बेटी (betii)

noun A single, straightforward sense: 'daughter'. Related family-noun to बेटा (betaa, 'son').
Sense 1 : daughter
noun, feminine
Synonyms: पुत्री (putrii, formal), लड़की (ladkii, meaning shifts to 'girl' generally)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: बेटी (betii) carries real emotional weight in Hindi -- phrases like बेटी बचाओ (betii bachaao, 'save the daughter') anchor public campaigns against gender bias, and you'll often hear elders say बेटी घर की इज़्ज़त होती है (betii ghar kii izzat hotii hai, 'a daughter is the honor of the household') reflecting (for better or worse) how central this word is to family identity and social attitudes. It pairs naturally with बेटा (betaa, 'son') in the common phrase बेटा-बेटी (betaa-betii, 'sons and daughters/children') used when talking about kids in general.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes reach for लड़की (ladkii) when they mean 'daughter' in a family context -- लड़की (ladkii) just means 'girl' and doesn't carry the relational meaning; बेटी (betii) is the word tied to parentage. 2) पुत्री (putrii) is heard in formal or ceremonial speech (wedding cards, official forms) -- बेटी (betii) is what people actually say at home.
Sample Sentences:
मेरी बेटी इस साल स्कूल जाना शुरू करेगी। My daughter will start going to school this year.
(merii betii is saal skool jaanaa shuroo karegii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
उसकी बेटी हर रोज़ सुबह पढ़ने बैठती है। Her daughter sits down to study every morning.
(uskii betii har roz subah padhne baithtii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
हमारी बेटी अभी अपने कमरे में सो रही है। Our daughter is sleeping in her room right now.
(hamaarii betii abhii apne kamre men so rahii hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उनकी बेटी विदेश से लौट आई है। Their daughter has returned from abroad.
(unkii betii videsh se laut aaii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
बेटी, ज़रा दरवाज़ा खोल दो। Daughter, please open the door.
(betii, zaraa darvaazaa khol do।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
अगर उसकी बेटी होती, तो वह उसे बहुत पढ़ाता। If he had a daughter, he would have educated her a lot.
(agar uskii betii hotii, to vah use bahut padhaataa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
लोग कहते हैं कि बेटी घर की इज़्ज़त होती है। People say that a daughter is the honor of the household.
(log kahte hain ki betii ghar kii izzat hotii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
सरकार ने बेटी बचाओ अभियान शुरू किया। The government launched the 'save the daughter' campaign.
(sarkaar ne betii bachaao abhiyaan shuroo kiyaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
हर माँ-बाप चाहते हैं कि उनकी बेटी सुरक्षित रहे। Every parent wants their daughter to stay safe.
(har maan-baap chaahte hain ki unkii betii surakshit rahe।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
इस स्कूल में बेटा-बेटी दोनों को बराबर मौके दिए जाते हैं। In this school, both sons and daughters are given equal opportunities.
(is skool men betaa-betii donon ko baraabar mauke die jaate hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
उसकी बेटी की शादी अगले महीने होने वाली है। His daughter's wedding is going to happen next month.
(uskii betii kii shaadii agle mahiine hone vaalii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): बेटी (betii)
(sg.f.oblique): बेटी (betii)
(pl.f.direct): बेटियाँ (betiyaan)
(pl.f.oblique): बेटियों (betiyon)