एकता (ektaa)

noun A single, straightforward sense: the abstract noun for 'unity' or 'oneness,' built from एक (ek, 'one') plus the abstract-noun suffix -ता (taa).
Sense 1 : unity, oneness (of a group, nation, or people)
noun, feminine
Synonyms: एकात्मता (ekaatmtaa, literary), संगठन (sangthan, organization/solidarity, meaning shifts slightly), अखंडता (akhandtaa, integrity/indivisibility, meaning shifts slightly)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This is a classroom-and-civics word in India -- you'll see it constantly in slogans like एकता में बल है (ektaa men bal hai, 'there is strength in unity') and on posters about राष्ट्रीय एकता (raashtriiy ektaa, 'national unity'), a phrase drilled into every schoolchild given India's diversity of languages and religions. It carries a slightly formal, public-spirited tone rather than being an intimate, everyday word.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes confuse एकता (ektaa) with एकांत (ekaant, 'solitude') because they look similar -- the meanings are unrelated. 2) एकता (ektaa) describes unity among people or parts, not the state of being 'the only one' -- for that, use अकेला (akelaa) or अद्वितीय (advitiiy).
Sample Sentences:
एकता में बल है। There is strength in unity.
(ektaa men bal hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
हमें राष्ट्रीय एकता बनाए रखनी चाहिए। We should maintain national unity.
(hamen raashtriiy ektaa banaae rakhnii chaahie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
स्कूल में हर साल एकता दिवस मनाया जाता है। Unity Day is celebrated at school every year.
(skool men har saal ektaa divas manaayaa jaataa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
देश की एकता खतरे में पड़ जाती है जब लोग धर्म के नाम पर लड़ते हैं। The nation's unity comes under threat when people fight in the name of religion.
(desh kii ektaa khatre men pad jaatii hai jab log dharm ke naam par ladte hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर सब मिलकर काम करते तो एकता बनी रहती। If everyone had worked together, unity would have been maintained.
(agar sab milkar kaam karte to ektaa banii rahtii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
नेता ने भाषण में एकता की अपील की। The leader appealed for unity in his speech.
(netaa ne bhaashan men ektaa kii apiil kii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
हमें अनेकता में एकता का जश्न मनाना चाहिए। We should celebrate unity in diversity.
(hamen anektaa men ektaa kaa jashn manaanaa chaahie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
यह पोस्टर एकता और भाईचारे का संदेश देता है। This poster gives a message of unity and brotherhood.
(yah postar ektaa aur bhaaiichaare kaa sandesh detaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
एकता बनाए रखो, चाहे कुछ भी हो जाए। Maintain unity, no matter what happens.
(ektaa banaae rakho, chaahe kuchh bhii ho jaae।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
क्या सचमुच इतने अलग-अलग समुदायों में एकता संभव है? Is unity really possible among such diverse communities?
(kyaa sachmuch itne alag-alag samudaayon men ektaa sambhav hai?)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): एकता (ektaa)
(sg.f.oblique): एकता (ektaa)
(pl.f.direct): एकताएँ (ektaaen)
(pl.f.oblique): एकताओं (ektaaon)