गंगा (gangaa)
noun
The river Ganga -- primarily a proper noun naming India's most sacred river, with a well-known secondary use as a common feminine given name.
Sense
1
:
the Ganges river
noun, feminine
Synonyms: गंगा मैया (gangaa maiyaa, devotional, 'Mother Ganga'), गंगा जी (gangaa jii, respectful address form)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: For most Hindus, गंगा (gangaa) is not just a river but a goddess and mother figure -- you'll hear people say गंगा मैया की जय (gangaa maiyaa kii jay, 'victory to Mother Ganga') at ghats in Varanasi or Haridwar. Bringing home a bottle of गंगा जल (gangaa jal, 'Ganga water') for rituals is common practice in many North Indian households, so the word carries a devotional weight well beyond simple geography.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often translate this simply as "the Ganges," missing that in everyday Hindi speech गंगा (gangaa) is rarely referred to as a mere geographic feature -- it is almost always spoken of with a respectful or affectionate tone, often with जी (jii) or मैया (maiyaa) attached. 2) As a proper noun naming a specific river, it does not take a determiner the way common nouns do -- you say गंगा में (gangaa men, 'in the Ganga'), not एक गंगा में (ek gangaa men).
Sample Sentences:
गंगा भारत की सबसे पवित्र नदी मानी जाती है।
The Ganga is considered the holiest river in India.
(gangaa bhaarat kii sabse pavitr nadii maanii jaatii hai।)
हम हरिद्वार में गंगा में स्नान करने गए थे।
We had gone to bathe in the Ganga at Haridwar.
(ham haridvaar men gangaa men snaan karne gae the।)
गंगा मैया की जय!
Victory to Mother Ganga!
(gangaa maiyaa kii jay!)
दादी जी पूजा के लिए हमेशा गंगा जल अपने साथ रखती हैं।
Grandmother always keeps Ganga water with her for worship.
(daadii jii poojaa ke lie hameshaa gangaa jal apne saath rakhtii hain।)
काश गंगा इतनी प्रदूषित न होती।
If only the Ganga weren't so polluted.
(kaash gangaa itnii pradooshit n hotii।)
अगर गंगा साफ होती तो लोग बिना डर के उसमें तैर सकते।
If the Ganga were clean, people could swim in it without fear.
(agar gangaa saaph hotii to log binaa dar ke usmen tair sakte।)
सरकार गंगा को साफ करने के लिए कई योजनाएँ चला रही है।
The government is running several schemes to clean the Ganga.
(sarkaar gangaa ko saaph karne ke lie kaii yojnaaen chalaa rahii hai।)
वाराणसी के घाटों पर बैठकर गंगा को देखना एक अद्भुत अनुभव है।
Sitting on the ghats of Varanasi and watching the Ganga is an amazing experience.
(vaaraansii ke ghaaton par baithkar gangaa ko dekhnaa ek adbhut anubhav hai।)
गंगा हिमालय से निकलकर बंगाल की खाड़ी में जाकर मिलती है।
The Ganga originates from the Himalayas and merges into the Bay of Bengal.
(gangaa himaalay se nikalkar bangaal kii khaadii men jaakar miltii hai।)
कृपया गंगा में कचरा मत फेंकिए।
Please do not throw garbage into the Ganga.
(kripyaa gangaa men kachraa mat phenkie।)
प्राचीन काल में राजा भगीरथ ने अपनी तपस्या से गंगा को धरती पर उतारा था।
In ancient times, King Bhagirath brought the Ganga down to earth through his penance.
(praachiin kaal men raajaa bhagiirath ne apnii tapasyaa se gangaa ko dhartii par utaaraa thaa।)
Sense
2
:
female given name
noun, feminine
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: गंगा (gangaa) is also a common first name for women across North India, directly borrowed from the river's sacred status -- naming a daughter गंगा (gangaa) is a way of invoking purity and blessing, much like naming a child Grace or Faith in English.
Sample Sentences:
गंगा आज स्कूल नहीं गई।
Ganga did not go to school today.
(gangaa aaj skool nahiin gaii।)
गंगा रोज़ सुबह मंदिर जाती है।
Ganga goes to the temple every morning.
(gangaa roz subah mandir jaatii hai।)
गंगा, ज़रा यहाँ आओ।
Ganga, come here for a second.
(gangaa, zaraa yahaan aao।)
गंगा अगले महीने अपने भाई की शादी में जाएगी।
Ganga will go to her brother's wedding next month.
(gangaa agle mahiine apne bhaaii kii shaadii men jaaegii।)
अगर गंगा यहाँ होती, तो वह ज़रूर मदद करती।
If Ganga were here, she would definitely help.
(agar gangaa yahaan hotii, to vah zaroor madad kartii।)
हमारी बेटी का नाम हमने गंगा रखा है, ताकि उसे शुद्धता और आशीर्वाद मिले।
We have named our daughter Ganga, so that she receives purity and blessing.
(hamaarii betii kaa naam hamne gangaa rakhaa hai, taaki use shuddhtaa aur aashiirvaad mile।)
गंगा उस गाँव की सबसे बुज़ुर्ग औरत थी।
Ganga was the oldest woman in that village.
(gangaa us gaanv kii sabse buzurg aurat thii।)
क्या गंगा से मिलना संभव है?
Is it possible to meet Ganga?
(kyaa gangaa se milnaa sambhav hai?)
गंगा बरामदे में बैठी है, चाय पी रही है।
Ganga is sitting on the veranda, drinking tea.
(gangaa baraamde men baithii hai, chaay pii rahii hai।)
गंगा को उस समारोह में विशेष रूप से बुलाया गया था।
Ganga was specially invited to that ceremony.
(gangaa ko us samaaroh men vishesh roop se bulaayaa gayaa thaa।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
गंगा
(gangaa)
(sg.f.oblique):
गंगा
(gangaa)
(pl.f.direct):
गंगाएँ
(gangaaen)
(pl.f.oblique):
गंगाओं
(gangaaon)