यातायात (yaataayaat)

noun A single-sense formal/administrative noun meaning 'traffic' -- the movement of vehicles on roads. You will see it constantly on signs and in news broadcasts, less so in casual chat.
Sense 1 : traffic (vehicular movement)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: ट्रैफ़िक (traifik, everyday spoken word)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: यातायात (yaataayaat) is the word stamped on official signage all over Delhi -- यातायात नियम (yaataayaat niyam, 'traffic rules') and यातायात पुलिस (yaataayaat pulis, 'traffic police') are the standard compounds. In daily banter, though, people almost always just say ट्रैफ़िक (traifik), so think of यातायात (yaataayaat) as the 'official register' twin of a very common English loanword.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners default to ट्रैफ़िक (traifik) in speech, which is completely fine and in fact more common in casual conversation -- यातायात (yaataayaat) is the word you will read on signboards, in news reports, and hear from traffic police (yaataayaat pulis, 'traffic police'), not usually what a friend says while stuck on the road.
Sample Sentences:
दिल्ली में यातायात पुलिस चौराहों पर तैनात रहती है। In Delhi, traffic police remain posted at intersections.
(dillii men yaataayaat pulis chauraahon par tainaat rahtii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
सरकार ने नए यातायात नियम लागू किए हैं। The government has implemented new traffic rules.
(sarkaar ne nae yaataayaat niyam laagoo kie hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
इस सड़क पर यातायात दिन-भर व्यस्त रहता है। Traffic remains busy on this road all day long.
(is sadak par yaataayaat din-bhar vyast rahtaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
कृपया यातायात नियमों का पालन करें। Please follow the traffic rules.
(kripyaa yaataayaat niymon kaa paalan karen।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
दुर्घटना के कारण यातायात कई घंटों तक बाधित रहा। Due to the accident, traffic remained obstructed for several hours.
(durghatnaa ke kaaran yaataayaat kaii ghanton tak baadhit rahaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
यातायात व्यवस्था को सुचारु बनाने के लिए नए पुल बनाए जा रहे हैं। New bridges are being built to smoothen the traffic system.
(yaataayaat vyavasthaa ko suchaaru banaane ke lie nae pul banaae jaa rahe hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
यदि यातायात नियमों का उल्लंघन किया जाए, तो जुर्माना लगाया जाएगा। If traffic rules are violated, a fine will be imposed.
(yadi yaataayaat niymon kaa ullanghan kiyaa jaae, to jurmaanaa lagaayaa jaaegaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Passive
अगर यातायात नियमों का सख़्ती से पालन होता, तो इतनी दुर्घटनाएँ न होतीं। If traffic rules were strictly followed, there wouldn't be so many accidents.
(agar yaataayaat niymon kaa sakhtii se paalan hotaa, to itnii durghatnaaen n hotiin।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Passive
यातायात पुलिस द्वारा हर साल एक जागरूकता अभियान चलाया जाता है। An awareness campaign is run by the traffic police every year.
(yaataayaat pulis dvaaraa har saal ek jaagrooktaa abhiyaan chalaayaa jaataa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): यातायात (yaataayaat)
(sg.m.oblique): यातायात (yaataayaat)
(pl.m.direct): यातायात (yaataayaat)
(pl.m.oblique): यातायातों (yaataayaaton)