बहादुरी (bahaadurii)

noun A single-sense abstract noun meaning 'bravery, courage' -- the quality noun formed from बहादुर (bahaadur, 'brave').
Sense 1 : bravery, courage
noun, feminine
Synonyms: हिम्मत (himmat), साहस (saahas, formal), वीरता (viirtaa, literary), निडरता (nidartaa, fearlessness)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This is the word you'll see on medals and citations -- बहादुरी पुरस्कार (bahaadurii puraskaar, 'bravery award') is a real category of Indian civilian award given to children who act heroically, so the word carries a slightly formal, honor-roll flavor even in casual use. It pairs naturally with बहादुर (bahaadur), the adjective/noun for 'brave (one)' -- historically also a title of honor attached to names of soldiers and rulers.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often use बहादुरी (bahaadurii) where हिम्मत (himmat) would sound more natural in everyday speech -- बहादुरी (bahaadurii) leans slightly more toward describing a heroic act or trait (as in a story or news report), while हिम्मत (himmat) is what you'd say about someone mustering courage in the moment, e.g. उसने हिम्मत की (usne himmat kii, 'he mustered courage'). 2) The common verb pairing is बहादुरी दिखाना (bahaadurii dikhaanaa, 'to show bravery') or बहादुरी से काम लेना (bahaadurii se kaam lenaa, 'to act with courage') -- learners sometimes try to force बहादुरी करना (bahaadurii karnaa) which is less idiomatic.
Sample Sentences:
उस लड़के ने बहादुरी से आग से बच्चे को बचाया। That boy bravely saved the child from the fire.
(us ladke ne bahaadurii se aag se bachche ko bachaayaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
उसे उसकी बहादुरी के लिए राष्ट्रपति से पुरस्कार मिला। He received an award from the President for his bravery.
(use uskii bahaadurii ke lie raashtrapti se puraskaar milaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
हर साल कुछ बच्चों को बहादुरी पुरस्कार दिया जाता है। Every year, some children are given the bravery award.
(har saal kuchh bachchon ko bahaadurii puraskaar diyaa jaataa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
सैनिक की बहादुरी की कहानियाँ अब भी सुनाई जाती हैं। Stories of the soldier's bravery are still told today.
(sainik kii bahaadurii kii kahaaniyaan ab bhii sunaaii jaatii hain।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
काश मुझमें भी इतनी बहादुरी होती। If only I had that much bravery too.
(kaash mujhmen bhii itnii bahaadurii hotii।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
मुश्किल वक्त में बहादुरी दिखाओ, डरो मत। Show bravery in difficult times, don't be afraid.
(mushkil vakt men bahaadurii dikhaao, daro mat।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
शायद उसकी बहादुरी ही उसे बाकी सबसे अलग बनाती है। Perhaps it is his bravery that sets him apart from everyone else.
(shaayad uskii bahaadurii hii use baakii sabse alag banaatii hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
आगे भी वह ऐसी ही बहादुरी दिखाएगी। She will show the same kind of bravery in the future too.
(aage bhii vah aisii hii bahaadurii dikhaaegii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
पुलिस अधिकारी की बहादुरी की सराहना पूरे शहर में हो रही है। The police officer's bravery is being praised all over the city.
(pulis adhikaarii kii bahaadurii kii saraahnaa poore shahar men ho rahii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
यह उसकी बहादुरी का सबूत है, न कि सिर्फ किस्मत का। This is proof of his bravery, not just of luck.
(yah uskii bahaadurii kaa saboot hai, n ki sirph kismat kaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): बहादुरी (bahaadurii)
(sg.f.oblique): बहादुरी (bahaadurii)
(pl.f.direct): बहादुरियाँ (bahaaduriyaan)
(pl.f.oblique): बहादुरियों (bahaaduriyon)