नारी (naarii)

noun A formal/literary word for 'woman'; in everyday speech महिला (mahilaa) or औरत (aurat) is far more common.
Sense 1 : woman
noun, feminine
Synonyms: महिला (mahilaa), औरत (aurat), स्त्री (strii, formal)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You'll meet नारी (naarii) constantly on government posters, in speeches, and in phrases like नारी शक्ति (naarii shakti) or नारी सम्मान (naarii sammaan) -- it carries a respectful, almost ceremonial tone, much like 'womankind' in English. In an ordinary sentence about the woman standing at the bus stop, though, a Delhi speaker will say औरत (aurat) or महिला (mahilaa), not नारी (naarii).
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for नारी (naarii) as the default word for 'woman' from textbook exposure, but in daily conversation it sounds formal or slogan-like -- use महिला (mahilaa) or औरत (aurat) instead when just referring to a woman casually. 2) नारी (naarii) is common in compound social/political terms like नारी शक्ति (naarii shakti, 'woman power') and नारी सशक्तिकरण (naarii sashaktikran, 'women's empowerment'), where it cannot be swapped for औरत (aurat) without sounding odd.
Sample Sentences:
नारी शक्ति का सम्मान करना हर समाज का कर्तव्य है। Respecting women's power is the duty of every society.
(naarii shakti kaa sammaan karnaa har samaaj kaa kartavy hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
प्राचीन काल में नारी को देवी के समान पूजा जाता था। In ancient times, woman was worshipped as equal to a goddess.
(praachiin kaal men naarii ko devii ke samaan poojaa jaataa thaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
नारी सम्मान के बिना कोई भी राष्ट्र सच्ची प्रगति नहीं कर सकता। Without respect for womankind, no nation can truly progress.
(naarii sammaan ke binaa koii bhii raashtr sachchii pragti nahiin kar saktaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
नारी को कमज़ोर मत समझो, वह हर रूप में सशक्त है। Do not consider woman weak; she is powerful in every form.
(naarii ko kamzor mat samjho, vah har roop men sashakt hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
यदि नारी शिक्षित होगी, तो पूरा परिवार शिक्षित होगा। If woman is educated, the whole family will be educated.
(yadi naarii shikshit hogii, to pooraa parivaar shikshit hogaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
कवि ने अपनी रचना में नारी की महिमा का वर्णन किया। The poet described the glory of woman in his composition.
(kavi ne apnii rachnaa men naarii kii mahimaa kaa varnan kiyaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
काश हर युग में नारी को यह सम्मान मिलता। If only woman had received this respect in every era.
(kaash har yug men naarii ko yah sammaan miltaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
सरकार नारी शक्ति को बढ़ावा देने के लिए नई योजनाएँ ला रही है। The government is bringing new schemes to promote women's empowerment.
(sarkaar naarii shakti ko badhaavaa dene ke lie naii yojnaaen laa rahii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
यह ज़रूरी है कि समाज नारी के प्रति अपनी सोच बदले। It is necessary that society change its thinking toward woman.
(yah zaroorii hai ki samaaj naarii ke prati apnii soch badle।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
इस कविता में नारी को शक्ति और करुणा का प्रतीक बताया गया है। In this poem, woman has been depicted as a symbol of strength and compassion.
(is kavitaa men naarii ko shakti aur karunaa kaa pratiik bataayaa gayaa hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): नारी (naarii)
(sg.f.oblique): नारी (naarii)
(pl.f.direct): नारियाँ (naariyaan)
(pl.f.oblique): नारियों (naariyon)