सिक्का (sikkaa)
noun
Primarily 'coin' (physical currency); also used figuratively to mean someone's dominant influence or reputation, as in the idiom सिक्का चलना (sikkaa chalnaa).
Sense
1
:
coin (metal currency)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: मुद्रा (mudraa, formal/written)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Every Indian kid learns to sort सिक्के (sikke) by size and shape long before they understand their value -- the 1, 2, 5, and 10 rupee coins all look and feel distinct, which is a small tactile pleasure of Indian currency. Shopkeepers often grumble good-naturedly about being given too many coins at once for change, since सिक्के (sikke) are heavier to handle than notes.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes use सिक्का (sikkaa) for paper money too; it refers only to metal coins, while नोट (not) is the word for banknotes. 2) The plural सिक्के (sikke) is easy to miss when counting change, e.g. दस रुपये के सिक्के (das rupye ke sikke, 'ten-rupee coins').
Sample Sentences:
मेरी जेब में बहुत सारे सिक्के हैं।
There are a lot of coins in my pocket.
(merii jeb men bahut saare sikke hain।)
दुकानदार ने मुझे दस रुपये का सिक्का वापस दिया।
The shopkeeper gave me back a ten-rupee coin.
(dukaandaar ne mujhe das rupye kaa sikkaa vaapas diyaa।)
क्या तुम्हारे पास पाँच रुपये का सिक्का है?
Do you have a five-rupee coin?
(kyaa tumhaare paas paanch rupye kaa sikkaa hai?)
बच्चे फर्श पर बिखरे सिक्के इकट्ठा कर रहे थे।
The children were collecting the coins scattered on the floor.
(bachche pharsh par bikhre sikke ikatthaa kar rahe the।)
पुराने सिक्कों को इतिहासकार बड़े शौक से जमा करते हैं।
Historians collect old coins with great enthusiasm.
(puraane sikkon ko itihaaskaar bade shauk se jamaa karte hain।)
सिक्का उठाओ, नीचे गिर गया है।
Pick up the coin, it fell down.
(sikkaa uthaao, niiche gir gayaa hai।)
अगर मेरे पास खुले सिक्के होते, तो मैं तुम्हें दे देता।
If I had loose coins, I would have given them to you.
(agar mere paas khule sikke hote, to main tumhen de detaa।)
यह सिक्का किसी पुराने राजवंश के समय का बनाया गया था।
This coin was made during the time of some ancient dynasty.
(yah sikkaa kisii puraane raajvansh ke samay kaa banaayaa gayaa thaa।)
टॉस के लिए सिक्का फेंका जाएगा।
A coin will be tossed for the toss.
(tos ke lie sikkaa phenkaa jaaegaa।)
दुकानदार शिकायत कर रहा था कि लोग एक साथ बहुत सारे सिक्के थमा देते हैं।
The shopkeeper was complaining that people hand over too many coins at once.
(dukaandaar shikaayat kar rahaa thaa ki log ek saath bahut saare sikke thamaa dete hain।)
मंदिर के कुंड में श्रद्धालु सिक्के फेंकते हैं।
Devotees throw coins into the temple pond.
(mandir ke kund men shraddhaalu sikke phenkte hain।)
Sense
2
:
dominant influence, reputation, sway (figurative)
noun, masculine Almost always appears in the fixed idiom सिक्का चलना (sikkaa chalnaa, 'for one's influence/authority to prevail') or सिक्का जमना (sikkaa jamnaa, 'for one's reputation to become established').
Synonyms: दबदबा (dabadbaa), प्रभाव (prabhaav, formal)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This sense grows naturally out of the coin meaning: just as a ruler's coin (sikkaa) being accepted across the land signaled recognized authority in old kingdoms, today saying किसी का सिक्का चलता है (kisii kaa sikkaa chaltaa hai, 'someone's word/authority holds sway') carries that same historical flavor of a name being 'currency' that others honor.
Common Mistakes: 1) This figurative sense only really surfaces inside set phrases like सिक्का चलना (sikkaa chalnaa) or सिक्का जमाना (sikkaa jamaanaa) -- learners shouldn't try to use सिक्का (sikkaa) alone to mean 'influence.'
Sample Sentences:
आज भी उस इलाके में उसका सिक्का चलता है।
Even today, his influence holds sway in that area.
(aaj bhii us ilaake men uskaa sikkaa chaltaa hai।)
पिछली सदी में इस खानदान का सिक्का पूरे शहर में चलता था।
In the last century, this family's influence held sway across the whole city.
(pichhlii sadii men is khaandaan kaa sikkaa poore shahar men chaltaa thaa।)
क्या राजनीति में अब भी पुराने नेताओं का सिक्का चलता है?
Does the influence of the old leaders still hold sway in politics?
(kyaa raajniiti men ab bhii puraane netaaon kaa sikkaa chaltaa hai?)
अगर वह ईमानदार रहता, तो उसका सिक्का यूँ ही चलता रहता।
If he had stayed honest, his influence would have kept holding sway just like that.
(agar vah iimaandaar rahtaa, to uskaa sikkaa yoon hii chaltaa rahtaa।)
कभी इस बाज़ार में सेठजी का सिक्का चलता था, अब कोई नहीं पूछता।
Once, the merchant's influence held sway in this market; now no one even asks about him.
(kabhii is baazaar men sethjii kaa sikkaa chaltaa thaa, ab koii nahiin poochhtaa।)
मुझे उम्मीद है कि आगे चलकर उसका सिक्का यहाँ भी चले।
I hope that, going forward, his influence holds sway here too.
(mujhe ummiid hai ki aage chalkar uskaa sikkaa yahaan bhii chale।)
उस दौर में मुगल दरबार का सिक्का सारे हिंदुस्तान में चलता था।
In that era, the Mughal court's authority held sway across all of Hindustan.
(us daur men mugal darbaar kaa sikkaa saare hindustaan men chaltaa thaa।)
नए मैनेजर के आने के बाद पुराने स्टाफ का सिक्का चलना बंद हो गया।
After the new manager arrived, the old staff's influence stopped holding sway.
(nae mainejar ke aane ke baad puraane staaph kaa sikkaa chalnaa band ho gayaa।)
इस कंपनी में उसका सिक्का इतना चलता है कि बड़े अफ़सर भी उससे राय लेते हैं।
His influence holds such sway in this company that even senior officers seek his opinion.
(is kampnii men uskaa sikkaa itnaa chaltaa hai ki bade afsar bhii usse raay lete hain।)
देखना, कुछ ही सालों में उसका सिक्का पूरे बाज़ार में चलने लगेगा।
You'll see, within just a few years his influence will start holding sway across the whole market.
(dekhnaa, kuchh hii saalon men uskaa sikkaa poore baazaar men chalne lagegaa।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
सिक्का
(sikkaa)
(sg.m.oblique):
सिक्के
(sikke)
(pl.m.direct):
सिक्के
(sikke)
(pl.m.oblique):
सिक्कों
(sikkon)