राजनेता (raajnetaa)
noun
A compound noun meaning 'politician' or 'statesman', formed from राज (raaj, 'rule/kingdom') plus नेता (netaa, 'leader'). One core sense, though it carries a spectrum from respectful to sarcastic depending on tone.
Sense
1
:
politician, statesman
noun, masculine
Synonyms: नेता (netaa, broader term, also 'leader' generally), सियासतदान (siyaasatdaan, less common)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This word sits right at the intersection of respect and cynicism in everyday Hindi -- much depends on tone and context. Say it flatly in a news broadcast and it means 'statesman'; say it with a raised eyebrow at the dinner table and it drips with the assumption that all राजनेता (raajnetaa) are corrupt. This double edge mirrors how नेता (netaa) itself is used colloquially, often as a mild insult ('वो तो बड़ा नेता बनता है' vo to badaa netaa bantaa hai, 'he acts like such a big shot leader').
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often use नेता (netaa) and राजनेता (raajnetaa) interchangeably, but नेता (netaa) is broader -- it covers any kind of leader (a student leader, a union leader, even a family's de facto decision-maker), while राजनेता (raajnetaa) specifically means someone in electoral or state politics. 2) In casual, critical speech, native speakers often just say नेता (netaa) even about a politician -- राजनेता (raajnetaa) tends to sound slightly more formal or written, like something you'd read in a newspaper rather than say while complaining about corruption over chai.
Sample Sentences:
वह एक जाना-माना राजनेता है।
He is a well-known politician.
(vah ek jaanaa-maanaa raajnetaa hai।)
आज शाम की खबरों में एक वरिष्ठ राजनेता का बयान दिखाया जाएगा।
This evening's news will show a statement from a senior statesman.
(aaj shaam kii khabron men ek varishth raajnetaa kaa bayaan dikhaayaa jaaegaa।)
मेरे दादाजी हमेशा कहते थे कि सच्चे राजनेता अब कहाँ बचे हैं।
My grandfather always used to say, where are the true statesmen left now.
(mere daadaajii hameshaa kahte the ki sachche raajnetaa ab kahaan bache hain।)
यार, ये राजनेता लोग तो सब एक जैसे ही हैं, सब पैसा खा रहे हैं।
Dude, all these politicians are the same, all of them are lining their pockets.
(yaar, ye raajnetaa log to sab ek jaise hii hain, sab paisaa khaa rahe hain।)
काश हमारे देश में ऐसे राजनेता होते जो सच में जनता की सोचते।
I wish our country had politicians who truly thought of the people.
(kaash hamaare desh men aise raajnetaa hote jo sach men jantaa kii sochte।)
अगर वह राजनेता होता, तो शायद हालात कुछ बेहतर होते।
If he had been a politician, perhaps things would have been somewhat better.
(agar vah raajnetaa hotaa, to shaayad haalaat kuchh behtar hote।)
यह सम्मेलन देश-विदेश के प्रमुख राजनेताओं को एक मंच पर लाएगा।
This conference will bring leading statesmen from home and abroad onto a single platform.
(yah sammelan desh-videsh ke pramukh raajnetaaon ko ek manch par laaegaa।)
इतिहास ऐसे राजनेताओं को याद रखता है जिन्होंने देश के लिए त्याग किया।
History remembers those statesmen who made sacrifices for the nation.
(itihaas aise raajnetaaon ko yaad rakhtaa hai jinhonne desh ke lie tyaag kiyaa।)
क्या तुम्हें लगता है कि वह सच में एक ईमानदार राजनेता है?
Do you think he is really an honest politician?
(kyaa tumhen lagtaa hai ki vah sach men ek iimaandaar raajnetaa hai?)
उस समय के कई राजनेता आज़ादी की लड़ाई में जेल भी गए थे।
Many statesmen of that era had even gone to jail during the freedom struggle.
(us samay ke kaii raajnetaa aazaadii kii ladaaii men jel bhii gae the।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
राजनेता
(raajnetaa)
(sg.m.oblique):
राजनेता
(raajnetaa)
(pl.m.direct):
राजनेता
(raajnetaa)
(pl.m.oblique):
राजनेताओं
(raajnetaaon)