काका (kaakaa)
noun
Kinship noun meaning 'paternal uncle' (father's younger brother) -- one core sense, with an extended use as a friendly/respectful term of address for an older man.
Sense
1
:
paternal uncle (father's younger brother)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: चाचा (chaachaa)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: In much of North India, चाचा (chaachaa) is the more common everyday word, while काका (kaakaa) has a slightly more rustic or Rajasthani/rural flavor in some families -- both are said with real warmth, since a काका (kaakaa) is often as close as a second father in a joint family setup. The wife of one's काका (kaakaa) is called काकी (kaakii), following the regular pattern of kinship-term pairs.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often use the generic 'uncle' concept and reach for मामा (maamaa), which is specifically the mother's brother, not the father's -- Hindi kinship terms are precise about which side of the family and relative age is meant. 2) काका (kaakaa) and चाचा (chaachaa) refer to the same relation (father's younger brother); the choice between them is regional/family habit, not a difference in meaning.
Sample Sentences:
मेरे काका गाँव में खेती करते हैं।
My uncle farms in the village.
(mere kaakaa gaanv men khetii karte hain।)
काका जी कल शहर आए थे।
Uncle had come to the city yesterday.
(kaakaa jii kal shahar aae the।)
मेरे काका मुझे अपने बेटे से भी ज़्यादा प्यार करते हैं।
My uncle loves me even more than his own son.
(mere kaakaa mujhe apne bete se bhii zyaadaa pyaar karte hain।)
काका इस समय खेत में काम कर रहे हैं।
Uncle is working in the field right now.
(kaakaa is samay khet men kaam kar rahe hain।)
काका, ज़रा मुझे भी साथ ले चलो।
Uncle, please take me along too.
(kaakaa, zaraa mujhe bhii saath le chalo।)
अगर काका घर पर होते, तो सब ठीक हो जाता।
If uncle had been at home, everything would have been fine.
(agar kaakaa ghar par hote, to sab thiik ho jaataa।)
काका ने पूरे परिवार को अपने कंधों पर संभाला है।
Uncle has carried the whole family on his shoulders.
(kaakaa ne poore parivaar ko apne kandhon par sambhaalaa hai।)
शायद काका इस बार होली पर गाँव आएँ।
Maybe uncle will come to the village this Holi.
(shaayad kaakaa is baar holii par gaanv aaen।)
काका द्वारा बनाई गई हवेली आज भी वैसी ही खड़ी है।
The mansion built by uncle still stands the same way today.
(kaakaa dvaaraa banaaii gaii havelii aaj bhii vaisii hii khadii hai।)
काका और काकी दोनों हमारे साथ ही रहते हैं।
Both uncle and aunt live with us.
(kaakaa aur kaakii donon hamaare saath hii rahte hain।)
Sense
2
:
respectful/affectionate address for an older man (not necessarily a relative)
noun, masculine Used vocatively (often as काका जी (kaakaa jii)) to address an elderly or fatherly-aged man in the neighborhood or village, regardless of actual blood relation.
Synonyms: चाचा (chaachaa)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: Just as English speakers might call an unrelated elder 'uncle', Hindi speakers extend काका (kaakaa) to a respected older man in the mohalla (mohallaa, neighborhood) or village -- it signals warmth and social closeness rather than a literal family tie.
Sample Sentences:
ओ काका, ज़रा इधर आओ!
Hey uncle, come here for a moment!
(o kaakaa, zaraa idhar aao!)
पान वाले काका हर शाम इस चौराहे पर बैठते हैं।
The paan-seller uncle sits at this crossing every evening.
(paan vaale kaakaa har shaam is chauraahe par baithte hain।)
मोहल्ले के काका ने मुझे बचपन में साइकिल चलाना सिखाया था।
The neighborhood uncle taught me to ride a bicycle when I was a child.
(mohalle ke kaakaa ne mujhe bachpan men saaikil chalaanaa sikhaayaa thaa।)
काका, आपकी तबीयत अब कैसी है?
Uncle, how is your health now?
(kaakaa, aapkii tabiiyat ab kaisii hai?)
गली के नुक्कड़ पर बैठे काका सबको कहानियाँ सुनाते हैं।
The uncle sitting at the corner of the lane tells everyone stories.
(galii ke nukkad par baithe kaakaa sabko kahaaniyaan sunaate hain।)
अगर काका न होते, तो यह त्योहार यूँ न मनाया जाता।
If uncle hadn't been there, this festival wouldn't have been celebrated this way.
(agar kaakaa n hote, to yah tyohaar yoon n manaayaa jaataa।)
काका से मिलकर बहुत अच्छा लगा, वे बहुत सज्जन इंसान हैं।
It was so nice meeting uncle, he is a very kind man.
(kaakaa se milkar bahut achchhaa lagaa, ve bahut sajjan insaan hain।)
काका को हर कोई गाँव में बड़े आदर से बुलाता है।
Everyone in the village calls him uncle with great respect.
(kaakaa ko har koii gaanv men bade aadar se bulaataa hai।)
काका, शायद आपको यह किस्सा याद हो।
Uncle, you might perhaps remember this story.
(kaakaa, shaayad aapko yah kissaa yaad ho।)
बूढ़े काका दुकान के बाहर धूप में बैठे हैं।
The old uncle is sitting in the sun outside the shop.
(boodhe kaakaa dukaan ke baahar dhoop men baithe hain।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
काका
(kaakaa)
(sg.m.oblique):
काके
(kaake)
(pl.m.direct):
काके
(kaake)
(pl.m.oblique):
काकों
(kaakon)