वर्तनी (vartnii)

noun A single, straightforward sense: the spelling of a word, as in 'is this spelling correct?'
Sense 1 : spelling (of a word)
noun, feminine
Synonyms: स्पेलिंग (speling, English loanword, common in casual speech)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This is a classic school word -- you will hear teachers say वर्तनी की गलती (vartnii kii galtii, 'spelling mistake') when marking homework. In everyday adult conversation, especially among younger or more Hinglish-comfortable speakers, स्पेलिंग (speling) is actually more common than वर्तनी (vartnii), which can feel a touch formal or bookish outside the classroom.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes reach for स्पेलिंग (speling) in speech and वर्तनी (vartnii) in writing -- both are correct, but वर्तनी (vartnii) is the word you will see in textbooks, dictations, and school contexts, while स्पेलिंग (speling) dominates casual conversation. 2) Do not confuse with व्याकरण (vyaakran, grammar) -- वर्तनी (vartnii) is specifically about how a word is written/spelled, not about grammar rules.
Sample Sentences:
इस शब्द की वर्तनी क्या है? What is the spelling of this word?
(is shabd kii vartnii kyaa hai?)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अध्यापिका ने कॉपी में वर्तनी की गलती लाल पेन से घेर दी। The teacher circled the spelling mistake in the notebook with a red pen.
(adhyaapikaa ne kopii men vartnii kii galtii laal pen se gher dii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
हिंदी की वर्तनी अंग्रेज़ी से ज़्यादा नियमित होती है। Hindi spelling is more regular than English.
(hindii kii vartnii angrezii se zyaadaa niymit hotii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
बच्चे रोज़ दस शब्दों की वर्तनी याद करते हैं। The children memorize the spelling of ten words every day.
(bachche roz das shabdon kii vartnii yaad karte hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
कृपया अपनी वर्तनी दोबारा जाँच लीजिए। Please check your spelling again.
(kripyaa apnii vartnii dobaaraa jaanch liijie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
अगर वर्तनी सही होती, तो अंक नहीं कटते। If the spelling had been correct, marks would not have been deducted.
(agar vartnii sahii hotii, to ank nahiin katte।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
परीक्षा में वर्तनी की गलतियों के लिए अंक काटे जाते हैं। In exams, marks are deducted for spelling mistakes.
(pariikshaa men vartnii kii galtiyon ke lie ank kaate jaate hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
उसने वर्तनी सुधारने के लिए एक शब्दकोश खरीदा। He bought a dictionary in order to improve his spelling.
(usne vartnii sudhaarne ke lie ek shabdkosh khariidaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
काश मुझे इस शब्द की वर्तनी पता होती। I wish I knew the spelling of this word.
(kaash mujhe is shabd kii vartnii pataa hotii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
शायद उसकी वर्तनी ठीक न हो, इसलिए उसे दोबारा लिखने को कहा गया है। Perhaps his spelling is not correct, so he has been told to write it again.
(shaayad uskii vartnii thiik n ho, islie use dobaaraa likhne ko kahaa gayaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): वर्तनी (vartnii)
(sg.f.oblique): वर्तनी (vartnii)
(pl.f.direct): वर्तनियाँ (vartniyaan)
(pl.f.oblique): वर्तनियों (vartniyon)