खोपड़ी (khopdii)
noun
Literally the skull or scalp; extends colloquially to mean 'brain/head' in the sense of intellect or cunning, and shows up in a few lively idioms about someone being stubborn or short-tempered.
Sense
1
:
head/brain as seat of intellect or stubbornness (colloquial)
noun, feminine
Synonyms: दिमाग़ (dimaagh), भेजा (bhejaa, colloquial/slangy)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This is the word you reach for when someone's being stubborn or acting foolishly -- उसकी खोपड़ी खराब है (uskii khopdii kharaab hai, 'his head/brain is messed up') is a classic exasperated remark from an elder about a headstrong younger relative. It's affectionate-annoyed more often than genuinely insulting, the tone Delhi aunties perfect.
Common Mistakes: 1) खोपड़ी (khopdii) in this sense is casual and often teasing or exasperated in tone -- it's not a neutral way to say 'mind' the way दिमाग़ (dimaagh) can be; using it in a formal or respectful context about someone's intelligence would sound rude. 2) The common idiom खोपड़ी खराब होना (khopdii kharaab honaa, 'to go crazy/act senselessly') uses it with होना, not other verbs learners might guess.
Sample Sentences:
उसकी खोपड़ी खराब है, कुछ समझता ही नहीं।
His head is messed up, he just doesn't understand anything.
(uskii khopdii kharaab hai, kuchh samajhtaa hii nahiin।)
तेरी खोपड़ी में थोड़ी अक्ल भी है या नहीं?
Is there even a bit of sense in that head of yours or not?
(terii khopdii men thodii akl bhii hai yaa nahiin?)
अपनी खोपड़ी थोड़ी शांत रख, इतना गुस्सा मत कर।
Keep that head of yours a little calm, don't get so angry.
(apnii khopdii thodii shaant rakh, itnaa gussaa mat kar।)
मैंने उसे कितना समझाया पर उसकी खोपड़ी में कुछ घुसा ही नहीं।
I explained so much to him but nothing entered that head of his.
(mainne use kitnaa samjhaayaa par uskii khopdii men kuchh ghusaa hii nahiin।)
अगर उसकी खोपड़ी थोड़ी और तेज़ होती तो वह ये गलती न करता।
If his head had been a bit sharper, he wouldn't have made this mistake.
(agar uskii khopdii thodii aur tez hotii to vah ye galtii n kartaa।)
बच्चे की खोपड़ी बहुत तेज़ चलती है, हर सवाल का जवाब तुरंत दे देता है।
The kid's brain works really fast, he answers every question instantly.
(bachche kii khopdii bahut tez chaltii hai, har savaal kaa javaab turant de detaa hai।)
क्या पता उसकी खोपड़ी में क्या चल रहा है!
Who knows what's going on in that head of his!
(kyaa pataa uskii khopdii men kyaa chal rahaa hai!)
मेरी खोपड़ी मत खा, चुपचाप अपना काम कर।
Don't eat my head, just quietly do your work.
(merii khopdii mat khaa, chupchaap apnaa kaam kar।)
उसकी खोपड़ी में सिर्फ एक ही बात घुसी हुई है, वह अपनी बात कभी नहीं बदलेगा।
Only one idea has gotten stuck in that head of his, he'll never change his position.
(uskii khopdii men sirph ek hii baat ghusii huii hai, vah apnii baat kabhii nahiin badlegaa।)
काश उसकी खोपड़ी थोड़ी खुली होती और वह दूसरों की भी सुनता।
I wish his head were a little more open and he listened to others too.
(kaash uskii khopdii thodii khulii hotii aur vah doosron kii bhii suntaa।)
Sense
2
:
skull, cranium
noun, feminine
Synonyms: कपाल (kapaal, literary), सिर की हड्डी (sir kii haddii, descriptive)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will hear this in casual, even slightly rough speech -- a mother might scold a child with सिर पर मत मारो, खोपड़ी फूट जाएगी (sir par mat maaro, khopdii phoot jaaegii, 'don't hit him on the head, his skull will crack'). It carries a physical, almost blunt bluntness that सिर (sir) lacks.
Common Mistakes: 1) Don't confuse with सिर (sir), which is the general word for 'head' -- खोपड़ी (khopdii) specifically evokes the skull/scalp, often with a slightly blunt or informal edge even in this literal sense.
Sample Sentences:
गिरने से उसकी खोपड़ी फूट गई।
His skull cracked from the fall.
(girne se uskii khopdii phoot gaii।)
सिर पर मत मारो, खोपड़ी फूट जाएगी।
Don't hit him on the head, his skull will crack.
(sir par mat maaro, khopdii phoot jaaegii।)
डॉक्टर ने एक्स-रे में देखा कि खोपड़ी में हल्की दरार है।
The doctor saw in the X-ray that there was a slight crack in the skull.
(doktar ne eks-re men dekhaa ki khopdii men halkii daraar hai।)
अगर हेलमेट न पहनते तो खोपड़ी टुकड़ों में बँट जाती।
If they hadn't worn a helmet, the skull would have shattered into pieces.
(agar helmet n pahante to khopdii tukdon men bant jaatii।)
मजदूर की खोपड़ी पर सरिया लगते ही खून बहने लगा।
As soon as the rod hit the laborer's skull, blood started flowing.
(majdoor kii khopdii par sariyaa lagte hii khoon bahne lagaa।)
पुरानी खोपड़ियाँ खुदाई में मिली हैं।
Old skulls have been found in the excavation.
(puraanii khopdiyaan khudaaii men milii hain।)
टक्कर इतनी तेज़ थी कि उसकी खोपड़ी चूर-चूर हो गई।
The collision was so severe that his skull was smashed to pieces.
(takkar itnii tez thii ki uskii khopdii choor-choor ho gaii।)
सर्जन ने ऑपरेशन के दौरान खोपड़ी में एक छोटा छेद किया।
The surgeon made a small hole in the skull during the operation.
(sarjan ne opreshan ke dauraan khopdii men ek chhotaa chhed kiyaa।)
खोपड़ी की हड्डी बहुत मजबूत होती है।
The skull bone is very strong.
(khopdii kii haddii bahut majboot hotii hai।)
बच्चे की खोपड़ी अभी पूरी तरह मजबूत नहीं होती, इसलिए सावधानी रखनी चाहिए।
A baby's skull isn't fully strong yet, so one should be careful.
(bachche kii khopdii abhii poorii tarah majboot nahiin hotii, islie saavdhaanii rakhnii chaahie।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
खोपड़ी
(khopdii)
(sg.f.oblique):
खोपड़ी
(khopdii)
(pl.f.direct):
खोपड़ियाँ
(khopdiyaan)
(pl.f.oblique):
खोपड़ियों
(khopdiyon)