लेखक (lekhak)

noun A single-sense noun meaning 'writer/author'; its feminine counterpart लेखिका (lekhikaa) is a related but separate lemma.
Sense 1 : writer, author
noun, masculine
Synonyms: रचनाकार (rachnaakaar, somewhat formal, emphasizes creative authorship), साहित्यकार (saahitykaar, man/woman of letters, broader literary figure)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: लेखक (lekhak) comes from the root लिखना (likhnaa, 'to write'), so it literally means 'one who writes' -- the same root gives you लेख (lekh, 'an article/essay') and लिपि (lipi, 'script'). In everyday conversation about books, newspapers, or school lessons, लेखक (lekhak) is the default word you'll reach for, often paired with पुस्तक (pustak, 'book') or किताब (kitaab, 'book') as in 'इस किताब के लेखक' (is kitaab ke lekhak, 'the author of this book').
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often use लेखक (lekhak) for a woman writer by default; the correct feminine form is लेखिका (lekhikaa), and using लेखक (lekhak) for a known female author can sound careless rather than gender-neutral. 2) Do not confuse with लिपिक (lipik, 'clerk'), which shares the ले- root idea of writing but means something quite different in modern usage.
Sample Sentences:
इस किताब के लेखक कौन हैं? Who is the author of this book?
(is kitaab ke lekhak kaun hain?)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
वह एक मशहूर लेखक है। He is a famous writer.
(vah ek mashahoor lekhak hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
मेरी माँ हमेशा कहती थीं कि हर बच्चे के अंदर एक लेखक छिपा होता है। My mother always used to say that a writer is hidden inside every child.
(merii maan hameshaa kahtii thiin ki har bachche ke andar ek lekhak chhipaa hotaa hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
वह बड़ा होकर एक अच्छा लेखक बनना चाहता है। He wants to become a good writer when he grows up.
(vah badaa hokar ek achchhaa lekhak bannaa chaahtaa hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
यह उपन्यास एक नए लेखक ने लिखा है। This novel has been written by a new writer.
(yah upanyaas ek nae lekhak ne likhaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
अगर तुम इतना पढ़ते और सोचते रहो, तो एक दिन तुम भी लेखक बन जाओगे। If you keep reading and thinking so much, one day you too will become a writer.
(agar tum itnaa padhte aur sochte raho, to ek din tum bhii lekhak ban jaaoge।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
काश मैं भी उस लेखक की तरह इतनी सुंदर कहानियाँ लिख पाता। I wish I could write such beautiful stories like that writer.
(kaash main bhii us lekhak kii tarah itnii sundar kahaaniyaan likh paataa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
कृपया लेखक का नाम स्पष्ट रूप से लिखें। Please write the author's name clearly.
(kripyaa lekhak kaa naam spasht roop se likhen।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
इस लेख के लेखक ने भ्रष्टाचार के खिलाफ कड़ी टिप्पणी की है। The author of this article has made a sharp remark against corruption.
(is lekh ke lekhak ne bhrashtaachaar ke khilaaph kadii tippnii kii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
प्रसिद्ध लेखक प्रेमचंद ने हिंदी साहित्य को नई दिशा दी। The famous writer Premchand gave a new direction to Hindi literature.
(prasiddh lekhak premchand ne hindii saahity ko naii dishaa dii।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
समारोह में लेखक द्वारा अपनी नई पुस्तक का विमोचन किया जाएगा। At the ceremony, the writer's new book will be launched.
(samaaroh men lekhak dvaaraa apnii naii pustak kaa vimochan kiyaa jaaegaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Passive
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): लेखक (lekhak)
(sg.m.oblique): लेखक (lekhak)
(pl.m.direct): लेखक (lekhak)
(pl.m.oblique): लेखकों (lekhkon)