देवी (devii)
noun
Basic meaning is 'goddess' -- a feminine noun with a strong devotional/mythological sense, plus an everyday honorific use for addressing or referring to a respected woman.
Sense
1
:
goddess
noun, feminine
Synonyms: देविका (devikaa, rare), माता (maataa, overlaps in devotional contexts)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, and Kali are all called देवी (devii), and you will see this word constantly at festival time -- दुर्गा पूजा (durgaa poojaa, 'Durga worship/festival') banners, temple names, and songs. Many Hindu women's names also incorporate देवी (devii) as a suffix (e.g. सीता देवी, siitaa devii), reflecting this same reverence.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes use देवी (devii) as a generic word for any female divine figure interchangeably with माता (maataa) or देवता (devtaa), but देवता (devtaa) is the male/generic form and not simply the masculine of this word in casual use -- it is its own lemma.
Sample Sentences:
दुर्गा पूजा में देवी दुर्गा की मूर्ति बनाई जाती है।
During Durga Puja, an idol of the goddess Durga is made.
(durgaa poojaa men devii durgaa kii moorti banaaii jaatii hai।)
मंदिर में देवी लक्ष्मी की पूजा हो रही थी।
The worship of goddess Lakshmi was happening in the temple.
(mandir men devii lakshmii kii poojaa ho rahii thii।)
सरस्वती को विद्या की देवी माना जाता है।
Saraswati is considered the goddess of knowledge.
(sarasvtii ko vidyaa kii devii maanaa jaataa hai।)
काली देवी का रूप बहुत उग्र माना जाता है।
The goddess Kali's form is considered very fierce.
(kaalii devii kaa roop bahut ugr maanaa jaataa hai।)
हे देवी, हमारी रक्षा करो।
O goddess, protect us.
(he devii, hamaarii rakshaa karo।)
काश देवी मेरी हर मनोकामना पूरी करतीं।
If only the goddess would fulfill my every wish.
(kaash devii merii har manokaamnaa poorii kartiin।)
गाँव के लोग मानते हैं कि यह पेड़ किसी देवी का वास स्थान है।
The villagers believe that this tree is the dwelling place of some goddess.
(gaanv ke log maante hain ki yah ped kisii devii kaa vaas sthaan hai।)
मेरी दादी का नाम सीता देवी है।
My grandmother's name is Sita Devi.
(merii daadii kaa naam siitaa devii hai।)
जब तक देवी प्रसन्न न हों, यज्ञ पूरा नहीं माना जाएगा।
Until the goddess is pleased, the ritual will not be considered complete.
(jab tak devii prasann n hon, yagy pooraa nahiin maanaa jaaegaa।)
नवरात्रि के नौ दिनों में नौ अलग-अलग देवियों की पूजा की जाती है।
During the nine days of Navratri, nine different goddesses are worshipped.
(navraatri ke nau dinon men nau alag-alag deviyon kii poojaa kii jaatii hai।)
भक्तों ने देवी के मंदिर में दीप जलाए।
The devotees lit lamps in the goddess's temple.
(bhakton ne devii ke mandir men diip jalaae।)
Sense
2
:
respected/admired woman (honorific)
noun, feminine Used as a term of high respect or flattery for an ordinary woman, sometimes affectionately or with mild exaggeration.
Synonyms: देवी जी (devii jii, polite address form)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: Calling a woman देवी (devii) elevates her to near-divine status rhetorically -- you will hear this in wedding speeches, tributes to mothers, or even half-joking praise like गृह देवी (grih devii, 'goddess of the house') for someone who runs the household well.
Common Mistakes: 1) This honorific use can sound old-fashioned or overly formal/poetic if used casually about someone in everyday conversation -- it is more common in written praise, speeches, or affectionate exaggeration than in plain daily talk.
Sample Sentences:
मेरी माँ इस घर की गृह देवी हैं।
My mother is the goddess of this house.
(merii maan is ghar kii grih devii hain।)
आप जैसी देवी का आशीर्वाद हमेशा साथ रहे।
May the blessings of a lady like you always be with us.
(aap jaisii devii kaa aashiirvaad hameshaa saath rahe।)
शादी में दुल्हन को देवी कहकर सम्मानित किया गया।
At the wedding, the bride was honored, being called a goddess-like lady.
(shaadii men dulhan ko devii kahkar sammaanit kiyaa gayaa।)
अरे वाह, तुम तो सच में गृह देवी बन गई हो, इतना बढ़िया खाना बनाया!
Wow, you've really become the goddess of the house, you cooked such amazing food!
(are vaah, tum to sach men grih devii ban gaii ho, itnaa badhiyaa khaanaa banaayaa!)
अगर वह मुझसे न मिलती, तो मैं उसे देवी की तरह पूजता।
If I hadn't met her, I would have worshipped her like a goddess-like woman.
(agar vah mujhse n miltii, to main use devii kii tarah poojtaa।)
बेटा, तुम्हारी दादी सचमुच एक देवी हैं, उन्होंने पूरा परिवार संभाला है।
Son, your grandmother is truly a goddess-like woman, she has held the whole family together.
(betaa, tumhaarii daadii sachmuch ek devii hain, unhonne pooraa parivaar sambhaalaa hai।)
समाज सेविका को नगर की देवी कहा जाता है।
The social worker is called the goddess of the town.
(samaaj sevikaa ko nagar kii devii kahaa jaataa hai।)
काश मैं भी अपनी माँ को उतना ही सम्मान दे पाता जितना एक देवी को दिया जाता है।
I wish I could give my mother as much respect as is given to a goddess-like woman.
(kaash main bhii apnii maan ko utnaa hii sammaan de paataa jitnaa ek devii ko diyaa jaataa hai।)
देवी जी, कृपया मंच पर आकर अपने विचार साझा करें।
Respected lady, please come to the stage and share your thoughts.
(devii jii, kripyaa manch par aakar apne vichaar saajhaa karen।)
टीचर हमें हमेशा कहती थीं कि हर बेटी घर की देवी होती है।
The teacher always used to tell us that every daughter is a goddess of the house.
(tiichar hamen hameshaa kahtii thiin ki har betii ghar kii devii hotii hai।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
देवी
(devii)
(sg.f.oblique):
देवी
(devii)
(pl.f.direct):
देवियाँ
(deviyaan)
(pl.f.oblique):
देवियों
(deviyon)