नन्हे-मुन्ने (nanhe-munne)
adjective
An affectionate, singsong reduplicated phrase meaning 'little ones' or 'tiny tots' -- used almost exclusively for small children. It appears mainly in its plural/oblique form, which is why it is entered here as नन्हे-मुन्ने (nanhe-munne) rather than the dictionary-style masculine singular नन्हा-मुन्ना (nanhaa-munnaa).
Sense
1
:
tiny, little (of small children, affectionate)
adjective Used almost always before a noun like बच्चे (bachche) or as a noun-phrase itself referring to children; the reduplication with मुन्ना (munnaa) exists purely for rhythmic, affectionate emphasis and has no separate meaning of its own.
Synonyms: छोटे-छोटे (chhote-chhote), नन्हे (nanhe, shorter variant without reduplication)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This is the phrase you hear at a school function, a park, or in a lullaby context -- teachers and grandparents love saying things like नन्हे-मुन्ने बच्चे (nanhe-munne bachche, 'the tiny tots') with real warmth in the voice. The doubled, rhyming structure (नन्हा (nanhaa) + मुन्ना (munnaa)) is a classic Hindi affection-pattern, similar in spirit to English 'itty-bitty' -- it exists to sound cute, not to add precise meaning.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes try to use नन्हे-मुन्ने (nanhe-munne) for small objects or animals in general -- it is reserved almost entirely for babies and young children, not for 'small' in a neutral sense (for that, छोटा (chhotaa) is the word). 2) The base form नन्हा-मुन्ना (nanhaa-munnaa, masculine singular) is rarely heard alone in speech; the plural/oblique नन्हे-मुन्ने (nanhe-munne) is what you will actually encounter, often functioning as a noun phrase ('the little ones') rather than modifying a stated noun.
Sample Sentences:
स्कूल में नन्हे-मुन्ने बच्चे नाच रहे थे।
The tiny tots were dancing at school.
(skool men nanhe-munne bachche naach rahe the।)
पार्क में नन्हे-मुन्ने बच्चे धूप में खेलते हैं।
The little tots play in the sunshine at the park.
(paark men nanhe-munne bachche dhoop men khelte hain।)
दादी नन्हे-मुन्ने बच्चों को लोरी सुनाती हैं।
Grandma sings lullabies to the little tots.
(daadii nanhe-munne bachchon ko lorii sunaatii hain।)
आज के कार्यक्रम में नन्हे-मुन्ने बच्चों ने बहुत प्यारा गाना गाया।
At today's program, the little tots sang a very sweet song.
(aaj ke kaaryakram men nanhe-munne bachchon ne bahut pyaaraa gaanaa gaayaa।)
नन्हे-मुन्ने बच्चो, अपनी-अपनी जगह पर बैठ जाओ।
Little tots, everyone sit down in your own places.
(nanhe-munne bachcho, apnii-apnii jagah par baith jaao।)
अगर ये नन्हे-मुन्ने बच्चे शोर न मचाते तो सब कुछ कितना शांत होता।
If these little tots didn't make so much noise, how peaceful everything would be.
(agar ye nanhe-munne bachche shor n machaate to sab kuchh kitnaa shaant hotaa।)
समारोह के अंत में नन्हे-मुन्ने बच्चों को मिठाई बाँटी जाएगी।
At the end of the ceremony, sweets will be distributed to the little tots.
(samaaroh ke ant men nanhe-munne bachchon ko mithaaii baantii jaaegii।)
काश मेरे भी नन्हे-मुन्ने बच्चे होते जिनके साथ मैं खेल पाती।
I wish I too had little tots to play with.
(kaash mere bhii nanhe-munne bachche hote jinke saath main khel paatii।)
उसने अपने नन्हे-मुन्ने बेटे को गोद में उठा लिया।
She picked up her tiny little son in her arms.
(usne apne nanhe-munne bete ko god men uthaa liyaa।)
टीचर चाहती है कि सारे नन्हे-मुन्ने बच्चे कतार में खड़े हों।
The teacher wants all the little tots to stand in a line.
(tiichar chaahtii hai ki saare nanhe-munne bachche kataar men khade hon।)
Morphology
Adjective (variable)
Morphology could not be generated (hyphen-joined variable adjective 'नन्हे-मुन्ने').