अगरबत्ती (agarbattii)
noun
A single-sense everyday noun: the incense stick burned in homes, shops, and temples across India.
Sense
1
:
incense stick
noun, feminine
Synonyms: धूपबत्ती (dhoopbattii)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You'll find अगरबत्ती (agarbattii) burning at the household पूजा (poojaa) shelf every morning and evening in most Hindu homes, as well as in shops and offices for its calming fragrance and to ward off mosquitoes. The word itself comes from अगर (agar, agarwood/aloeswood) plus बत्ती (battii, stick/wick), reflecting the traditional aromatic wood used in incense-making.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often say जलाना (jalaanaa, 'to light/burn') for lighting an incense stick, which is correct, but many native speakers also use लगाना (lagaanaa) in this context, e.g. अगरबत्ती लगाना (agarbattii lagaanaa, 'to light/put on an incense stick') -- both are natural, but लगाना (lagaanaa) can surprise learners who only know it as 'to apply.' 2) The compound is often shortened in casual speech to बत्ती (battii) when context makes it clear incense is meant, though बत्ती (battii) alone usually just means 'light/bulb' -- don't assume this shortening works in all contexts.
Sample Sentences:
माँ हर शाम मंदिर में अगरबत्ती जलाती है।
Mom lights an incense stick at the temple every evening.
(maan har shaam mandir men agarbattii jalaatii hai।)
पूजा शुरू करने से पहले दादी ने अगरबत्ती जला दी।
Before starting the puja, grandma lit the incense stick.
(poojaa shuroo karne se pahle daadii ne agarbattii jalaa dii।)
कमरे में अगरबत्ती जल रही है, इसलिए इतनी अच्छी खुशबू आ रही है।
An incense stick is burning in the room, that's why it smells so nice.
(kamre men agarbattii jal rahii hai, islie itnii achchhii khushboo aa rahii hai।)
जरा एक अगरबत्ती जला दो, मच्छर बहुत हो गए हैं।
Light an incense stick, please, the mosquitoes have gotten really bad.
(jaraa ek agarbattii jalaa do, machchhar bahut ho gae hain।)
अगर घर में अगरबत्ती की खुशबू न होती, तो पूजा का माहौल ही नहीं बनता।
If there weren't the fragrance of incense sticks in the house, the atmosphere of worship just wouldn't be created.
(agar ghar men agarbattii kii khushboo n hotii, to poojaa kaa maahaul hii nahiin bantaa।)
दुकान में हर तरह की अगरबत्तियाँ बिकती हैं, चंदन से लेकर गुलाब तक।
The shop sells every kind of incense stick, from sandalwood to rose.
(dukaan men har tarah kii agarbattiyaan biktii hain, chandan se lekar gulaab tak।)
क्या आप मेहरबानी करके ऑफिस में अगरबत्ती नहीं जलाएँगे? कुछ लोगों को धुएँ से परेशानी होती है।
Could you please not burn incense sticks in the office? Some people have trouble with the smoke.
(kyaa aap meharbaanii karke ophis men agarbattii nahiin jalaaenge? kuchh logon ko dhuen se pareshaanii hotii hai।)
पूरे घर में अगरबत्ती की खुशबू फैली हुई थी।
The fragrance of incense sticks had spread throughout the house.
(poore ghar men agarbattii kii khushboo phailii huii thii।)
बाजार से थोड़ी और अगरबत्ती ले आना, ये वाली खत्म हो गई हैं।
Bring some more incense sticks from the market, these ones are finished.
(baajaar se thodii aur agarbattii le aanaa, ye vaalii khatm ho gaii hain।)
अगरबत्ती का धुआँ धीरे-धीरे छत की तरफ उठ रहा था।
The smoke from the incense stick was slowly rising toward the ceiling.
(agarbattii kaa dhuaan dhiire-dhiire chhat kii taraph uth rahaa thaa।)
उम्मीद है कि यह अगरबत्ती ज्यादा तेज खुशबू वाली न हो, मुझे सिरदर्द हो जाता है।
I hope this incense stick isn't too strongly scented, I get headaches.
(ummiid hai ki yah agarbattii jyaadaa tej khushboo vaalii n ho, mujhe sirdard ho jaataa hai।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
अगरबत्ती
(agarbattii)
(sg.f.oblique):
अगरबत्ती
(agarbattii)
(pl.f.direct):
अगरबत्तियाँ
(agarbattiyaan)
(pl.f.oblique):
अगरबत्तियों
(agarbattiyon)