बाघ (baagh)

noun A straightforward single-sense word: the animal 'tiger'. Not to be confused with बाग़ (baagh, garden), which differs only in the nuqta but is a completely unrelated word.
Sense 1 : tiger
noun, masculine
Synonyms: शेर (sher, also used loosely for 'lion' in casual speech), व्याघ्र (vyaaghr, literary)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: India's national animal is the बाघ (baagh), and you will see the word constantly in the context of बाघ अभयारण्य (baagh abhyaarany, tiger reserve/sanctuary) or 'Project Tiger.' In everyday conversation, though, most Delhi-NCR speakers reach for शेर (sher) even when they mean tiger, so बाघ (baagh) has a slightly more formal, textbook, or nature-documentary flavor.
Common Mistakes: 1) Confusing बाघ (baagh, tiger) with बाग़ (baagh, garden) or बाग (baag, reins/rein) -- the nuqta on ग़ changes the word entirely, so pay attention to it in writing even though pronunciation in casual speech often blurs the distinction. 2) Learners sometimes use शेर (sher) and बाघ (baagh) interchangeably since everyday speech does this too, but शेर (sher) technically covers both 'lion' and is the more common word overall, while बाघ (baagh) specifically means 'tiger' -- in wildlife or forest-department contexts the distinction matters.
Sample Sentences:
भारत में बाघों की संख्या अब बढ़ रही है। The number of tigers in India is increasing now.
(bhaarat men baaghon kii sankhyaa ab badh rahii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
यह इलाका बाघ अभयारण्य के नाम से जाना जाता है। This area is known by the name of tiger reserve.
(yah ilaakaa baagh abhyaarany ke naam se jaanaa jaataa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
जिम कॉर्बेट पार्क में हमने एक बाघ देखा। We saw a tiger in Jim Corbett Park.
(jim korbet paark men hamne ek baagh dekhaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
बाघ भारत का राष्ट्रीय पशु है। The tiger is India's national animal.
(baagh bhaarat kaa raashtriiy pashu hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
यदि जंगल कटते रहे, तो बाघ विलुप्त हो जाएँगे। If the forests keep being cut down, the tigers will become extinct.
(yadi jangal katte rahe, to baagh vilupt ho jaaenge।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
काश हमने बाघों के आवास की रक्षा पहले ही कर ली होती। If only we had protected the tigers' habitat earlier.
(kaash hamne baaghon ke aavaas kii rakshaa pahle hii kar lii hotii।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Perfective -- Voice: Active
वन विभाग चाहता है कि बाघों की गिनती हर साल की जाए। The forest department wants the tiger census to be conducted every year.
(van vibhaag chaahtaa hai ki baaghon kii gintii har saal kii jaae।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
बाघ इस समय दस्तावेज़ी फ़िल्म में शिकार करता दिखाया जा रहा है। The tiger is currently being shown hunting in the documentary film.
(baagh is samay dastaavezii film men shikaar kartaa dikhaayaa jaa rahaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
बाघ नदी के किनारे बैठा है और शिकार का इंतज़ार कर रहा है। The tiger is sitting on the riverbank, waiting for prey.
(baagh nadii ke kinaare baithaa hai aur shikaar kaa intzaar kar rahaa hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
बाघ अभयारण्य में जाने से पहले गाइड की अनुमति लो। Take the guide's permission before going into the tiger reserve.
(baagh abhyaarany men jaane se pahle gaaid kii anumti lo।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): बाघ (baagh)
(sg.m.oblique): बाघ (baagh)
(pl.m.direct): बाघ (baagh)
(pl.m.oblique): बाघों (baaghon)