अतिथि (atithi)

noun A single-sense noun meaning 'guest', carrying a warm, respectful cultural weight in Hindi that goes beyond the plain English word.
Sense 1 : guest, visitor received with honor
noun, masculine/feminine
Synonyms: मेहमान (mehmaan), मुसाफ़िर (musaafir, traveler/visitor, meaning scope narrower)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This word carries the spirit of the saying अतिथि देवो भव: (atithi devo bhav:, 'the guest is like god'), an old Sanskrit line still quoted in Indian hospitality culture -- from tourism ministry slogans to how your own dादी (daadii) might scold you for not offering tea to a visitor fast enough. मेहमान (mehmaan) is what you say at home; अतिथि (atithi) is what you say on a stage or a wedding card.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach only for मेहमान (mehmaan) in speech; अतिथि (atithi) is the word you will see on invitation cards, in the phrase मुख्य अतिथि (mukhy atithi, 'chief guest'), and in formal or written contexts -- using it in casual chat sounds a bit stiff, like saying 'esteemed visitor' instead of 'guest' in English.
Sample Sentences:
अतिथि देवो भव: -- हमारी संस्कृति में यही सिखाया जाता है। The guest is like god -- this is what our culture teaches.
(atithi devo bhav: -- hamaarii sanskriti men yahii sikhaayaa jaataa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
आज शाम हमारे घर एक विशिष्ट अतिथि आ रहे हैं। This evening a distinguished guest is coming to our house.
(aaj shaam hamaare ghar ek vishisht atithi aa rahe hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
समारोह के मुख्य अतिथि ने दीप प्रज्वलित करके कार्यक्रम की शुरुआत की। The chief guest of the ceremony lit the lamp and began the program.
(samaaroh ke mukhy atithi ne diip prajvlit karke kaaryakram kii shuruaat kii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
कृपया मंच पर उपस्थित सभी अतिथियों का स्वागत करें। Please welcome all the guests present on the stage.
(kripyaa manch par upasthit sabhii atithiyon kaa svaagat karen।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
विवाह-पत्रिका में लिखा था कि अतिथियों का स्वागत सपरिवार है। The wedding invitation said that guests were welcome to bring their whole family.
(vivaah-patrikaa men likhaa thaa ki atithiyon kaa svaagat saprivaar hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
यदि अतिथि सम्मानित न हों तो आयोजन की शोभा नहीं रहती। If the guests are not honored, the event loses its dignity.
(yadi atithi sammaanit n hon to aayojan kii shobhaa nahiin rahtii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
काश उस समारोह में अतिथियों की इतनी भीड़ न होती। If only there hadn't been such a crowd of guests at that ceremony.
(kaash us samaaroh men atithiyon kii itnii bhiid n hotii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
आयोजक हर अतिथि के लिए अलग से आसन की व्यवस्था कर रहे थे। The organizers were arranging a separate seat for every guest.
(aayojak har atithi ke lie alag se aasan kii vyavasthaa kar rahe the।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
इस बार के सम्मेलन में मुख्य अतिथि कौन होंगे, यह अभी तय नहीं हुआ है। Who the chief guest of this year's conference will be has not yet been decided.
(is baar ke sammelan men mukhy atithi kaun honge, yah abhii tay nahiin huaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
प्राचीन काल में अतिथि को देवता समान माना जाता था। In ancient times, the guest was considered equal to a deity.
(praachiin kaal men atithi ko devtaa samaan maanaa jaataa thaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m/f.direct): अतिथि (atithi)
(sg.m/f.oblique): अतिथि (atithi)
(pl.m/f.direct): अतिथिएँ (atithien)
(pl.m/f.oblique): अतिथिओं (atithion)