उल्लू (ulloo)
noun
Literally 'owl'; the far more common everyday use is figurative, calling someone a fool or dupe, and it also anchors the idiom उल्लू बनाना (ulloo banaanaa, 'to make a fool of someone').
Sense
1
:
fool, dupe, simpleton (used as an insult/tease about a person)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: बेवकूफ़ (bevkoof), गधा (gadhaa, also an animal-insult, 'donkey'), मूर्ख (moorkh, formal)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You'll hear this constantly in Delhi banter: दोस्तों में उल्लू के पट्ठे कहना (doston men ulloo ke patthe kahnaa, 'calling each other 'you owl's kid' among friends') is completely normal and even affectionate, much like calling a friend an 'idiot' in English. The tone -- teasing versus insulting -- depends entirely on context and relationship, so listen for how it's said before using it yourself.
Common Mistakes: 1) This is a real insult, not a mild joke like English 'silly goose' -- calling a stranger or elder उल्लू (ulloo) can genuinely offend, though it's used affectionately among close friends or family. 2) Learners sometimes miss that the common expression is उल्लू का पट्ठा (ulloo kaa patthaa, 'son of an owl,' i.e. 'you fool') rather than उल्लू alone, which is also heard but hits differently -- the पट्ठा version is more colloquial and playful.
Sample Sentences:
यार, तू कितना उल्लू है!
Dude, you're such a fool!
(yaar, too kitnaa ulloo hai!)
अरे उल्लू के पट्ठे, इतनी आसान बात भी समझ नहीं आई तुझे?
Oh you owl's kid, you couldn't even understand such a simple thing?
(are ulloo ke patthe, itnii aasaan baat bhii samajh nahiin aaii tujhe?)
मैं उल्लू बन गया, उसने मुझे झूठा माल बेच दिया।
I got made a fool of -- he sold me fake goods.
(main ulloo ban gayaa, usne mujhe jhoothaa maal bech diyaa।)
वह हर बार दुकानदारों का उल्लू बनता रहता है।
He keeps getting made a fool of by shopkeepers every single time.
(vah har baar dukaandaaron kaa ulloo bantaa rahtaa hai।)
उल्लू मत बनो, यह ऑफर तो एकदम फ्रॉड है।
Don't be a fool, this offer is a complete scam.
(ulloo mat bano, yah ophar to ekdam phrod hai।)
अगर मैं वहाँ जाता, तो वे लोग मुझे भी उल्लू बना देते।
If I had gone there, those people would have made a fool of me too.
(agar main vahaan jaataa, to ve log mujhe bhii ulloo banaa dete।)
पूरी क्लास के सामने उसे उल्लू बना दिया गया।
He was made a fool of in front of the entire class.
(poorii klaas ke saamne use ulloo banaa diyaa gayaa।)
बॉस के सामने ऐसी बात मत बोलना, वरना उल्लू ही समझा जाएगा तुझे।
Don't say something like that in front of the boss, or you'll just be taken for a fool.
(bos ke saamne aisii baat mat bolnaa, varnaa ulloo hii samjhaa jaaegaa tujhe।)
उम्मीद है इस बार कोई तुझे उल्लू न बनाए।
I hope no one makes a fool of you this time.
(ummiid hai is baar koii tujhe ulloo n banaae।)
क्या उल्लू है यार, अपना ही पासवर्ड भूल गया।
What a fool, dude -- he forgot his own password.
(kyaa ulloo hai yaar, apnaa hii paasvard bhool gayaa।)
दोस्तों में एक-दूसरे को उल्लू के पट्ठे कहना तो आम बात है।
Calling each other 'you owl's kid' among friends is a totally normal thing.
(doston men ek-doosre ko ulloo ke patthe kahnaa to aam baat hai।)
Sense
2
:
owl (the bird)
noun, masculine
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: Unlike in English folklore, the owl in Hindi/Indian culture is not wise -- it is seen as dim-witted and easily fooled at night, which is exactly why the word doubles as an insult. This negative association is also why उल्लू (ulloo) is considered the vaahan (mount) of Lakshmi in some folk depictions, yet still carries a comic, foolish image in daily speech rather than a wise one.
Sample Sentences:
उल्लू रात में जागता है और दिन में सोता है।
The owl stays awake at night and sleeps during the day.
(ulloo raat men jaagtaa hai aur din men sotaa hai।)
पेड़ की डाल पर एक उल्लू बैठा है।
An owl is sitting on the branch of the tree.
(ped kii daal par ek ulloo baithaa hai।)
रात के सन्नाटे में हमें एक उल्लू की आवाज़ सुनाई दी।
In the silence of the night, we heard the sound of an owl.
(raat ke sannaate men hamen ek ulloo kii aavaaz sunaaii dii।)
लक्ष्मी माता को कुछ लोक-चित्रों में उल्लू पर सवार दिखाया जाता है।
In some folk depictions, Mother Lakshmi is shown riding an owl.
(lakshmii maataa ko kuchh lok-chitron men ulloo par savaar dikhaayaa jaataa hai।)
जंगल में इतने घने पेड़ हैं कि यहाँ उल्लू ज़रूर रहते होंगे।
The forest has such dense trees that owls must surely live here.
(jangal men itne ghane ped hain ki yahaan ulloo zaroor rahte honge।)
बच्चों, अगर उल्लू को छेड़ोगे तो वह डर जाएगा।
Kids, if you tease the owl, it will get scared.
(bachchon, agar ulloo ko chhedoge to vah dar jaaegaa।)
चिड़ियाघर में बच्चे उल्लू को देखकर बहुत खुश हुए।
The children were very happy seeing the owl at the zoo.
(chidiyaaghar men bachche ulloo ko dekhkar bahut khush hue।)
यदि जंगल कट जाते तो उल्लुओं का बसेरा भी छिन जाता।
If the forests had been cut down, the owls' habitat would have been lost too.
(yadi jangal kat jaate to ulluon kaa baseraa bhii chhin jaataa।)
उल्लू की आँखें अँधेरे में भी साफ़ देख सकती हैं।
An owl's eyes can see clearly even in the dark.
(ulloo kii aankhen andhere men bhii saaf dekh saktii hain।)
पुराने खंडहर में उल्लुओं का डेरा हो सकता है, सावधानी से जाना।
The old ruins might have a colony of owls, go carefully.
(puraane khandahar men ulluon kaa deraa ho saktaa hai, saavdhaanii se jaanaa।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
उल्लू
(ulloo)
(sg.m.oblique):
उल्लू
(ulloo)
(pl.m.direct):
उल्लू
(ulloo)
(pl.m.oblique):
उल्लूों
([[उल्लूों]])