सीटी (siitii)
noun
A whistle -- both the object/sound (noun) and the act of whistling shows up mainly through the compound verb सीटी बजाना (siitii bajaanaa, 'to whistle').
Sense
1
:
whistle (sound or object)
noun, feminine Almost always paired with the verb बजाना (bajaanaa) rather than used alone with a verb of its own -- सीटी बजाना (siitii bajaanaa, 'to blow/play a whistle') is the standard collocation for both the physical object and the sound it makes.
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: In a Delhi kitchen, कुकर की सीटी (kukar kii siitii, 'the cooker's whistle') going off is practically a dinner-time clock -- everyone in the house recognizes that shrill sound as 'food's almost ready.' It is also the word for a referee's whistle in a cricket or football match, and for the low, playful सीटी (siitii) boys sometimes give when a hero enters in a film -- so the same small object/sound covers kitchens, stadiums, and movie halls.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners try to pair सीटी (siitii) with बोलना (bolnaa) or करना (karnaa); the fixed collocation is बजाना (bajaanaa), the same verb used for playing instruments. 2) Note the referee's or policeman's सीटी (siitii) and a pressure cooker's सीटी (siitii) are the same word in Hindi, whereas English might reach for 'whistle' versus 'valve' -- a cooker's सीटी बजना (siitii bajnaa) is a very common household sound cue, e.g. for knowing rice or daal is nearly done.
Sample Sentences:
कुकर की सीटी बज गई, खाना तैयार है।
The cooker's whistle went off, the food is ready.
(kukar kii siitii baj gaii, khaanaa taiyaar hai।)
रेफरी ने सीटी बजाई और मैच रुक गया।
The referee blew the whistle and the match stopped.
(rephrii ne siitii bajaaii aur maich ruk gayaa।)
हीरो के आते ही लड़कों ने सीटी बजा दी।
As soon as the hero entered, the boys let out a whistle.
(hiiro ke aate hii ladkon ne siitii bajaa dii।)
जब भी कुकर की सीटी बजती है, मुझे पता चल जाता है कि दाल बन गई है।
Whenever the cooker's whistle goes off, I know the lentils are done.
(jab bhii kukar kii siitii bajtii hai, mujhe pataa chal jaataa hai ki daal ban gaii hai।)
सीटी बजाओ, ताकि सब लोग जान जाएँ कि खेल शुरू हो रहा है।
Blow the whistle, so that everyone knows the game is starting.
(siitii bajaao, taaki sab log jaan jaaen ki khel shuroo ho rahaa hai।)
गली में कोई सीटी बजा रहा था, इसलिए मैं बाहर देखने गया।
Someone was whistling in the lane, so I went out to look.
(galii men koii siitii bajaa rahaa thaa, islie main baahar dekhne gayaa।)
अगर सीटी न बजाई जाती तो खिलाड़ी खेलते ही रहते।
If the whistle hadn't been blown, the players would have kept playing.
(agar siitii n bajaaii jaatii to khilaadii khelte hii rahte।)
स्टेडियम में सीटी इतनी तेज़ बजाई गई कि सब चौंक गए।
The whistle was blown so loudly in the stadium that everyone jumped.
(stediyam men siitii itnii tez bajaaii gaii ki sab chaunk gae।)
क्या तुमने सीटी सुनी? लगता है कुकर तैयार हो गया।
Did you hear the whistle? Seems like the cooker is ready.
(kyaa tumne siitii sunii? lagtaa hai kukar taiyaar ho gayaa।)
पुलिसवाले ने सीटी बजाकर ट्रैफ़िक रोक दिया।
The policeman blew his whistle and stopped the traffic.
(pulisvaale ne siitii bajaakar traifik rok diyaa।)
शायद सीटी दोबारा बजेगी जब दाल भी तैयार हो जाएगी।
The whistle will probably go off again once the lentils are also ready.
(shaayad siitii dobaaraa bajegii jab daal bhii taiyaar ho jaaegii।)
सिनेमा हॉल में हीरोइन के डांस पर सीटी बज उठी।
In the cinema hall, a whistle went up at the heroine's dance.
(sinemaa hol men hiiroin ke daans par siitii baj uthii।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
सीटी
(siitii)
(sg.f.oblique):
सीटी
(siitii)
(pl.f.direct):
सीटियाँ
(siitiyaan)
(pl.f.oblique):
सीटियों
(siitiyon)