छुट्टी (chhuttii)

noun Mainly means a day off, vacation, or leave from work/school; also lives inside common idiomatic phrases about being freed or getting rid of something.
Sense 1 : day off, holiday, vacation
noun, feminine
Synonyms: अवकाश (avkaash, formal), वेकेशन (vekeshan, colloquial, English loan)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This is one of the most-used words in daily Delhi life -- from kids checking a group chat for बारिश की छुट्टी (baarish kii chhuttii, 'rain holiday') to office-goers messaging their boss छुट्टी चाहिए (chhuttii chaahie, 'I need leave'). Government and school holidays are announced as छुट्टी की घोषणा (chhuttii kii ghoshnaa), a small daily drama in itself.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often say छुट्टी लेना (chhuttii lenaa) for taking a scheduled holiday (like a public holiday) when they mean उस दिन छुट्टी होना (us din chhuttii honaa, 'that day is off') -- छुट्टी होना (chhuttii honaa) is used when the day itself is off (school closed, shop shut), while छुट्टी लेना (chhuttii lenaa) is for a personal, requested leave. 2) स्कूल में छुट्टी है (skool men chhuttii hai, 'there's a holiday at school') versus स्कूल की छुट्टी है (skool kii chhuttii hai) both circulate, but the से-marked or की-marked phrasing around this noun trips up learners trying to say 'off from school.'
Sample Sentences:
आज स्कूल में छुट्टी है। There's a holiday at school today.
(aaj skool men chhuttii hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
बारिश की वजह से कल छुट्टी हो जाएगी। Because of the rain, tomorrow will be a holiday.
(baarish kii vajah se kal chhuttii ho jaaegii।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
हम हर साल गर्मियों की छुट्टियों में नैनीताल जाते हैं। Every year we go to Nainital during the summer vacation.
(ham har saal garmiyon kii chhuttiyon men nainiitaal jaate hain।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
क्या कल सच में छुट्टी की घोषणा हुई थी? Was a holiday really announced yesterday?
(kyaa kal sach men chhuttii kii ghoshnaa huii thii?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अगर कल छुट्टी होती तो हम पहाड़ों पर घूमने चले जाते। If tomorrow were a holiday, we would have gone off to roam in the hills.
(agar kal chhuttii hotii to ham pahaadon par ghoomne chale jaate।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
बच्चे ग्रुप चैट पर बारिश की छुट्टी का इंतज़ार कर रहे हैं। The kids are waiting on the group chat for a rain holiday.
(bachche grup chait par baarish kii chhuttii kaa intzaar kar rahe hain।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
काश आज छुट्टी होती! I wish today were a holiday!
(kaash aaj chhuttii hotii!)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
इस साल दिवाली की छुट्टियाँ पूरे एक हफ्ते की घोषित की गई हैं। This year the Diwali holidays have been declared for a full week.
(is saal divaalii kii chhuttiyaan poore ek haphte kii ghoshit kii gaii hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
उम्मीद है कि प्रशासन जल्दी छुट्टी की घोषणा कर दे। Hopefully the administration announces the holiday soon.
(ummiid hai ki prashaasan jaldii chhuttii kii ghoshnaa kar de।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
स्कूलों में सर्दी की छुट्टियाँ जनवरी के पहले हफ्ते तक चलेंगी। The winter holidays in schools will continue until the first week of January.
(skoolon men sardii kii chhuttiyaan janavrii ke pahle haphte tak chalengii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
सरकारी दफ़्तरों में गणतंत्र दिवस पर छुट्टी रहती है। Government offices remain closed for a holiday on Republic Day.
(sarkaarii daftron men gantantr divas par chhuttii rahtii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Sense 2 : leave (from work/duty), permission to be absent
noun, feminine Commonly used with लेना (lenaa, 'to take'), देना (denaa, 'to give'), and मिलना (milnaa, 'to get') as light verbs: छुट्टी लेना (chhuttii lenaa), छुट्टी देना (chhuttii denaa), छुट्टी मिलना (chhuttii milnaa).
Synonyms: अवकाश (avkaash, formal)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: In offices across India, बीमारी की छुट्टी (biimaarii kii chhuttii, 'sick leave') and मैटरनिटी छुट्टी (maitarnitii chhuttii, 'maternity leave') are common HR terms, and asking बॉस से छुट्टी माँगना (bos se chhuttii maangnaa, 'to ask the boss for leave') is a small ritual of Indian work culture, often accompanied by a good excuse.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes use छुट्टी होना (chhuttii honaa) when they actually mean requesting personal leave, which should be छुट्टी लेना (chhuttii lenaa) or छुट्टी माँगना (chhuttii maangnaa, 'to ask for leave') -- the choice of light verb changes who is initiating the absence.
Sample Sentences:
मुझे कल छुट्टी चाहिए। I need leave tomorrow.
