वेश्या (veshyaa)
noun
A formal/clinical noun meaning 'prostitute, sex worker' -- one sense, used mainly in written, legal, or journalistic registers rather than casual speech.
Sense
1
:
prostitute, sex worker
noun, feminine
Synonyms: रंडी (randii, vulgar/slang), तवायफ़ (tavaayaf, historical, refers to courtesans/performers), सेक्स वर्कर (seks varkar, modern/formal English loan used in NGO and legal contexts)
Frequency: low
Cultural Note: This word sits firmly in formal registers -- news reports, legal documents, sociological writing -- and carries a clinical distance rather than warmth or slang. In everyday conversation, Hindi speakers tend to avoid naming the profession directly at all, using vague or euphemistic phrasing instead, which tells you something about how sensitive the topic remains in mainstream discourse.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes reach for this word in casual conversation, but it belongs to formal, legal, or journalistic registers (veshyaa) -- native speakers rarely use it in everyday speech, preferring euphemism or avoiding the topic directly. 2) Do not confuse with रंडी (randii), which carries the same core meaning but is a crude insult in casual speech, not a neutral descriptor.
Sample Sentences:
पुलिस ने छापे में कई वेश्याओं को हिरासत में लिया।
The police detained several prostitutes during the raid.
(pulis ne chhaape men kaii veshyaaon ko hiraasat men liyaa।)
रिपोर्ट के अनुसार शहर में वेश्याओं की संख्या बढ़ रही है।
According to the report, the number of prostitutes in the city is increasing.
(riport ke anusaar shahar men veshyaaon kii sankhyaa badh rahii hai।)
अदालत ने वेश्याओं के पुनर्वास हेतु एक योजना को मंज़ूरी दी।
The court approved a scheme for the rehabilitation of prostitutes.
(adaalat ne veshyaaon ke punarvaas hetu ek yojnaa ko manzoorii dii।)
सामाजिक अध्ययन में वेश्याओं की स्थिति पर विस्तार से चर्चा की गई है।
In the sociological study, the condition of prostitutes has been discussed in detail.
(saamaajik adhyyan men veshyaaon kii sthiti par vistaar se charchaa kii gaii hai।)
कानून के तहत किसी वेश्या का शोषण करना दंडनीय अपराध है।
Under the law, exploiting a prostitute is a punishable offense.
(kaanoon ke tahat kisii veshyaa kaa shoshan karnaa dandniiy apraadh hai।)
यदि सरकार समय रहते कदम उठाती तो इतनी वेश्याएँ तस्करी का शिकार न होतीं।
If the government had acted in time, so many prostitutes would not have fallen victim to trafficking.
(yadi sarkaar samay rahte kadam uthaatii to itnii veshyaaen taskrii kaa shikaar n hotiin।)
आयोग की सिफारिश है कि वेश्याओं को भी न्यूनतम स्वास्थ्य सुविधाएँ मिलें।
The commission's recommendation is that prostitutes too should receive minimum health facilities.
(aayog kii siphaarish hai ki veshyaaon ko bhii nyoontam svaasthy suvidhaaen milen।)
समाचार-पत्र में लिखा था कि उस इलाके में वेश्याओं का एक गिरोह पकड़ा गया।
It was written in the newspaper that a gang of prostitutes was caught in that area.
(samaachaar-patr men likhaa thaa ki us ilaake men veshyaaon kaa ek giroh pakdaa gayaa।)
कानूनी दस्तावेज़ों में वेश्या शब्द का प्रयोग अत्यंत सतर्कता से किया जाता है।
In legal documents, the word 'prostitute' is used with extreme caution.
(kaanoonii dastaavezon men veshyaa shabd kaa prayog atyant satarktaa se kiyaa jaataa hai।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
वेश्या
(veshyaa)
(sg.f.oblique):
वेश्या
(veshyaa)
(pl.f.direct):
वेश्याएँ
(veshyaaen)
(pl.f.oblique):
वेश्याओं
(veshyaaon)