अध्यापिका (adhyaapikaa)

noun A formal word for a female teacher; the female counterpart of अध्यापक (adhyaapak).
Sense 1 : female teacher, instructress
noun, feminine
Synonyms: शिक्षिका (shikshikaa), टीचर (tiichar, colloquial), मास्टरनी (maastarnii, colloquial)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: In Delhi-NCR schools, अध्यापिका (adhyaapikaa) is the respectful, slightly formal register you would use on a report card or in a school notice, while टीचर (tiichar) dominates everyday spoken address ('मैडम' (maidam) is also extremely common as direct address to a female teacher). शिक्षिका (shikshikaa) is essentially interchangeable and equally common in writing.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often default to टीचर (tiichar) in speech, but अध्यापिका (adhyaapikaa) and शिक्षिका (shikshikaa) are the words you will see in writing, school documents, and formal introductions. 2) Do not confuse with अध्यापक (adhyaapak), the masculine form -- the ending change from अक (ak) to इका (ikaa) marks the feminine, not a different meaning.
Sample Sentences:
हमारी नई अध्यापिका बहुत अच्छी हैं। Our new female teacher is very good.
(hamaarii naii adhyaapikaa bahut achchhii hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
स्कूल में हर साल एक नई अध्यापिका आती है। A new female teacher comes to the school every year.
(skool men har saal ek naii adhyaapikaa aatii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अध्यापिका कक्षा में पढ़ा रही हैं। The female teacher is teaching in the classroom.
(adhyaapikaa kakshaa men padhaa rahii hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अध्यापिका ने सभी छात्रों को कल तक होमवर्क जमा करने को कहा। The female teacher told all the students to submit their homework by tomorrow.
(adhyaapikaa ne sabhii chhaatron ko kal tak homvark jamaa karne ko kahaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
प्रधानाचार्या ने नई अध्यापिका की नियुक्ति की घोषणा नोटिस बोर्ड पर की। The principal announced the appointment of the new female teacher on the notice board.
(pradhaanaachaaryaa ne naii adhyaapikaa kii niyukti kii ghoshnaa notis bord par kii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अध्यापिका जी, क्या मैं कुछ पूछ सकती हूँ? Teacher, may I ask something?
(adhyaapikaa jii, kyaa main kuchh poochh saktii hoon?)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
काश हमारी अध्यापिका थोड़ी नरम होती। If only our female teacher were a bit gentler.
(kaash hamaarii adhyaapikaa thodii naram hotii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
अगर वह अध्यापिका न होती, तो शायद वकील बनती। If she hadn't been a teacher, she might have become a lawyer.
(agar vah adhyaapikaa n hotii, to shaayad vakiil bantii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
रिपोर्ट कार्ड पर अध्यापिका के हस्ताक्षर होना ज़रूरी है। It is necessary for the female teacher's signature to be on the report card.
(riport kaard par adhyaapikaa ke hastaakshar honaa zaroorii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अध्यापिका द्वारा दी गई सलाह हमेशा काम आती है। The advice given by the female teacher always comes in handy.
(adhyaapikaa dvaaraa dii gaii salaah hameshaa kaam aatii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
अध्यापिका ने सुझाव दिया कि बच्चे रोज़ अभ्यास करें। The female teacher suggested that the children practice every day.
(adhyaapikaa ne sujhaav diyaa ki bachche roz abhyaas karen।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): अध्यापिका (adhyaapikaa)
(sg.f.oblique): अध्यापिका (adhyaapikaa)
(pl.f.direct): अध्यापिकाएँ (adhyaapikaaen)
(pl.f.oblique): अध्यापिकाओं (adhyaapikaaon)