कवि (kavi)
noun
A single-sense word meaning 'poet' -- straightforward and used across registers from schoolbook praise to serious literary discussion.
Sense
1
:
poet
noun, masculine
Synonyms: शायर (shaayar, mainly for Urdu-style/ghazal poets), कवयित्री (kavyitrii, feminine form, not a synonym but often confused)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: In Delhi-NCR you will hear कवि (kavi) most in the context of a कवि सम्मेलन (kavi sammelan, 'poets' gathering'), a beloved public event where several poets take turns reciting -- often mixing humor, patriotism, and pathos -- to a live, vocal audience. Bollywood and school textbooks alike use कवि (kavi) as a title of respect, much like 'poet' is used in English for figures like Tulsidas or Kabir.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes use कवि (kavi) for a female poet; the distinct feminine form कवयित्री (kavyitrii) exists and is preferred in careful speech and writing, though कवि (kavi) is also heard used generically. 2) कवि (kavi) and शायर (shaayar) are not fully interchangeable: शायर (shaayar) specifically evokes Urdu poetic tradition (ghazals, shers), while कवि (kavi) is the general Hindi word for poet, often associated with Hindi verse traditions.
Sample Sentences:
तुलसीदास एक महान कवि थे।
Tulsidas was a great poet.
(tulsiidaas ek mahaan kavi the।)
आज शाम कॉलेज में कवि सम्मेलन है।
This evening there is a poets' gathering at the college.
(aaj shaam kolej men kavi sammelan hai।)
वह कवि अपनी कविताओं में देशभक्ति की भावना भरता है।
That poet fills his poems with a spirit of patriotism.
(vah kavi apnii kavitaaon men deshbhakti kii bhaavnaa bhartaa hai।)
मंच पर कवि अपनी नई रचना सुना रहा है।
The poet is reciting his new composition on stage.
(manch par kavi apnii naii rachnaa sunaa rahaa hai।)
काश मैं भी एक कवि होता और अपने दिल की बात लिख पाता।
I wish I were a poet too, and could write what is in my heart.
(kaash main bhii ek kavi hotaa aur apne dil kii baat likh paataa।)
कवि महोदय, कृपया अपनी अगली रचना प्रस्तुत करें।
Respected poet, please present your next composition.
(kavi mahoday, kripyaa apnii aglii rachnaa prastut karen।)
कवि सम्मेलन में श्रोताओं ने हर कवि को खूब दाद दी।
At the poets' gathering, the audience gave every poet plenty of applause.
(kavi sammelan men shrotaaon ne har kavi ko khoob daad dii।)
इस कविता का रचयिता एक अज्ञात कवि माना जाता है।
The author of this poem is believed to be an unknown poet.
(is kavitaa kaa rachyitaa ek agyaat kavi maanaa jaataa hai।)
शायद वह लड़का बड़ा होकर एक मशहूर कवि बने।
Perhaps that boy will grow up to become a famous poet.
(shaayad vah ladkaa badaa hokar ek mashahoor kavi bane।)
स्कूल में हमें कबीर जैसे संत कवि की रचनाएँ पढ़ाई गईं।
In school we were taught the works of saint-poets like Kabir.
(skool men hamen kabiir jaise sant kavi kii rachnaaen padhaaii gaiin।)
अगले साल यह कवि अपनी पहली किताब छापेगा।
Next year this poet will publish his first book.
(agle saal yah kavi apnii pahlii kitaab chhaapegaa।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
कवि
(kavi)
(sg.m.oblique):
कवि
(kavi)
(pl.m.direct):
कवि
(kavi)
(pl.m.oblique):
कविों
([[कविों]])