मोमबत्ती (mombattii)

noun A simple compound noun: मोम (mom, 'wax') + बत्ती (battii, 'wick/light'), meaning 'candle'. It has one everyday sense.
Sense 1 : candle
noun, feminine
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: मोमबत्ती (mombattii) shows up constantly around Diwali (दिवाली, divaalii) alongside दीये (diiye, small clay lamps), though the two are culturally distinct: दीये (diiye) are the traditional oil lamps, while मोमबत्ती (mombattii) are the more modern wax candles, often used decoratively or for birthday cakes. You'll also hear मोमबत्ती जलाना (mombattii jalaanaa, 'to light a candle') used in news reports about candlelight vigils (मोमबत्ती मार्च, mombattii maarch, 'candle march') held in protest or remembrance.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes drop the compound and just say बत्ती (battii) expecting it to mean 'candle', but alone बत्ती (battii) usually means a light or bulb (as in बत्ती जलाओ (battii jalaao, 'turn on the light')) -- you need the full मोमबत्ती (mombattii) for a wax candle. 2) The double त in बत्ती (battii) is often mispronounced as a single consonant; it should have a clear geminate (long) t-sound.
Sample Sentences:
जन्मदिन के केक पर मोमबत्ती जलाओ। Light the candle on the birthday cake.
(janmdin ke kek par mombattii jalaao।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
बिजली चली गई तो हमने मोमबत्ती जलाई। The power went out, so we lit a candle.
(bijlii chalii gaii to hamne mombattii jalaaii।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
मेज़ पर एक मोमबत्ती जल रही है। A candle is burning on the table.
(mez par ek mombattii jal rahii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
दराज़ में हमेशा कुछ मोमबत्तियाँ रखी रहती हैं। There are always some candles kept in the drawer.
(daraaz men hameshaa kuchh mombattiyaan rakhii rahtii hain।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
पीड़ितों के लिए इंडिया गेट पर मोमबत्ती मार्च निकाला गया। A candle march was held at India Gate for the victims.
(piiditon ke lie indiyaa get par mombattii maarch nikaalaa gayaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
अगर मोमबत्तियाँ होतीं, तो अंधेरे में इतनी परेशानी न होती। If there were candles, there wouldn't be so much trouble in the dark.
(agar mombattiyaan hotiin, to andhere men itnii pareshaanii n hotii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
क्या तुम्हारे पास कोई मोमबत्ती है? Do you have any candle?
(kyaa tumhaare paas koii mombattii hai?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
शायद वह चर्च में मोमबत्ती जलाए। Maybe she'll light a candle at the church.
(shaayad vah charch men mombattii jalaae।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
स्टोर से अच्छी खुशबूदार मोमबत्तियाँ खरीद लाना। Please bring back some nice scented candles from the store.
(stor se achchhii khushboodaar mombattiyaan khariid laanaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
हादसे में मारे गए लोगों की याद में लोगों ने मोमबत्तियाँ जलाईं। People lit candles in memory of those killed in the accident.
(haadse men maare gae logon kii yaad men logon ne mombattiyaan jalaaiin।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अंधेरे कमरे में अकेली मोमबत्ती की लौ काँप रही थी। In the dark room, the flame of the lone candle was trembling.
(andhere kamre men akelii mombattii kii lau kaamp rahii thii।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): मोमबत्ती (mombattii)
(sg.f.oblique): मोमबत्ती (mombattii)
(pl.f.direct): मोमबत्तियाँ (mombattiyaan)
(pl.f.oblique): मोमबत्तियों (mombattiyon)