बटुआ (batuaa)

noun A single-sense everyday noun meaning a small purse or wallet for carrying cash and coins.
Sense 1 : wallet, purse, coin pouch
noun, masculine
Synonyms: पर्स (pars, often used for a wallet or handbag), जेब (jeb, not a real synonym -- means pocket, sometimes confused by learners)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: In everyday Delhi speech, you will hear बटुआ (batuaa) mostly for a man's wallet kept in the back pocket, while पर्स (pars) has become the default word for a woman's handbag or wallet, borrowed straight from English. Older or more traditional speakers, especially grandparents, tend to stick with बटुआ (batuaa) for any coin-and-cash pouch, giving it a slightly homely, old-fashioned charm.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes use बटुआ (batuaa) and जेब (jeb) interchangeably, but जेब (jeb) means 'pocket' (part of clothing), while बटुआ (batuaa) is the actual object you keep money in. 2) पर्स (pars) is a common English loan used especially for women's handbags or wallets in casual Delhi speech, while बटुआ (batuaa) sounds slightly more traditional or is used for a man's wallet -- both are fine, but the choice can signal a small register/gender association.
Sample Sentences:
मेरा बटुआ कहाँ है? Where is my wallet?
(meraa batuaa kahaan hai?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उसने अपना बटुआ पिछली जेब में रख लिया। He put his wallet in his back pocket.
(usne apnaa batuaa pichhlii jeb men rakh liyaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
बाजार में इतनी भीड़ थी कि किसी ने उसका बटुआ चुरा लिया। There was so much crowd in the market that someone stole his wallet.
(baajaar men itnii bhiid thii ki kisii ne uskaa batuaa churaa liyaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
दादाजी हमेशा अपना बटुआ कुर्ते की जेब में रखते हैं। Grandpa always keeps his wallet in the pocket of his kurta.
(daadaajii hameshaa apnaa batuaa kurte kii jeb men rakhte hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अपना बटुआ संभालकर रखो, यहाँ जेबकतरे बहुत हैं। Keep your wallet safe, there are a lot of pickpockets here.
(apnaa batuaa sambhaalkar rakho, yahaan jebkatre bahut hain।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
अगर मेरा बटुआ खो जाता, तो सारे पैसे और कार्ड चले जाते। If my wallet had gotten lost, all the money and cards would have gone.
(agar meraa batuaa kho jaataa, to saare paise aur kaard chale jaate।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
उसका बटुआ चमड़े का बना है और बहुत मजबूत है। His wallet is made of leather and is very sturdy.
(uskaa batuaa chamde kaa banaa hai aur bahut majboot hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
क्या तुम मुझे उसका बटुआ वापस करने में मदद करोगे? Will you help me return his wallet?
(kyaa tum mujhe uskaa batuaa vaapas karne men madad karoge?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
मैं चाहता हूँ कि तुम अपना बटुआ हमेशा साथ रखो। I want you to always keep your wallet with you.
(main chaahtaa hoon ki tum apnaa batuaa hameshaa saath rakho।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
जन्मदिन पर दादी ने मुझे एक सुंदर बटुआ तोहफे में दिया। On my birthday, grandmother gave me a beautiful wallet as a gift.
(janmdin par daadii ne mujhe ek sundar batuaa tohphe men diyaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
बटुआ खरीदने से पहले उसमें कितने खाने हैं, यह जरूर देख लेना। Before buying a wallet, do check how many compartments it has.
(batuaa khariidne se pahle usmen kitne khaane hain, yah jaroor dekh lenaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): बटुआ (batuaa)
(sg.m.oblique): बटुआ (batuaa)
(pl.m.direct): बटुआ (batuaa)
(pl.m.oblique): बटुआों ([[बटुआों]])