पत्नी (patnii)
noun
A single-sense word meaning 'wife.' It is the standard, respectful term used across registers, both in speech and in writing.
Sense
1
:
wife
noun, feminine
Synonyms: बीवी (biivii, colloquial), श्रीमती (shriimtii, formal), घरवाली (gharvaalii, colloquial), जीवनसंगिनी (jiivansanginii, formal)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: पत्नी (patnii) is the neutral, everyday-plus-formal word for wife and is what you will see on official forms, in news reports, and hear from someone introducing their spouse politely. Compare पति (pati) for husband -- the two are commonly taught and used as a fixed pair, much like पति-पत्नी (pati-patnii, husband and wife) as a set phrase for a married couple.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes use पत्नी (patnii) in casual conversation where a Hindi speaker would more naturally say बीवी (biivii) or घरवाली (gharvaalii) -- पत्नी (patnii) itself is never wrong, but it can sound a touch formal or bookish in everyday chit-chat among friends. 2) Don't confuse with पति (pati, husband) -- the two words share no root resemblance, unlike English 'wife/husband,' so they must simply be memorized as a pair.
Sample Sentences:
यह मेरी पत्नी है।
This is my wife.
(yah merii patnii hai।)
मेरी पत्नी एक स्कूल में पढ़ाती है।
My wife teaches at a school.
(merii patnii ek skool men padhaatii hai।)
कल शाम को मेरी पत्नी अपनी माँ से मिलने गई थी।
Yesterday evening my wife went to meet her mother.
(kal shaam ko merii patnii apnii maan se milne gaii thii।)
इस समय मेरी पत्नी रसोई में खाना बना रही है।
Right now my wife is cooking in the kitchen.
(is samay merii patnii rasoii men khaanaa banaa rahii hai।)
अगले महीने मेरी पत्नी अमेरिका जाएगी।
Next month my wife will go to America.
(agle mahiine merii patnii amerikaa jaaegii।)
कृपया अपनी पत्नी का नाम इस फॉर्म में लिखें।
Please write your wife's name on this form.
(kripyaa apnii patnii kaa naam is phorm men likhen।)
अगर मेरी पत्नी आज घर पर होती, तो मैं इतना परेशान नहीं होता।
If my wife had been home today, I wouldn't have been so worried.
(agar merii patnii aaj ghar par hotii, to main itnaa pareshaan nahiin hotaa।)
मुझे उम्मीद है कि मेरी पत्नी को यह तोहफा पसंद आएगा।
I hope my wife will like this gift.
(mujhe ummiid hai ki merii patnii ko yah tohphaa pasand aaegaa।)
समाचार में बताया गया कि मंत्री जी की पत्नी भी इस कार्यक्रम में मौजूद थीं।
It was reported in the news that the minister's wife was also present at this event.
(samaachaar men bataayaa gayaa ki mantrii jii kii patnii bhii is kaaryakram men maujood thiin।)
पति-पत्नी दोनों ने मिलकर यह फैसला लिया।
The husband and wife made this decision together.
(pati-patnii donon ne milkar yah phaislaa liyaa।)
उसने अपनी पत्नी से सारी बात सच-सच बता दी।
He told his wife the whole truth honestly.
(usne apnii patnii se saarii baat sach-sach bataa dii।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
पत्नी
(patnii)
(sg.f.oblique):
पत्नी
(patnii)
(pl.f.direct):
पत्नियाँ
(patniyaan)
(pl.f.oblique):
पत्नियों
(patniyon)