(mujhe kal chhuttii chaahie।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उसने बॉस से छुट्टी माँगी। He asked the boss for leave.
(usne bos se chhuttii maangii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
क्या आप मुझे कल की छुट्टी दे सकते हैं? Could you give me leave for tomorrow?
(kyaa aap mujhe kal kii chhuttii de sakte hain?)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
वह बीमारी की छुट्टी पर है। She is on sick leave.
(vah biimaarii kii chhuttii par hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
कंपनी ने उसे मैटरनिटी छुट्टी दे दी। The company granted her maternity leave.
(kampnii ne use maitarnitii chhuttii de dii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अगर मुझे छुट्टी मिलती, तो मैं गाँव चला जाता। If I got leave, I would go to the village.
(agar mujhe chhuttii miltii, to main gaanv chalaa jaataa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
कृपया मेरी छुट्टी की अर्जी स्वीकार करें। Please accept my leave application.
(kripyaa merii chhuttii kii arjii sviikaar karen।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
छुट्टी की अर्जी मैनेजर द्वारा मंज़ूर कर ली गई। The leave application was approved by the manager.
(chhuttii kii arjii mainejar dvaaraa manzoor kar lii gaii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
मैं चाहता हूँ कि मुझे एक हफ्ते की छुट्टी मिल जाए। I wish that I could get a week's leave.
(main chaahtaa hoon ki mujhe ek haphte kii chhuttii mil jaae।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
इस महीने उसने बिना बताए तीन दिन की छुट्टी ले ली। This month he took three days of leave without informing anyone.
(is mahiine usne binaa bataae tiin din kii chhuttii le lii।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
हर साल कर्मचारियों को बीस दिन की छुट्टी मिलती है। Every year, employees get twenty days of leave.
(har saal karmchaariyon ko biis din kii chhuttii miltii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Sense 3 : release, riddance, being freed from something (idiomatic)
noun, feminine Appears in fixed idiomatic phrases like किसी से छुट्टी पाना (kisii se chhuttii paanaa, 'to be freed/rid of someone') and किसी की छुट्टी करना (kisii kii chhuttii karnaa, colloquial, 'to get rid of someone' or 'to finish someone off').
Synonyms: मुक्ति (mukti, formal), निजात (nijaat)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This idiomatic sense shares its root with the 'holiday/leave' senses -- the underlying idea of छुट्टी (chhuttii) is always 'release' or 'freedom from something,' whether that something is work, school, or an annoying person. You will hear अब उसकी छुट्टी (ab uskii chhuttii, 'now he's done for') used half-jokingly among friends.
Common Mistakes: 1) छुट्टी करना (chhuttii karnaa) does not mean 'to take a holiday' here -- when used about a person (किसी की छुट्टी करना (kisii kii chhuttii karnaa)) it means to dismiss, finish off, or get rid of them, which surprises learners who only know the 'holiday' sense.
Sample Sentences:
चलो, इस झंझट से छुट्टी मिली। Great, we got rid of this hassle.
(chalo, is jhanjhat se chhuttii milii।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अगर वो चला जाए तो मेरी छुट्टी हो जाए। If he leaves, I'll finally be rid of him.
(agar vo chalaa jaae to merii chhuttii ho jaae।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
अब उसकी छुट्टी। Now he's done for.
(ab uskii chhuttii।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर पापा को पता चल गया, तो तेरी छुट्टी समझो। If dad finds out, just consider yourself finished.
(agar paapaa ko pataa chal gayaa, to terii chhuttii samjho।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
एक बार यह कर्ज चुक जाए, फिर टेंशन से छुट्टी। Once this debt is paid off, I'll be free of the tension.
(ek baar yah karj chuk jaae, phir tenshan se chhuttii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
उस पुराने फोन से आखिरकार छुट्टी मिल गई। I finally got rid of that old phone.
(us puraane phon se aakhirkaar chhuttii mil gaii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
काश इस बीमारी से मेरी छुट्टी हो जाती। I wish I could be rid of this illness.
(kaash is biimaarii se merii chhuttii ho jaatii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
अगर वो झूठा दोस्त मिल गया होता तो अब तक उससे छुट्टी हो चुकी होती। If I had met that fake friend earlier, I would have been rid of him by now.
(agar vo jhoothaa dost mil gayaa hotaa to ab tak usse chhuttii ho chukii hotii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Perfective -- Voice: Active
इस झगड़े से छुट्टी पाने का बस यही एक तरीका है। This is the only way to get rid of this quarrel.
(is jhagde se chhuttii paane kaa bas yahii ek tariikaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): छुट्टी (chhuttii)
(sg.f.oblique): छुट्टी (chhuttii)
(pl.f.direct): छुट्टियाँ (chhuttiyaan)
(pl.f.oblique): छुट्टियों (chhuttiyon)