पूँछ (poonchh)
noun
A single-sense everyday noun meaning 'tail' -- the body part on an animal. Not to be confused with the verb पूछना (poochhnaa, 'to ask'), which is spelled and pronounced differently (no chandrabindu nasalization) but often confused by learners in writing.
Sense
1
:
tail (of an animal)
noun, feminine
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Every kid in Delhi who has grown up around street dogs or has seen a bandar (bandar, 'monkey') swinging by its पूँछ (poonchh) knows this word early. It also shows up in common idiomatic phrases like पूँछ हिलाना (poonchh hilaanaa, 'to wag the tail'), often used mockingly for a person who flatters or fawns over someone, similar to the English image of a 'tail-wagging' sycophant.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often confuse पूँछ (poonchh, 'tail') with पूछ (poochh) / पूछना (poochhnaa, 'to ask') -- the nasalization (chandrabindu) on पूँछ is what marks 'tail' and must not be dropped in writing, even though it is easy to miss when typing fast. 2) Do not confuse with पीछे (piichhe, 'behind') just because both relate to something being at the back -- पूँछ is a concrete body part, not a spatial postposition.
Sample Sentences:
कुत्ते की पूँछ हिल रही है।
The dog's tail is wagging.
(kutte kii poonchh hil rahii hai।)
बिल्ली की पूँछ लंबी होती है।
A cat's tail is long.
(billii kii poonchh lambii hotii hai।)
बंदर पूँछ के सहारे पेड़ से लटका हुआ था।
The monkey was hanging from the tree with the help of its tail.
(bandar poonchh ke sahaare ped se latkaa huaa thaa।)
गाय ने अपनी पूँछ से मक्खियाँ उड़ा दीं।
The cow flicked away the flies with its tail.
(gaay ne apnii poonchh se makkhiyaan udaa diin।)
उस आदमी ने बॉस के सामने ऐसे पूँछ हिलाई जैसे कोई कुत्ता हो।
That man wagged his tail in front of the boss like some dog.
(us aadmii ne bos ke saamne aise poonchh hilaaii jaise koii kuttaa ho।)
पप्पी की पूँछ मत खींचो, वरना वो काट लेगा।
Don't pull the puppy's tail, or it will bite.
(pappii kii poonchh mat khiincho, varnaa vo kaat legaa।)
अगर उस बिल्ली की पूँछ न होती, तो वह इतनी प्यारी न लगती।
If that cat didn't have a tail, it wouldn't look so cute.
(agar us billii kii poonchh n hotii, to vah itnii pyaarii n lagtii।)
छिपकली की पूँछ कट जाने के बाद भी फिर से बढ़ जाती है।
Even after a lizard's tail is cut off, it grows back again.
(chhipaklii kii poonchh kat jaane ke baad bhii phir se badh jaatii hai।)
मोर की पूँछ के पंख देखकर बच्चे खुश हो गए।
The children became happy on seeing the peacock's tail feathers.
(mor kii poonchh ke pankh dekhkar bachche khush ho gae।)
घोड़े की पूँछ इतनी घनी थी कि माली को बाँधने में मुश्किल हुई।
The horse's tail was so thick that the groundskeeper had trouble tying it.
(ghode kii poonchh itnii ghanii thii ki maalii ko baandhne men mushkil huii।)
क्या तुमने कभी सोचा है कि गिलहरी अपनी पूँछ का इस्तेमाल संतुलन बनाने के लिए कैसे करती है?
Have you ever thought about how a squirrel uses its tail to maintain balance?
(kyaa tumne kabhii sochaa hai ki gilahrii apnii poonchh kaa istemaal santulan banaane ke lie kaise kartii hai?)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
पूँछ
(poonchh)
(sg.f.oblique):
पूँछ
(poonchh)
(pl.f.direct):
पूँछें
(poonchhen)
(pl.f.oblique):
पूँछों
(poonchhon)