी चेतावनी है। Pay attention, this is not some casual suggestion but a direct warning.
(dhyaan do, yah koii saadhaaran sujhaav nahiin, balki siidhii chetaavnii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
शायद उसे कोई चेतावनी मिली हो, इसीलिए वह इतना डरा हुआ लग रहा है। Maybe he received some warning, that's why he looks so scared.
(shaayad use koii chetaavnii milii ho, isiilie vah itnaa daraa huaa lag rahaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
दीवार पर लिखी चेतावनी हर आने-जाने वाले को साफ दिखती है। The warning written on the wall is clearly visible to everyone passing by.
(diivaar par likhii chetaavnii har aane-jaane vaale ko saaph dikhtii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
सरकार समय-समय पर नागरिकों को सुरक्षा संबंधी चेतावनियाँ देती रहती है। The government keeps issuing safety-related warnings to citizens from time to time.
(sarkaar samay-samay par naagrikon ko surakshaa sambandhii chetaavniyaan detii rahtii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): चेतावनी (chetaavnii)
(sg.f.oblique): चेतावनी (chetaavnii)
(pl.f.direct): चेतावनियाँ (chetaavniyaan)
(pl.f.oblique): चेतावनियों (chetaavniyon)