क़द (qad)
noun
A single-sense noun meaning a person's height or stature, used both literally (physical height) and figuratively (standing, caliber).
Sense
1
:
physical height/stature of a person
noun, masculine
Synonyms: लंबाई (lambaaii), डील-डौल (diil-daul, build/physique, broader than just height)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: Height is a frequent topic of family commentary in India, especially about children -- relatives love to remark on how much someone's क़द (qad) has grown since they last saw them. You'll also hear क़द निकलना (qad nikalnaa, 'for height to shoot up') used affectionately about teenagers going through a growth spurt.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for लंबाई (lambaaii) by default, but क़द (qad) is the more natural word specifically for a person's bodily height and is what you'll hear in everyday remarks like 'उसका क़द अच्छा है' (uskaa qad achchhaa hai, 'he/she has good height'). 2) Note the nuqta under क़ (q) -- it's pronounced with a slightly harder 'q' sound (from Persian/Urdu), though many speakers say it closer to 'kad' in casual speech; the spelling without the dot (कद, kad) is also seen and accepted.
Sample Sentences:
उसका क़द बहुत लंबा है।
His height is very tall.
(uskaa qad bahut lambaa hai।)
पिछले साल के बाद से उसका क़द बहुत निकल गया है।
His height has really shot up since last year.
(pichhle saal ke baad se uskaa qad bahut nikal gayaa hai।)
बचपन में मेरा क़द सबसे छोटा था।
In my childhood, my height was the smallest of all.
(bachpan men meraa qad sabse chhotaa thaa।)
डॉक्टर हर महीने बच्चे का क़द नाप रहे थे।
The doctor was measuring the child's height every month.
(doktar har mahiine bachche kaa qad naap rahe the।)
अगर वह रोज़ दूध पिए, तो उसका क़द ज़रूर बढ़ेगा।
If he drinks milk every day, his height will surely increase.
(agar vah roz doodh pie, to uskaa qad zaroor badhegaa।)
अगर उसे अच्छी खुराक मिलती, तो उसका क़द और बढ़ता।
If he had gotten proper nutrition, his height would have grown even more.
(agar use achchhii khuraak miltii, to uskaa qad aur badhtaa।)
अपना क़द नापो और मुझे बताओ कितना हुआ।
Measure your height and tell me how much it is.
(apnaa qad naapo aur mujhe bataao kitnaa huaa।)
फ़ौज में भर्ती के लिए एक निश्चित क़द ज़रूरी होता है।
A certain height is necessary for recruitment into the army.
(fauj men bhartii ke lie ek nishchit qad zaroorii hotaa hai।)
दरवाज़े पर उसका क़द नापा गया और दीवार पर निशान लगाया गया।
His height was measured at the door and a mark was made on the wall.
(darvaaze par uskaa qad naapaa gayaa aur diivaar par nishaan lagaayaa gayaa।)
मुझे उम्मीद है कि उसका क़द अपने पिता जितना हो जाए।
I hope his height becomes as much as his father's.
(mujhe ummiid hai ki uskaa qad apne pitaa jitnaa ho jaae।)
Sense
2
:
figurative standing, stature, or caliber of a person
noun, masculine This figurative sense typically appears in the set phrase क़द बढ़ना (qad badhnaa, 'stature to increase') or क़द के बराबर (qad ke baraabar, 'equal in stature'), extending the physical-height image to reputation or importance.
Synonyms: रुतबा (rutbaa, social standing/prestige), हैसियत (haisiyat, status/capacity)
Frequency: low
Cultural Note: This is the same word as the literal 'height' sense, just stretched metaphorically -- much like English 'stature' does double duty for physical height and reputation. You'll meet it often in news headlines about a leader's or celebrity's growing importance.
Common Mistakes: 1) This figurative use is less common in casual speech than in formal writing, journalism, or political commentary -- e.g. 'उनका क़द बहुत बढ़ गया है' (unkaa qad bahut badh gayaa hai, 'his stature has grown a lot'); don't overuse it in ordinary conversation where रुतबा (rutbaa) or हैसियत (haisiyat) might sound more natural.
Sample Sentences:
समय के साथ उनका क़द बहुत बढ़ गया है।
Over time, his stature has grown a lot.
(samay ke saath unkaa qad bahut badh gayaa hai।)
इस जीत के बाद खिलाड़ी का क़द और ऊँचा हो गया।
After this victory, the player's stature rose even higher.
(is jiit ke baad khilaadii kaa qad aur oonchaa ho gayaa।)
कोई भी उनके क़द का नेता नहीं है।
There is no leader of his stature.
(koii bhii unke qad kaa netaa nahiin hai।)
पार्टी में उनका क़द दिन-ब-दिन बढ़ता जा रहा है।
His stature within the party is increasing day by day.
(paartii men unkaa qad din-b-din badhtaa jaa rahaa hai।)
अगर वह यह फ़िल्म कर लेती, तो उसका क़द और बढ़ जाता।
If she had done this film, her stature would have grown even more.
(agar vah yah film kar letii, to uskaa qad aur badh jaataa।)
आलोचकों ने उसके साहित्यिक क़द को कभी कम करके नहीं आँका।
Critics never underestimated his literary stature.
(aalochkon ne uske saahityik qad ko kabhii kam karke nahiin aankaa।)
क्या वह वाकई इतने बड़े क़द का इंसान है?
Is he really a person of such great stature?
(kyaa vah vaakaii itne bade qad kaa insaan hai?)
उनके क़द के सामने बाकी सब बौने लगते हैं।
Compared to his stature, everyone else seems dwarfed.
(unke qad ke saamne baakii sab baune lagte hain।)
यह पुरस्कार उनके क़द को और मज़बूत करेगा।
This award will further strengthen his stature.
(yah puraskaar unke qad ko aur mazboot karegaa।)
देश और दुनिया में भारत का क़द लगातार बढ़ रहा है।
India's stature is continuously rising, both at home and abroad.
(desh aur duniyaa men bhaarat kaa qad lagaataar badh rahaa hai।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
क़द
(qad)
(sg.m.oblique):
क़द
(qad)
(pl.m.direct):
क़द
(qad)
(pl.m.oblique):
क़दों
(qadon)