ग्राहक (graahak)
noun
A noun meaning 'customer' or 'client' -- the person who buys or receives a service, as distinct from the shopkeeper/seller.
Sense
1
:
customer, client, buyer
noun, masculine
Synonyms: खरीदार (khariidaar, buyer, emphasizes the act of purchasing), उपभोक्ता (upbhoktaa, formal, used for 'consumer' in economic/legal contexts)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You will hear shopkeepers across Delhi-NCR call out ग्राहक (graahak) or address you directly, and in markets there's a common saying that ग्राहक भगवान होता है (graahak bhagvaan hotaa hai, 'the customer is god') -- a Hindi echo of 'the customer is king,' reflecting how central good service is to trade culture here. Note the gendered pull: ग्राहक (graahak) is grammatically masculine but is used for customers of any gender in ordinary speech; a distinct feminine form ग्राहिका (graahikaa) exists but is far less common in everyday use.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes use ग्राहक (graahak) for the shopkeeper/seller by mistake -- the seller is दुकानदार (dukaandaar) or विक्रेता (vikretaa); ग्राहक (graahak) is always the one buying or receiving service. 2) In service contexts like banks, salons, or restaurants, ग्राहक (graahak) is used even when no direct 'shopping' is happening -- it covers anyone being served, not just someone handing over cash for goods.
Sample Sentences:
दुकानदार हर ग्राहक का मुस्कुरा कर स्वागत करता है।
The shopkeeper welcomes every customer with a smile.
(dukaandaar har graahak kaa muskuraa kar svaagat kartaa hai।)
यहाँ कहते हैं कि ग्राहक भगवान होता है।
They say here that the customer is god.
(yahaan kahte hain ki graahak bhagvaan hotaa hai।)
आज सुबह से दुकान में एक भी ग्राहक नहीं आया।
Not a single customer has come to the shop since this morning.
(aaj subah se dukaan men ek bhii graahak nahiin aayaa।)
दुकानदार गली से गुजरते लोगों को देख कर चिल्लाया, "ग्राहक, इधर आइए!"
Seeing the people passing through the lane, the shopkeeper shouted, "Customer, come this way!"
(dukaandaar galii se gujarte logon ko dekh kar chillaayaa, "graahak, idhar aaie!")
ग्राहकों की शिकायतों को कभी नज़रअंदाज़ मत करो।
Never ignore the customers' complaints.
(graahkon kii shikaayton ko kabhii nazraandaaz mat karo।)
अगर हम बेहतर सेवा दें, तो ग्राहक दोबारा ज़रूर आएँगे।
If we give better service, the customers will surely come back again.
(agar ham behtar sevaa den, to graahak dobaaraa zaroor aaenge।)
अगर उसने ग्राहक से अच्छे से बात की होती, तो वह नाराज़ न होता।
If he had spoken nicely to the customer, he would not have gotten angry.
(agar usne graahak se achchhe se baat kii hotii, to vah naaraaz n hotaa।)
इस समय दुकान में दस से ज़्यादा ग्राहक खड़े हैं।
Right now there are more than ten customers standing in the shop.
(is samay dukaan men das se zyaadaa graahak khade hain।)
कंपनी द्वारा हर ग्राहक को एक विशेष छूट कार्ड दिया जाता है।
A special discount card is given to every customer by the company.
(kampnii dvaaraa har graahak ko ek vishesh chhoot kaard diyaa jaataa hai।)
कृपया ग्राहकों की संतुष्टि सुनिश्चित करें।
Please ensure the customers' satisfaction.
(kripyaa graahkon kii santushti sunishchit karen।)
बैंक के प्रबंधक ने बताया कि हर ग्राहक की जानकारी गोपनीय रखी जाएगी।
The bank manager explained that every customer's information will be kept confidential.
(baink ke prabandhak ne bataayaa ki har graahak kii jaankaarii gopniiy rakhii jaaegii।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
ग्राहक
(graahak)
(sg.m.oblique):
ग्राहक
(graahak)
(pl.m.direct):
ग्राहक
(graahak)
(pl.m.oblique):
ग्राहकों
(graahkon)