प्रथा (prathaa)
noun
A single-sense noun meaning a custom, tradition, or established social practice -- something a community does because it has always been done that way.
Sense
1
:
custom, tradition, established social practice
noun, feminine
Synonyms: परंपरा (parampraa), रिवाज़ (rivaaz), रीति (riiti, slightly formal/literary)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will meet प्रथा (prathaa) constantly in Indian news and school textbooks discussing social reform -- सती प्रथा (satii prathaa), बाल विवाह प्रथा (baal vivaah prathaa), दहेज प्रथा (dahej prathaa) -- since it carries a slightly more institutional or systemic weight than परंपरा (parampraa), which feels warmer and more about heritage or family continuity. Think of प्रथा (prathaa) as the word you'd use when a custom is being examined, questioned, or reformed, rather than simply celebrated.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for रिवाज़ (rivaaz) as a default, but प्रथा (prathaa) leans slightly more formal and is common in writing about social issues, law, or history (e.g. दहेज प्रथा dahej prathaa, 'the dowry custom/system') -- it can sound a bit bookish in casual chit-chat about family habits, where रिवाज़ (rivaaz) or परंपरा (parampraa) feels more natural. 2) प्रथा (prathaa) is feminine, so watch adjective and verb agreement: पुरानी प्रथा (puraanii prathaa, 'old custom'), not पुराना प्रथा.
Sample Sentences:
दहेज प्रथा हमारे समाज की एक बड़ी बुराई है।
The dowry custom is a major evil of our society.
(dahej prathaa hamaare samaaj kii ek badii buraaii hai।)
सती प्रथा को अंग्रेजों के जमाने में कानूनी तौर पर बंद कर दिया गया था।
The practice of sati was legally banned during the British era.
(satii prathaa ko angrejon ke jamaane men kaanoonii taur par band kar diyaa gayaa thaa।)
बाल विवाह प्रथा आज भी कुछ इलाकों में जारी है।
The custom of child marriage still continues in some areas today.
(baal vivaah prathaa aaj bhii kuchh ilaakon men jaarii hai।)
इस प्रथा को खत्म करने के लिए सरकार ने नया कानून बनाया।
The government made a new law to end this custom.
(is prathaa ko khatm karne ke lie sarkaar ne nayaa kaanoon banaayaa।)
क्या यह प्रथा वाकई इतनी पुरानी है जितना लोग कहते हैं?
Is this custom really as old as people say?
(kyaa yah prathaa vaakaii itnii puraanii hai jitnaa log kahte hain?)
समाज सुधारकों ने इस प्रथा के खिलाफ आवाज उठाई थी।
Social reformers had raised their voice against this custom.
(samaaj sudhaarkon ne is prathaa ke khilaaph aavaaj uthaaii thii।)
अगर यह प्रथा पहले ही बंद हो जाती तो कितनी जानें बच जातीं।
If this custom had ended earlier, how many lives would have been saved.
(agar yah prathaa pahle hii band ho jaatii to kitnii jaanen bach jaatiin।)
यह प्रथा धीरे-धीरे समाप्त हो जानी चाहिए।
This custom should gradually be eliminated.
(yah prathaa dhiire-dhiire samaapt ho jaanii chaahie।)
कई पुरानी प्रथाओं पर आज सवाल उठाए जा रहे हैं।
Many old customs are being questioned today.
(kaii puraanii prathaaon par aaj savaal uthaae jaa rahe hain।)
शिक्षक ने कक्षा में दहेज प्रथा के इतिहास पर व्याख्यान दिया।
The teacher gave a lecture on the history of the dowry custom in class.
(shikshak ne kakshaa men dahej prathaa ke itihaas par vyaakhyaan diyaa।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
प्रथा
(prathaa)
(sg.f.oblique):
प्रथा
(prathaa)
(pl.f.direct):
प्रथाएँ
(prathaaen)
(pl.f.oblique):
प्रथाओं
(prathaaon)