क़िला (qilaa)

noun A single-sense word meaning 'fort' or 'fortress' -- a common noun learners meet quickly through India's many historic forts. Also spelled किला (kilaa) without the nuqta; both spellings are heard and read.
Sense 1 : fort, fortress
noun, masculine
Synonyms: दुर्ग (durg, literary), गढ़ (gadh)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Any Delhi-NCR learner will quickly meet this word through लाल क़िला (laal qilaa, 'Red Fort'), the iconic Mughal-era fort in Old Delhi where the Prime Minister raises the flag every Independence Day. Forts (क़िले, qile) dot the landscape of North India, so this word comes up constantly in travel, history, and school contexts.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes drop the nuqta and write किला (kilaa) -- both are acceptable and pronounced the same in everyday speech, so this is not really an error, just something to be aware of when reading. 2) Don't confuse with कला (kalaa, 'art') -- similar-looking but unrelated word.
Sample Sentences:
लाल क़िला दिल्ली में है। The Red Fort is in Delhi.
(laal qilaa dillii men hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
हर साल स्वतंत्रता दिवस पर प्रधानमंत्री लाल क़िले पर झंडा फहराते हैं। Every year on Independence Day, the Prime Minister hoists the flag at the Red Fort.
(har saal svatantrtaa divas par pradhaanmantrii laal qile par jhandaa phahraate hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
हम पिछले हफ्ते आगरा का क़िला देखने गए थे। We went to see the Agra fort last week.
(ham pichhle haphte aagraa kaa qilaa dekhne gae the।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
यह क़िला सदियों पुराना है। This fort is centuries old.
(yah qilaa sadiyon puraanaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
क़िले की दीवारें बहुत ऊँची हैं। The fort's walls are very tall.
(qile kii diivaaren bahut oonchii hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
राजा ने दुश्मनों से बचने के लिए एक मज़बूत क़िला बनवाया था। The king had a strong fort built to protect against enemies.
(raajaa ne dushmnon se bachne ke lie ek mazboot qilaa banvaayaa thaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
क़िले पर सेना का झंडा फहराया जा रहा था। The army's flag was being hoisted on the fort.
(qile par senaa kaa jhandaa phahraayaa jaa rahaa thaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
अगर हमारे पास समय होता, तो हम मेहरौली का क़िला भी देख लेते। If we had had time, we would have also seen the fort at Mehrauli.
(agar hamaare paas samay hotaa, to ham mehraulii kaa qilaa bhii dekh lete।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Perfective -- Voice: Active
कृपया क़िले के अंदर फोटो मत खींचिए। Please do not take photos inside the fort.
(kripyaa qile ke andar photo mat khiinchie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
इतिहास की किताब में उत्तर भारत के कई क़िलों का ज़िक्र है। The history book mentions many forts of North India.
(itihaas kii kitaab men uttar bhaarat ke kaii qilon kaa zikr hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
शायद यह क़िला मुग़लों के समय में बनाया गया हो। This fort may have been built during the Mughal era.
(shaayad yah qilaa mughlon ke samay men banaayaa gayaa ho।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Passive
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): क़िला (qilaa)
(sg.m.oblique): क़िले (qile)
(pl.m.direct): क़िले (qile)
(pl.m.oblique): क़िलों (qilon)