डाक्टर (daaktar)

noun A common variant spelling of डॉक्टर (doktar), 'doctor' -- a straightforward English loanword used exactly as in English, for a medical doctor or (informally) any highly educated professional.
Sense 1 : doctor (medical)
noun, masculine/feminine
Synonyms: डॉक्टर (doktar, variant spelling with the candra), वैद्य (vaidy, traditional/Ayurvedic physician), चिकित्सक (chikitsak, formal)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: In everyday Delhi-NCR speech, लोग डाक्टर के पास जाते हैं (log daaktar ke paas jaate hain, 'people go to the doctor') is the natural phrasing -- के पास (ke paas) is used for visiting a person, not पर (par) or में (men). Note also the honorific plural often used for doctors, like for teachers: डाक्टर साहब (daaktar saahab, 'respected doctor').
Common Mistakes: 1) This spelling drops the nukta/candra mark seen in डॉक्टर (doktar); both are read and understood the same way in speech, so don't worry about 'correcting' it. 2) Learners sometimes use वैद्य (vaidy) interchangeably, but that word specifically evokes a traditional Ayurvedic healer, not a hospital-trained doctor.
Sample Sentences:
मुझे बुखार है, मुझे डाक्टर के पास जाना है। I have a fever, I need to go to the doctor.
(mujhe bukhaar hai, mujhe daaktar ke paas jaanaa hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
वह रोज़ाना अपने मरीज़ों को दो घंटे देखता है। He sees his patients for two hours every day.
(vah rozaanaa apne mariizon ko do ghante dekhtaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
डाक्टर साहब अभी मरीज़ को देख रहे हैं। The doctor is examining the patient right now.
(daaktar saahab abhii mariiz ko dekh rahe hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
कल हम डाक्टर के पास गए थे। We went to the doctor yesterday.
(kal ham daaktar ke paas gae the।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अगर तुम्हें अभी भी दर्द है, तो डाक्टर को दिखाओ। If you still have pain, show it to the doctor.
(agar tumhen abhii bhii dard hai, to daaktar ko dikhaao।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
मरीज़ को अस्पताल में डाक्टरों द्वारा भर्ती किया गया। The patient was admitted to the hospital by the doctors.
(mariiz ko asptaal men daaktron dvaaraa bhartii kiyaa gayaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
काश कोई अच्छा डाक्टर इस गाँव में होता। If only there were a good doctor in this village.
(kaash koii achchhaa daaktar is gaanv men hotaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
शायद वह डाक्टर बनना चाहती हो। Perhaps she wants to become a doctor.
(shaayad vah daaktar bannaa chaahtii ho।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
पहले डाक्टर से मिलिए, फिर दवाई लीजिए। First meet the doctor, then take the medicine.
(pahle daaktar se milie, phir davaaii liijie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
जब तक डाक्टर नहीं आएगा, तब तक कोई ऑपरेशन नहीं होगा। Until the doctor arrives, no operation will take place.
(jab tak daaktar nahiin aaegaa, tab tak koii opreshan nahiin hogaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
बच्चे के गले में कुछ फँस गया है, उसे तुरंत डाक्टर के पास ले चलो। Something is stuck in the child's throat, take him to the doctor immediately.
(bachche ke gale men kuchh phans gayaa hai, use turant daaktar ke paas le chalo।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
Sense 2 : PhD holder (academic title)
noun, masculine/feminine
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: Just as in English, this title precedes a name for anyone with a doctorate, not only medical professionals -- e.g. a university professor might be introduced as डाक्टर शर्मा (daaktar sharmaa, 'Dr. Sharma') even though they've never treated a patient.
Sample Sentences:
डाक्टर शर्मा हमारे विभाग में हिंदी साहित्य पढ़ाते हैं। Dr. Sharma teaches Hindi literature in our department.
(daaktar sharmaa hamaare vibhaag men hindii saahity padhaate hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उन्होंने पिछले साल भाषाविज्ञान में अपनी पीएचडी पूरी की और अब डाक्टर कहलाती हैं। She completed her PhD in linguistics last year and is now called Dr.
(unhonne pichhle saal bhaashaavigyaan men apnii piiechdii poorii kii aur ab daaktar kahlaatii hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
कल के समारोह में डाक्टर गुप्ता को सम्मानित किया जाएगा। Dr. Gupta will be honored at tomorrow's ceremony.
(kal ke samaaroh men daaktar guptaa ko sammaanit kiyaa jaaegaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Passive
कृपया डाक्टर वर्मा को मंच पर आमंत्रित करें। Please invite Dr. Verma to the stage.
(kripyaa daaktar varmaa ko manch par aamantrit karen।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
यदि उसने शोध पूरा किया होता, तो वह भी अब तक डाक्टर बन गई होती। If she had finished her research, she too would have become a Dr. by now.
(yadi usne shodh pooraa kiyaa hotaa, to vah bhii ab tak daaktar ban gaii hotii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Perfective -- Voice: Active
विश्वविद्यालय चाहता है कि हर विभाग में कम से कम एक डाक्टर हो। The university wants there to be at least one Dr. in every department.
(vishvvidyaalay chaahtaa hai ki har vibhaag men kam se kam ek daaktar ho।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
सम्मेलन में कई देशों से डाक्टर आए थे, सब अपने-अपने विषय के विशेषज्ञ। PhDs had come from many countries for the conference, each an expert in their own field.
(sammelan men kaii deshon se daaktar aae the, sab apne-apne vishay ke visheshagy।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
जिस दिन उसकी थीसिस स्वीकृत हुई, उसके नाम के आगे 'डाक्टर' जुड़ गया। The day her thesis was approved, 'Dr.' was added before her name.
(jis din uskii thiisis sviikrit huii, uske naam ke aage 'daaktar' jud gayaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
पुस्तक के आवरण पर लेखक का नाम 'डाक्टर अशोक मेहता' छपा हुआ है। The author's name printed on the book cover is 'Dr. Ashok Mehta'.
(pustak ke aavran par lekhak kaa naam 'daaktar ashok mehtaa' chhapaa huaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m/f.direct): डाक्टर (daaktar)
(sg.m/f.oblique): डाक्टर (daaktar)
(pl.m/f.direct): डाक्टरें (daaktren)
(pl.m/f.oblique): डाक्टरों (daaktron)