मित्र (mitr)

noun A formal/literary word for 'friend', used mainly in writing, speeches, and polite or elevated speech rather than everyday chat, where दोस्त (dost) is the default.
Sense 1 : friend
noun, masculine/feminine
Synonyms: दोस्त (dost), यार (yaar, colloquial), सखा (sakhaa, literary)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You'll hear मित्र (mitr) a lot in school textbooks, moral stories, and political speeches (नेता जी अपने भाषण में कहते हैं, 'मित्रों...' -- 'Friends...'), giving it a slightly formal, almost old-fashioned warmth. Among actual friends hanging out, दोस्त (dost) or यार (yaar) is what you'll actually hear on the street.
Common Mistakes: 1) Using मित्र (mitr) in casual conversation among close friends sounds stiff or bookish; दोस्त (dost) or यार (yaar) is what people actually say to and about their buddies. 2) मित्र (mitr) is commonly used in formal address, like in a speech or letter -- प्रिय मित्रों (priy mitron, 'dear friends') -- where दोस्त (dost) would feel out of place.
Sample Sentences:
वह मेरा सबसे पुराना मित्र है। He is my oldest friend.
(vah meraa sabse puraanaa mitr hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
नेता जी ने भाषण शुरू करते हुए कहा, "मित्रों, आज मैं आपसे एक जरूरी बात कहना चाहता हूँ।" Starting his speech, the leader said, "Friends, today I want to tell you something important."
(netaa jii ne bhaashan shuroo karte hue kahaa, "mitron, aaj main aapse ek jaroorii baat kahnaa chaahtaa hoon।")
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
सच्चा मित्र मुसीबत में साथ देता है। A true friend stands by you in times of trouble.
(sachchaa mitr musiibat men saath detaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
स्कूल की किताब की उस कहानी में एक कौआ और एक हाथी मित्र थे। In that story from the school textbook, a crow and an elephant were friends.
(skool kii kitaab kii us kahaanii men ek kauaa aur ek haathii mitr the।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अगर तुम मेरे मित्र हो, तो मुझसे सच बोलो। If you are my friend, then speak the truth to me.
(agar tum mere mitr ho, to mujhse sach bolo।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
काश वह मेरे साथ खड़ा होता, आखिर वह मेरा मित्र जो था। I wish he had stood by me -- after all, he was my friend.
(kaash vah mere saath khadaa hotaa, aakhir vah meraa mitr jo thaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Perfective -- Voice: Active
प्रधानाचार्य जी ने कहा कि विद्यार्थियों को एक-दूसरे का मित्र बनकर रहना चाहिए। The principal said that students should live as friends to one another.
(pradhaanaachaary jii ne kahaa ki vidyaarthiyon ko ek-doosre kaa mitr bankar rahnaa chaahie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
मुझे उम्मीद है कि तुम हमेशा मेरे मित्र बने रहोगे। I hope you will always remain my friend.
(mujhe ummiid hai ki tum hameshaa mere mitr bane rahoge।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
उस राजा का कोई सच्चा मित्र नहीं था, इसलिए राज्य पतन की ओर बढ़ता गया। That king had no true friend, and so the kingdom moved toward its downfall.
(us raajaa kaa koii sachchaa mitr nahiin thaa, islie raajy patan kii or badhtaa gayaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
इस पत्र में उसने मुझे अपना प्रिय मित्र कहकर संबोधित किया है। In this letter, he has addressed me as his dear friend.
(is patr men usne mujhe apnaa priy mitr kahkar sambodhit kiyaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m/f.direct): मित्र (mitr)
(sg.m/f.oblique): मित्र (mitr)
(pl.m/f.direct): मित्रें (mitren)
(pl.m/f.oblique): मित्रों (mitron)