रसोइया (rasoiyaa)

noun A single-sense word meaning 'cook' (the person who cooks), most often a hired or professional cook rather than the home cook of the family.
Sense 1 : cook (person)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: खानसामा (khaansaamaa, often a household/employed cook), शेफ़ (shef, professional/restaurant chef)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: In Delhi-NCR households that employ domestic help, रसोइया (rasoiyaa) is the word you would use for the person hired specifically to cook, distinct from a बर्तन साफ़ करने वाला (bartan saaf karne vaalaa, 'dishwasher') or a general नौकर (naukar, 'servant'). It carries a slightly old-fashioned, household-staff flavor compared to the more modern, restaurant-oriented शेफ़ (shef).
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes use रसोइया (rasoiyaa) for anyone who cooks at home, but it usually implies someone employed or professionally engaged to cook -- for a mother or wife cooking at home, native speakers just say वह खाना बनाती है (vah khaanaa banaatii hai, 'she cooks/makes food') rather than calling her रसोइया (rasoiyaa). 2) The feminine form रसोइया (rasoiyaa) itself does not simply take a ी ending for women cooks -- the word is treated as masculine, and a female cook is more naturally described with a phrase rather than a feminine counterpart.
Sample Sentences:
हमारे घर में एक रसोइया काम करता है। A cook works at our house.
(hamaare ghar men ek rasoiyaa kaam kartaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
पुराने ज़माने में बड़े घरों में अपना रसोइया हुआ करता था। In the old days, big households used to have their own cook.
(puraane zamaane men bade gharon men apnaa rasoiyaa huaa kartaa thaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
रसोइया सुबह जल्दी आकर खाना बनाना शुरू कर देता है। The cook comes early in the morning and starts making food.
(rasoiyaa subah jaldii aakar khaanaa banaanaa shuroo kar detaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
हमें एक अच्छा रसोइया चाहिए जो घर का खाना बना सके। We need a good cook who can make home-style food.
(hamen ek achchhaa rasoiyaa chaahie jo ghar kaa khaanaa banaa sake।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर रसोइया छुट्टी पर होता, तो आज हमें बाहर खाना पड़ता। If the cook were on leave, we would have had to eat out today.
(agar rasoiyaa chhuttii par hotaa, to aaj hamen baahar khaanaa padtaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
रसोइया, आज खाने में थोड़ा कम मिर्च डालना। Cook, put a little less chili in the food today.
(rasoiyaa, aaj khaane men thodaa kam mirch daalnaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
उन्होंने बीस साल तक इस परिवार के रसोइया के रूप में काम किया। He worked as the cook for this family for twenty years.
(unhonne biis saal tak is parivaar ke rasoiyaa ke roop men kaam kiyaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
नया रसोइया कल से रखा जाएगा। A new cook will be hired from tomorrow.
(nayaa rasoiyaa kal se rakhaa jaaegaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Passive
रसोइया रसोई में खाना बना रहा है। The cook is making food in the kitchen.
(rasoiyaa rasoii men khaanaa banaa rahaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
काश हमारे पास भी कोई रसोइया होता, रोज़ खाना बनाना बहुत थका देने वाला है। I wish we too had a cook, cooking every day is very exhausting.
(kaash hamaare paas bhii koii rasoiyaa hotaa, roz khaanaa banaanaa bahut thakaa dene vaalaa hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): रसोइया (rasoiyaa)
(sg.m.oblique): रसोइये (rasoiye)
(pl.m.direct): रसोइये (rasoiye)
(pl.m.oblique): रसोइयों (rasoiyon)