पिता (pitaa)

noun The standard, respectful word for 'father', used in both speech and writing across registers.
Sense 1 : father
noun, masculine
Synonyms: पापा (paapaa, everyday, affectionate), बाबा (baabaa, regional/dated), बाप (baap, blunt, can sound rude in direct address), वालिद (vaalid, literary/Urdu)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: पिता (pitaa) is the word you'll see on forms, hear in formal speeches, and use when talking respectfully about someone's father -- मेरे पिता (mere pitaa, 'my father') is the standard way an adult refers to their father in a formal or narrative context. In daily family life, though, most people actually address their father as पापा (paapaa) or, in some households, बाबूजी (baaboojii); पिता (pitaa) has a slightly more formal, written flavor by comparison, even though it is completely common and unmarked in speech too.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes use पिता (pitaa) as a direct address ('Father, listen!') the way English uses 'Father' -- in speech, families almost always call out पापा (paapaa) or बाबा (baabaa) instead; पिता (pitaa) is used to talk *about* one's father, not usually to call *to* him. 2) बाप (baap) is a close synonym but can sound harsh or disrespectful in direct reference to someone's father unless the context (anger, casual bluntness) supports it -- पिता (pitaa) is the safe, neutral choice.
Sample Sentences:
मेरे पिता एक स्कूल में अध्यापक हैं। My father is a teacher at a school.
(mere pitaa ek skool men adhyaapak hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उसके पिता कल शहर से लौटे। His father returned from the city yesterday.
(uske pitaa kal shahar se laute।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
पिता हमेशा अपने बच्चों की भलाई सोचते हैं। Fathers always think about their children's wellbeing.
(pitaa hameshaa apne bachchon kii bhalaaii sochte hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
फॉर्म में पिता का नाम लिखना अनिवार्य है। Writing the father's name on the form is mandatory.
(phorm men pitaa kaa naam likhnaa anivaary hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
पिता जी उस समय दफ्तर में काम कर रहे थे। Father was working in the office at that time.
(pitaa jii us samay daphtar men kaam kar rahe the।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
काश मेरे पिता आज यहाँ होते। If only my father were here today.
(kaash mere pitaa aaj yahaan hote।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
यदि पिता जल्दी घर आ जाएँ, तो हम साथ खाना खाएँगे। If father comes home early, we will eat together.
(yadi pitaa jaldii ghar aa jaaen, to ham saath khaanaa khaaenge।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
समारोह में सभी बच्चों के पिता आमंत्रित हैं। All the children's fathers are invited to the ceremony.
(samaaroh men sabhii bachchon ke pitaa aamantrit hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
पिता ने अपने बेटे को जीवन की सीख दी। The father gave his son a lesson for life.
(pitaa ne apne bete ko jiivan kii siikh dii।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
पिता, कृपया मुझे इस निर्णय के लिए आशीर्वाद दें। Father, please give me your blessing for this decision.
(pitaa, kripyaa mujhe is nirnay ke lie aashiirvaad den।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
आवेदन-पत्र में माता-पिता दोनों के हस्ताक्षर आवश्यक हैं। Both parents' signatures are required on the application form.
(aavedan-patr men maataa-pitaa donon ke hastaakshar aavashyak hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): पिता (pitaa)
(sg.m.oblique): पिता (pitaa)
(pl.m.direct): पिता (pitaa)
(pl.m.oblique): पिताओं (pitaaon)