क़िस्मत (qismat)
noun
A single-sense noun meaning fate or fortune -- the force believed to determine what happens in a person's life, good or bad.
Sense
1
:
fate, destiny, luck
noun, feminine
Synonyms: भाग्य (bhaagy), नसीब (nasiib), तक़दीर (taqdiir)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This word carries a resigned, philosophical weight in everyday Hindi -- when something good or bad happens beyond anyone's control, people shrug and say यह क़िस्मत है (yah qismat hai, 'this is fate'). It is a loanword from Arabic via Urdu/Persian, and its close cousin नसीब (nasiib) is used almost interchangeably, especially in Bollywood dialogue and everyday grumbling about bad luck.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for भाग्य (bhaagy) in every context, but क़िस्मत (qismat) is the word people actually reach for in daily speech -- 'क़िस्मत अच्छी है' (qismat achchhii hai, 'the luck is good') sounds natural, while भाग्य (bhaagy) can feel a touch bookish in casual talk. 2) The nuqta under the क़ (qismat) is often dropped in casual writing as किस्मत (kismat); both are heard and accepted in speech, so do not treat the version without the dot as wrong.
Sample Sentences:
यह तो बस क़िस्मत की बात है।
This is just a matter of fate.
(yah to bas qismat kii baat hai।)
मेरी क़िस्मत ही ऐसी है, हर बार लास्ट मोमेंट पर ट्रेन छूट जाती है।
That's just my luck -- every single time the train slips away at the last moment.
(merii qismat hii aisii hai, har baar laast moment par tren chhoot jaatii hai।)
उसकी क़िस्मत बहुत अच्छी थी, वरना वह इस हादसे में बच नहीं पाता।
His luck was very good, otherwise he wouldn't have survived this accident.
(uskii qismat bahut achchhii thii, varnaa vah is haadse men bach nahiin paataa।)
काश मेरी क़िस्मत भी तुम्हारी जैसी होती।
I wish my fate were like yours.
(kaash merii qismat bhii tumhaarii jaisii hotii।)
अपनी क़िस्मत को दोष मत दो, थोड़ी मेहनत भी कर लो।
Don't blame your fate, put in a little effort too.
(apnii qismat ko dosh mat do, thodii mehnat bhii kar lo।)
जो क़िस्मत में लिखा है, वही होगा।
Whatever is written in fate, that alone will happen.
(jo qismat men likhaa hai, vahii hogaa।)
शायद यह मेरी क़िस्मत में ही न हो।
Maybe this simply isn't in my fate.
(shaayad yah merii qismat men hii n ho।)
उसने अपनी क़िस्मत खुद बनाई, किसी के भरोसे नहीं बैठा।
He built his own fate; he didn't sit around depending on anyone.
(usne apnii qismat khud banaaii, kisii ke bharose nahiin baithaa।)
इतने सालों की मेहनत के बाद आखिर उसकी क़िस्मत बदल गई।
After so many years of hard work, his fortune finally changed.
(itne saalon kii mehnat ke baad aakhir uskii qismat badal gaii।)
लॉटरी में जीतना बड़ी क़िस्मत की बात होती है।
Winning the lottery is really a matter of good luck.
(lotrii men jiitnaa badii qismat kii baat hotii hai।)
हे भगवान, इस बार तो मेरी क़िस्मत का साथ दे दो।
Oh God, this time please let luck be on my side.
(he bhagvaan, is baar to merii qismat kaa saath de do।)
क़िस्मत ने उसका साथ कभी नहीं दिया, फिर भी वह हिम्मत नहीं हारा।
Fate never favored him, yet he never lost courage.
(qismat ne uskaa saath kabhii nahiin diyaa, phir bhii vah himmat nahiin haaraa।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
क़िस्मत
(qismat)
(sg.f.oblique):
क़िस्मत
(qismat)
(pl.f.direct):
क़िस्मतें
(qismten)
(pl.f.oblique):
क़िस्मतों
(qismton)