सरदारनी (sardaarnii)

noun Refers to a Sikh woman, especially a married Sikh woman -- the feminine counterpart of सरदार (sardaar).
Sense 1 : a Sikh woman (often married)
noun, feminine
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: In Delhi you will hear सरदारनी (sardaarnii) used respectfully by shopkeepers, neighbors, or in everyday conversation to refer to a Sikh woman, much as सरदार (sardaar) is used for a Sikh man. It carries a sense of communal identity and is generally used with warmth, especially in North Indian cities with large Sikh populations like Delhi.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes use सरदारनी (sardaarnii) as a generic term for any Punjabi woman -- it specifically implies she is Sikh, not merely Punjabi. 2) It is a respectful, ordinary term of address/reference, not a nickname or joke, though tone and context can make it teasing in casual banter.
Sample Sentences:
वो सामने वाली सरदारनी बहुत मीठा बोलती हैं। That Sikh lady across the way speaks very sweetly.
(vo saamne vaalii sardaarnii bahut miithaa boltii hain।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
हमारी कॉलोनी में एक सरदारनी रहती हैं जो सबको लंगर खिलाती हैं। There's a Sikh lady living in our colony who feeds everyone langar.
(hamaarii kolonii men ek sardaarnii rahtii hain jo sabko langar khilaatii hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
दुकान पर एक सरदारनी खड़ी थीं और कपड़े देख रही थीं। A Sikh lady was standing at the shop, looking at clothes.
(dukaan par ek sardaarnii khadii thiin aur kapde dekh rahii thiin।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
क्या आपने उस सरदारनी को कल गुरुद्वारे में देखा था? Did you see that Sikh lady at the gurudwara yesterday?
(kyaa aapne us sardaarnii ko kal gurudvaare men dekhaa thaa?)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
सरदारनी जी, ज़रा ये पगड़ी वाला बच्चा कहाँ है, बता दीजिए। Madam, could you please tell me where that child with the turban is?
(sardaarnii jii, zaraa ye pagdii vaalaa bachchaa kahaan hai, bataa diijie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
अगर वो सरदारनी थोड़ी जल्दी आतीं तो हमें इंतज़ार नहीं करना पड़ता। If that Sikh lady had come a little earlier, we wouldn't have had to wait.
(agar vo sardaarnii thodii jaldii aatiin to hamen intzaar nahiin karnaa padtaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
शायद वो सरदारनी हमारी नई पड़ोसन हों। Maybe that Sikh lady is our new neighbor.
(shaayad vo sardaarnii hamaarii naii padosan hon।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
मेला में एक सरदारनी को पारंपरिक सलवार-कमीज़ में देखकर सब मुग्ध हो गए। Everyone was captivated seeing a Sikh lady in a traditional salwar-kameez at the fair.
(melaa men ek sardaarnii ko paaramprik salvaar-kamiiz men dekhkar sab mugdh ho gae।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
उस सरदारनी की मेहनत की वजह से पूरे मोहल्ले में उनकी इज़्ज़त की जाती है। Because of that Sikh lady's hard work, she is respected throughout the neighborhood.
(us sardaarnii kii mehnat kii vajah se poore mohalle men unkii izzat kii jaatii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): सरदारनी (sardaarnii)
(sg.f.oblique): सरदारनी (sardaarnii)
(pl.f.direct): सरदारनियाँ (sardaarniyaan)
(pl.f.oblique): सरदारनियों (sardaarniyon)