तारा (taaraa)

noun Mainly a noun meaning 'star', both the celestial object and the figurative 'star/celebrity' sense; also used as a common given name.

Sense 1 : star (celestial body)

noun, masculine

Synonyms: सितारा (sitaaraa), नक्षत्र (nakshatr, more technical/astronomical)

Frequency: high

Cultural Note: Kids in India learn the nursery rhyme line टिमटिमाते तारे (timtimaate taare, 'twinkling stars') early on, so तारा (taaraa) carries a warm, childhood-song association alongside its plain astronomical meaning. सितारा (sitaaraa) is an equally common everyday synonym, especially in Bollywood contexts (see the 'celebrity' sense below).

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes confuse तारा (taaraa) with तार (taar, 'wire/telegram') because of the similar spelling -- the final आ (aa) matters.

Sample Sentences:

आज रात आसमान में बहुत तारे दिख रहे हैं। Tonight many stars are visible in the sky.

(aaj raat aasmaan men bahut taare dikh rahe hain।)

टिमटिमाते तारे देखकर बच्चा खुश हो गया। Seeing the twinkling stars, the child became happy.

(timtimaate taare dekhkar bachchaa khush ho gayaa।)

सर्दियों में तारे ज़्यादा साफ़ दिखते हैं। In winter, stars appear more clearly.

(sardiyon men taare zyaadaa saaf dikhte hain।)

देखो, वह तारा कितना चमक रहा है! Look, how brightly that star is shining!

(dekho, vah taaraa kitnaa chamak rahaa hai!)

अगर आसमान साफ़ होता तो हमें और तारे दिखते। If the sky were clear, we would see more stars.

(agar aasmaan saaf hotaa to hamen aur taare dikhte।)

छत पर लेटकर तारे गिनना मुझे बहुत पसंद है। I love lying on the roof and counting the stars.

(chhat par letkar taare ginnaa mujhe bahut pasand hai।)

वैज्ञानिकों ने दूरबीन से एक नया तारा खोजा। Scientists discovered a new star through a telescope.

(vaigyaanikon ne doorbiin se ek nayaa taaraa khojaa।)

आकाश में तारों की गिनती करना असंभव-सा लगता है। Counting the stars in the sky seems almost impossible.

(aakaash men taaron kii gintii karnaa asambhav-saa lagtaa hai।)

रात के अंधेरे में तारे और भी सुंदर लगते हैं। In the darkness of night, the stars look even more beautiful.

(raat ke andhere men taare aur bhii sundar lagte hain।)

बच्चों को सिखाया जाता है कि तारे सूरज की तरह ही होते हैं, पर बहुत दूर। Children are taught that stars are just like the sun, only very far away.

(bachchon ko sikhaayaa jaataa hai ki taare sooraj kii tarah hii hote hain, par bahut door।)

प्राचीन कवियों ने अक्सर तारों को अपनी कविताओं में बुना है। Ancient poets have often woven stars into their poetry.

(praachiin kaviyon ne aksar taaron ko apnii kavitaaon men bunaa hai।)

Sense 2 : star, celebrity (figurative)

noun, masculine

Synonyms: सितारा (sitaaraa, most common in this sense), स्टार (staar, English loanword, very common in film contexts)

Frequency: medium

Cultural Note: In everyday speech about film and cricket, सितारा (sitaaraa) or the English loan स्टार (staar) is actually heard more often than तारा (taaraa) for 'celebrity' -- तारा (taaraa) in this figurative sense leans slightly more literary/formal, as in फ़िल्मी तारा (filmii taaraa, 'film star') in written contexts.

Sample Sentences:

वह अपने ज़माने का सबसे चमकता तारा था। He was the brightest star of his era.

(vah apne zamaane kaa sabse chamaktaa taaraa thaa।)

फ़िल्मी तारा बनना आसान नहीं है। Becoming a film star is not easy.

(filmii taaraa bannaa aasaan nahiin hai।)

उस नाटक ने उसे रंगमंच का तारा बना दिया। That play turned him into a star of the theater.

(us naatak ne use rangmanch kaa taaraa banaa diyaa।)

क्या वह सचमुच अपने क्षेत्र का तारा माना जाता है? Is he really considered a star in his field?

(kyaa vah sachmuch apne kshetr kaa taaraa maanaa jaataa hai?)

आलोचकों ने उसे साहित्य-जगत का उभरता तारा कहा। The critics called him a rising star of the literary world.

(aalochkon ne use saahity-jagat kaa ubhartaa taaraa kahaa।)

अगर वह उस भूमिका में चुना जाता, तो वह भी एक तारा बन जाता। If he had been chosen for that role, he too would have become a star.

(agar vah us bhoomikaa men chunaa jaataa, to vah bhii ek taaraa ban jaataa।)

काश मैं भी किसी क्षेत्र का तारा होता। I wish I too were a star in some field.

(kaash main bhii kisii kshetr kaa taaraa hotaa।)

समय के साथ वह खेल-जगत का तारा बनता चला गया। Over time he gradually became a star of the sporting world.

(samay ke saath vah khel-jagat kaa taaraa bantaa chalaa gayaa।)

उस युग के तारे आज भी याद किए जाते हैं। The stars of that era are still remembered today.

(us yug ke taare aaj bhii yaad kie jaate hain।)

Sense 3 : given name (proper noun)

noun, feminine

Frequency: medium

Cultural Note: तारा (taaraa) is a widely used personal name for girls across North India, drawing directly on the 'star' meaning -- much like 'Stella' or 'Estelle' in English carry the same root idea.

Sample Sentences:

तारा आज स्कूल नहीं गई। Tara didn't go to school today.

(taaraa aaj skool nahiin gaii।)

तारा हर सुबह योगा करती है। Tara does yoga every morning.

(taaraa har subah yogaa kartii hai।)

तारा इस वक्त अपने कमरे में पढ़ रही है। Tara is studying in her room right now.

(taaraa is vakt apne kamre men padh rahii hai।)

तारा अगले महीने दिल्ली आएगी। Tara will come to Delhi next month.

(taaraa agle mahiine dillii aaegii।)

तारा, ज़रा दरवाज़ा बंद कर दो। Tara, please shut the door.

(taaraa, zaraa darvaazaa band kar do।)

काश तारा भी हमारे साथ चल पाती। I wish Tara could have come along with us too.

(kaash taaraa bhii hamaare saath chal paatii।)

अगर तारा वक्त पर पहुँचती, तो हम फिल्म शुरू से देख पाते। If Tara had arrived on time, we would have seen the film from the start.

(agar taaraa vakt par pahunchtii, to ham philm shuroo se dekh paate।)

हमें उम्मीद है कि तारा इस प्रतियोगिता में जीते। We hope that Tara wins this competition.

(hamen ummiid hai ki taaraa is pratiyogitaa men jiite।)

श्रीमती तारा वर्मा को इस समारोह में विशेष अतिथि के रूप में आमंत्रित किया गया। Mrs. Tara Verma was invited to this ceremony as a special guest.

(shriimtii taaraa varmaa ko is samaaroh men vishesh atithi ke roop men aamantrit kiyaa gayaa।)

तारा ने अपनी बेटी का नाम भी तारा ही रखा। Tara named her own daughter Tara too.

(taaraa ne apnii betii kaa naam bhii taaraa hii rakhaa।)

Morphology

Noun

(sg.m.direct): तारा (taaraa)

(sg.m.oblique): तारे (taare)

(pl.m.direct): तारे (taare)

(pl.m.oblique): तारों (taaron)