देश-भक्ति (desh-bhakti)

noun A compound of देश (desh, 'country') and भक्ति (bhakti, 'devotion') -- literally 'devotion to the country,' i.e. patriotism. One sense only: the abstract noun.
Sense 1 : patriotism
noun, feminine
Synonyms: राष्ट्रभक्ति (raashtrbhakti, one-word variant), देशप्रेम (deshaprem)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This word carries real emotional weight in India, especially around Independence Day (svatantrtaa divas) and Republic Day (gantantr divas), when schools hold cultural programs and patriotic Bollywood songs (देशभक्ति गीत (deshbhakti giit, 'patriotic songs')) play everywhere from radios to WhatsApp status updates. Note how भक्ति (bhakti) -- the same word used for religious devotion to a god -- gets repurposed here, so the nation is framed almost like an object of reverence, not just a political entity you're loyal to.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes write it as one unbroken word (देशभक्ति (deshbhakti)) or with a hyphen (देश-भक्ति (desh-bhakti)) -- both are seen in print, so don't worry too much about which one you use. 2) Don't confuse भक्ति (bhakti, 'devotion') here with its more common religious sense (as in भगवान की भक्ति (bhagvaan kii bhakti, 'devotion to God')) -- in this compound it's secular, aimed at the nation, not a deity.
Sample Sentences:
उसके दिल में देश-भक्ति कूट-कूट कर भरी है। Patriotism is filled to the brim in his heart.
(uske dil men desh-bhakti koot-koot kar bharii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
स्वतंत्रता दिवस पर स्कूल में देश-भक्ति के गीत गाए जाते हैं। On Independence Day, patriotic songs are sung at school.
(svatantrtaa divas par skool men desh-bhakti ke giit gaae jaate hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
सैनिक अपनी देश-भक्ति की वजह से सरहद पर डटे रहते हैं। Soldiers stay firm at the border because of their patriotism.
(sainik apnii desh-bhakti kii vajah se sarahad par date rahte hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
काश हर नागरिक में इतनी देश-भक्ति होती। If only every citizen had this much patriotism.
(kaash har naagrik men itnii desh-bhakti hotii।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
गणतंत्र दिवस की परेड देखकर उसके अंदर देश-भक्ति जाग उठी। Watching the Republic Day parade, patriotism awakened within him.
(gantantr divas kii pared dekhkar uske andar desh-bhakti jaag uthii।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
बच्चों में देश-भक्ति की भावना जगाओ। Awaken the spirit of patriotism in children.
(bachchon men desh-bhakti kii bhaavnaa jagaao।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
क्या सिर्फ झंडा लहराना ही देश-भक्ति है? Is just waving a flag really patriotism?
(kyaa sirph jhandaa lahraanaa hii desh-bhakti hai?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
नेता जी अपने भाषण में हमेशा देश-भक्ति की बात करते हैं। The leader always talks about patriotism in his speeches.
(netaa jii apne bhaashan men hameshaa desh-bhakti kii baat karte hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर तुम में सच्ची देश-भक्ति होती तो तुम कभी टैक्स नहीं चुराते। If you had true patriotism, you would never evade taxes.
(agar tum men sachchii desh-bhakti hotii to tum kabhii taiks nahiin churaate।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
यह गीत सुनकर पूरे हॉल में देश-भक्ति की लहर दौड़ गई। On hearing this song, a wave of patriotism swept through the whole hall.
(yah giit sunkar poore hol men desh-bhakti kii lahar daud gaii।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): देश-भक्ति ([[देश-भक्ति]])
(sg.f.oblique): देश-भक्ति ([[देश-भक्ति]])
(pl.f.direct): देश-भक्तिएँ ([[देश-भक्तिएँ]])
(pl.f.oblique): देश-भक्तिओं ([[देश-भक्तिओं]])