अतिशयोक्ति (atishyokti)
noun
A formal/literary noun meaning 'exaggeration, hyperbole' -- used both as a rhetorical/literary term and in everyday speech to call out someone overstating something.
Sense
1
:
exaggeration, hyperbole
noun, feminine
Synonyms: बढ़ा-चढ़ाकर कहना (badhaa-chadhaakar kahnaa, everyday phrase), अतिरंजना (atiranjnaa, rare, literary)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This word has a slightly bookish, essay-writing feel -- you will meet it in school Hindi classes discussing अलंकार (alankaar, 'figures of speech'), where अतिशयोक्ति (atishyokti) is named as one of the classic poetic devices (like saying a person's anger 'burned down mountains'). In casual daily conversation, people are just as likely to say बढ़ा-चढ़ाकर बोलना (badhaa-chadhaakar bolnaa) or ज़्यादा बोलना (zyaadaa bolnaa) instead, saving अतिशयोक्ति (atishyokti) for slightly more formal or written contexts, like calling out a politician's or ad's exaggerated claim.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for बढ़ाना (badhaanaa) alone to mean 'exaggerate', but अतिशयोक्ति (atishyokti) itself is a noun ('an exaggeration/the act of exaggerating'), not a verb -- to use it in a sentence you typically need it with करना (karnaa), e.g. अतिशयोक्ति करना (atishyokti karnaa, 'to exaggerate'), or as a standalone label for someone's statement.
Sample Sentences:
यह तो अतिशयोक्ति है, इतना बड़ा दावा सच नहीं हो सकता।
This is an exaggeration, such a big claim can't be true.
(yah to atishyokti hai, itnaa badaa daavaa sach nahiin ho saktaa।)
विज्ञापन में कंपनी ने अपने उत्पाद के बारे में साफ़ अतिशयोक्ति की है।
In the advertisement, the company has clearly exaggerated about its product.
(vigyaapan men kampnii ne apne utpaad ke baare men saaf atishyokti kii hai।)
नेता के भाषण में अतिशयोक्ति के अलावा कुछ नहीं था।
There was nothing but exaggeration in the leader's speech.
(netaa ke bhaashan men atishyokti ke alaavaa kuchh nahiin thaa।)
अलंकार वाले पाठ में हमें अतिशयोक्ति की परिभाषा और उदाहरण याद करने पड़ते हैं।
In the chapter on figures of speech, we have to memorize the definition and examples of hyperbole.
(alankaar vaale paath men hamen atishyokti kii paribhaashaa aur udaahran yaad karne padte hain।)
अगर यह अतिशयोक्ति न होती, तो आलोचक इतनी तीखी टिप्पणी न करते।
If this weren't an exaggeration, the critic wouldn't have made such a sharp remark.
(agar yah atishyokti n hotii, to aalochak itnii tiikhii tippnii n karte।)
समीक्षक ने लिखा कि लेखक की भाषा में अतिशयोक्ति का अनावश्यक प्रयोग हुआ है।
The critic wrote that there was an unnecessary use of exaggeration in the writer's language.
(samiikshak ne likhaa ki lekhak kii bhaashaa men atishyokti kaa anaavashyak prayog huaa hai।)
कृपया अपने बयान में अतिशयोक्ति से बचें, केवल तथ्य बताइए।
Please avoid exaggeration in your statement, just state the facts.
(kripyaa apne bayaan men atishyokti se bachen, keval tathy bataaie।)
क्या यह सच में अतिशयोक्ति है या हक़ीक़त में हालात इतने ही ख़राब हैं?
Is this really an exaggeration, or are things actually this bad in reality?
(kyaa yah sach men atishyokti hai yaa haqiiqat men haalaat itne hii kharaab hain?)
संपादक ने कहा कि रिपोर्ट में थोड़ी अतिशयोक्ति हो सकती है, इसे फिर से जाँचिए।
The editor said there might be a bit of exaggeration in the report, please check it again.
(sampaadak ne kahaa ki riport men thodii atishyokti ho saktii hai, ise phir se jaanchie।)
कवि की पंक्तियों में अतिशयोक्ति का सुंदर उदाहरण देखने को मिलता है, जैसे 'उसके क्रोध ने पहाड़ जला दिए'।
A beautiful example of hyperbole can be seen in the poet's lines, like 'his anger burned down mountains'.
(kavi kii panktiyon men atishyokti kaa sundar udaahran dekhne ko miltaa hai, jaise 'uske krodh ne pahaad jalaa die'।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
अतिशयोक्ति
(atishyokti)
(sg.f.oblique):
अतिशयोक्ति
(atishyokti)
(pl.f.direct):
अतिशयोक्तिएँ
(atishyoktien)
(pl.f.oblique):
अतिशयोक्तिओं
(atishyoktion)