जनता (jantaa)

noun जनता (jantaa) is primarily a noun meaning 'the public, the people, the masses' -- a word you hear constantly in news and politics. It is unrelated in form to the verb जानना (jaannaa, 'to know'), though learners sometimes confuse the two visually.
Sense 1 : the public, the common people, the masses
noun, feminine
Synonyms: लोग (log), आम लोग (aam log, everyday people), जन साधारण (jan saadhaaran, formal), अवाम (avaam, often used in political/journalistic speech)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This is a staple word of Indian political speech -- politicians constantly invoke जनता (jantaa) as the body they serve or answer to, as in जनता का पैसा (jantaa kaa paisaa, 'public money') or जनता की सेवा (jantaa kii sevaa, 'service to the people'). It carries a slightly more collective, almost civic-minded weight than the plain word लोग (log), which just means 'people' in a general sense.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often treat जनता (jantaa) as plural because it refers to many people, but grammatically it is a singular feminine noun -- it takes singular verb agreement, e.g. जनता चाहती है (jantaa chaahtii hai, 'the public wants'), not चाहती हैं (chaahtii hain). 2) It is not used for 'a person' or 'a crowd you see in front of you right now' (भीड़ (bhiid) is better for a physical crowd) -- जनता (jantaa) is more abstract, referring to the citizenry or population as a political/social body.
Sample Sentences:
यह पैसा जनता का है, नेताओं का नहीं। This money belongs to the public, not to the politicians.
(yah paisaa jantaa kaa hai, netaaon kaa nahiin।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
सरकार को जनता की सेवा करनी चाहिए। The government should serve the public.
(sarkaar ko jantaa kii sevaa karnii chaahie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
जनता ने इस फैसले का जोरदार विरोध किया। The public strongly protested this decision.
(jantaa ne is phaisle kaa jordaar virodh kiyaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
चुनाव के बाद जनता से किए गए वादे भुला दिए जाते हैं। After elections, the promises made to the public are forgotten.
(chunaav ke baad jantaa se kie gae vaade bhulaa die jaate hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
जनता का पैसा कभी बर्बाद नहीं होना चाहिए। Public money should never be wasted.
(jantaa kaa paisaa kabhii barbaad nahiin honaa chaahie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर नेता ईमानदार होते, तो जनता इतनी परेशान न होती। If the leaders were honest, the public would not be so troubled.
(agar netaa iimaandaar hote, to jantaa itnii pareshaan n hotii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
जनता की आवाज़ सुनो, वरना अगली बार वोट नहीं मिलेगा। Listen to the voice of the people, or you won't get votes next time.
(jantaa kii aavaaz suno, varnaa aglii baar vot nahiin milegaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
मुख्यमंत्री ने जनता को संबोधित करते हुए नई योजना का ऐलान किया। The chief minister announced the new scheme while addressing the public.
(mukhymantrii ne jantaa ko sambodhit karte hue naii yojnaa kaa ailaan kiyaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
जनता जब जागती है, तो सरकारें बदल जाती हैं। When the public wakes up, governments change.
(jantaa jab jaagtii hai, to sarkaaren badal jaatii hain।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
इस मुद्दे पर जनता की राय बंटी हुई है। Public opinion on this issue is divided.
(is mudde par jantaa kii raay bantii huii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उम्मीद है कि नई नीति से जनता को फ़ायदा होगा। It is hoped that the public will benefit from the new policy.
(ummiid hai ki naii niiti se jantaa ko faaydaa hogaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): जनता (jantaa)
(sg.f.oblique): जनता (jantaa)
(pl.f.direct): जनताएँ (jantaaen)
(pl.f.oblique): जनताओं (jantaaon)