गुठली (guthlii)

noun A simple noun with one core meaning: the hard seed/stone found inside fruits like mangoes, plums, and lychees; a figurative extension covers small hard lumps or knots that feel similar.

Sense 1 : the stone/pit of a fruit

noun, feminine

Synonyms: बीज (biij, seed in general, not just the hard stone)

Frequency: medium

Cultural Note: Ask any Delhi kid about mango season and they will talk about sucking the आम की गुठली (aam kii guthlii, 'the mango's pit') clean after the fruit is gone -- it is practically a rite of summer. Grandmothers also sometimes save dried गुठली (guthlii) from tamarind or other fruits for small household uses, like folk remedies or games.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes reach for बीज (biij) for any fruit seed, but गुठली (guthlii) is specifically the hard, woody stone found in fruits like mango (आम, aam), lychee (लीची, liichii), or plum (आलूबुखारा, aaloobukhaaraa) -- बीज (biij) fits better for small soft seeds like those in tomatoes or watermelon.

Sample Sentences:

आम की गुठली मत निगलना। Don't swallow the mango pit.

(aam kii guthlii mat nigalnaa।)

गर्मियों में हम आम खाकर उसकी गुठली चूसते थे। In summer, after eating the mango, we used to suck on its pit.

(garmiyon men ham aam khaakar uskii guthlii chooste the।)

दादी ने इमली की गुठलियाँ सुखाकर एक डिब्बे में रख दी हैं। Grandma dried the tamarind seeds and put them in a box.

(daadii ne imlii kii guthliyaan sukhaakar ek dibbe men rakh dii hain।)

इस आम की गुठली बहुत बड़ी है, गूदा कम है। This mango's pit is very big; there's little pulp.

(is aam kii guthlii bahut badii hai, goodaa kam hai।)

क्या तुम गुठली से भी कोई खेल खेलते हो? Do you also play some game with the seed/pit?

(kyaa tum guthlii se bhii koii khel khelte ho?)

गुठली को ज़मीन में गाड़ दो, शायद पौधा निकल आए। Bury the seed in the ground; maybe a plant will sprout.

(guthlii ko zamiin men gaad do, shaayad paudhaa nikal aae।)

अगर तुम गुठली निकाल देते तो अचार बनाना आसान होता। If you had removed the pit, making the pickle would have been easier.

(agar tum guthlii nikaal dete to achaar banaanaa aasaan hotaa।)

आम की गुठली आमतौर पर फेंक दी जाती है, पर कुछ लोग इसे सुखाकर रखते हैं। The mango pit is usually thrown away, but some people dry it and keep it.

(aam kii guthlii aamtaur par phenk dii jaatii hai, par kuchh log ise sukhaakar rakhte hain।)

बच्चे भर आम खा जाते हैं और फिर गुठली से खेलते रहते हैं। The kids finish off the mango and then keep playing with the pit.

(bachche bhar aam khaa jaate hain aur phir guthlii se khelte rahte hain।)

इस फल की गुठली इतनी सख़्त है कि चाकू से भी नहीं कटती। This fruit's stone is so hard that it doesn't even cut with a knife.

(is phal kii guthlii itnii sakht hai ki chaakoo se bhii nahiin kattii।)

Sense 2 : a small hard lump or knot (figurative)

noun, feminine

Synonyms: गाँठ (gaanth, knot, used for lumps in cloth or rope rather than flesh)

Frequency: low

Cultural Note: Sometimes used loosely for a small hard lump under the skin or in food (like an undissolved lump in dough), by comparison to a fruit stone -- the image of something small, hard, and central carries over naturally.

Sample Sentences:

आटे में एक गुठली रह गई थी। A hard lump had remained in the dough.

(aate men ek guthlii rah gaii thii।)

उसकी गर्दन के पास एक छोटी सी गुठली उभर आई है। A small hard lump has come up near his neck.

(uskii gardan ke paas ek chhotii sii guthlii ubhar aaii hai।)

हलवे को अच्छी तरह चलाओ, वरना उसमें गुठलियाँ पड़ जाएँगी। Stir the halwa properly, or else lumps will form in it.

(halve ko achchhii tarah chalaao, varnaa usmen guthliyaan pad jaaengii।)

डॉक्टर ने जांच करके बताया कि त्वचा के नीचे एक गुठली जैसी चीज़ है। The doctor examined it and said there is something like a small hard lump under the skin.

(doktar ne jaanch karke bataayaa ki tvachaa ke niiche ek guthlii jaisii chiiz hai।)

अगर तुम आटा ठीक से न गूँधो तो उसमें गुठलियाँ पड़ जाती हैं। If you don't knead the dough properly, lumps form in it.

(agar tum aataa thiik se n goondho to usmen guthliyaan pad jaatii hain।)

अच्छा होता अगर उसने वक़्त पर उस गुठली की जांच करा ली होती। It would have been good if he had gotten that lump checked in time.

(achchhaa hotaa agar usne vaqt par us guthlii kii jaanch karaa lii hotii।)

शायद यह गुठली सिर्फ चर्बी की गांठ हो। Perhaps this lump is just a knot of fat.

(shaayad yah guthlii sirph charbii kii gaanth ho।)

मिठाई में इतनी गुठलियाँ पड़ी थीं कि खाने का मन ही नहीं हुआ। There were so many lumps in the sweet that I didn't even feel like eating it.

(mithaaii men itnii guthliyaan padii thiin ki khaane kaa man hii nahiin huaa।)

उस गांठ को गुठली समझकर वह ज़्यादा परेशान नहीं हुआ। Mistaking that knot for a mere small lump, he did not get too worried.

(us gaanth ko guthlii samajhkar vah zyaadaa pareshaan nahiin huaa।)

Morphology

Noun

(sg.f.direct): गुठली (guthlii)

(sg.f.oblique): गुठली (guthlii)

(pl.f.direct): गुठलियाँ (guthliyaan)

(pl.f.oblique): गुठलियों (guthliyon)