रिक्शा (rikshaa)

noun A borrowed word for the three-wheeled (or cycle-pulled) passenger vehicle so common on Indian streets; one straightforward sense, no complications.
Sense 1 : rickshaw (cycle-rickshaw or auto-rickshaw)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: ऑटो (oto, auto-rickshaw specifically), साइकिल रिक्शा (saaikil rikshaa, cycle-rickshaw specifically)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Every neighborhood has its own rickshaw stand (rikshaa staind), and haggling over the fare before you get in (rikshe vaale se bhaav karnaa, 'to bargain with the rickshaw driver') is practically a civic ritual in Delhi-NCR -- ask the rate first, or you will pay double at the destination. The driver himself is called रिक्शे वाला (rikshe vaalaa), a form worth knowing since you will use it constantly.
Common Mistakes: 1) रिक्शा (rikshaa) alone is ambiguous between the pedaled cycle-rickshaw and the motorized auto-rickshaw; context or a specifying word (साइकिल saaikil or ऑटो oto) usually settles it. 2) You board or take a rickshaw with लेना (lenaa) or बैठना (baithnaa) -- रिक्शा लेना (rikshaa lenaa, 'to take a rickshaw') is the natural phrase, not a literal 'ride' verb.
Sample Sentences:
मुझे स्टेशन तक रिक्शा लेना है। I need to take a rickshaw to the station.
(mujhe steshan tak rikshaa lenaa hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
पहले रिक्शे वाले से भाव कर लो, वरना बाद में ज़्यादा पैसे माँगेगा। Bargain with the rickshaw driver first, or he'll ask for more money later.
(pahle rikshe vaale se bhaav kar lo, varnaa baad men zyaadaa paise maangegaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
हमारे मोहल्ले में रिक्शा स्टैंड बस गली के मोड़ पर है। The rickshaw stand in our neighborhood is right at the corner of the lane.
(hamaare mohalle men rikshaa staind bas galii ke mod par hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
कल रात बारिश में मुझे कोई रिक्शा नहीं मिला। Last night in the rain I couldn't find any rickshaw.
(kal raat baarish men mujhe koii rikshaa nahiin milaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
वह रोज़ सुबह स्कूल जाने के लिए रिक्शा लेता है। He takes a rickshaw every morning to go to school.
(vah roz subah skool jaane ke lie rikshaa letaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर उस समय रिक्शा मिल जाता तो हम ट्रेन नहीं छूटती। If a rickshaw had been available then, we wouldn't have missed the train.
(agar us samay rikshaa mil jaataa to ham tren nahiin chhoottii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Perfective -- Voice: Active
एक रिक्शा बाज़ार की तरफ़ से आ रहा है। A rickshaw is coming from the direction of the market.
(ek rikshaa baazaar kii taraf se aa rahaa hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
बाज़ार के बाहर बहुत सारे रिक्शे खड़े थे। A lot of rickshaws were standing outside the market.
(baazaar ke baahar bahut saare rikshe khade the।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
शायद अब मेट्रो स्टेशन से रिक्शा मिल जाए। Maybe a rickshaw will be available from the metro station now.
(shaayad ab metro steshan se rikshaa mil jaae।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
पुराने ज़माने में इस शहर में साइकिल-रिक्शा ही ज़्यादा चलता था। In the old days, cycle-rickshaws were what mostly ran in this city.
(puraane zamaane men is shahar men saaikil-rikshaa hii zyaadaa chaltaa thaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
मेरा रिक्शा तेज़ चलाने के कारण रास्ते में रोका गया। My rickshaw was stopped on the way for driving too fast.
(meraa rikshaa tez chalaane ke kaaran raaste men rokaa gayaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
क्या आपको इतनी रात को यहाँ रिक्शा मिलेगा? Will you even get a rickshaw here this late at night?
(kyaa aapko itnii raat ko yahaan rikshaa milegaa?)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): रिक्शा (rikshaa)
(sg.m.oblique): रिक्शे (rikshe)
(pl.m.direct): रिक्शे (rikshe)
(pl.m.oblique): रिक्शों (rikshon)