काँटा

See also: कांटा, कोटि, कीट, and कौट

Hindi

Etymology

Inherited from Sauraseni Prakrit 𑀓𑀡𑁆𑀝𑀓 (kaṇṭaka), from Sanskrit कण्टक (kaṇṭaka, “thorn”).

Pronunciation

• (Delhi Hindi) IPA^(key): /kɑ̃ː.ʈɑː/, [kä̃ː.ʈäː]

Noun

काँटा • (kā̃ṭā) m (Urdu spelling کانٹا)

1. thorn, spike, prick
2. fork
3. balance, scale

   सब्ज़ी काँटे पे रख और वज़न इसपे लिख डाल।

   sabzī kā̃ṭe pe rakh aur vazan ispe likh ḍāl.

   Put the vegetables on the balance and write down the weight.

4. (figuratively) an obstacle, hurdle

Declension

Declension of काँटा (masc ā-stem)

	singular	plural
direct	काँटा kā̃ṭā	काँटे kā̃ṭe
oblique	काँटे kā̃ṭe	काँटों kā̃ṭõ
vocative	काँटे kā̃ṭe	काँटो kā̃ṭo

References

• Bahri, Hardev (1989) “काँटा”, in Siksarthi Hindi-Angrejhi Sabdakosa [Learners' Hindi-English Dictionary], Delhi: Rajpal & Sons.
• “कांटा”, in Collins Gem Hindi-English Dictionary, Collins, 2011, →ISBN
• Dāsa, Śyāmasundara (1965–1975) “काँटा”, in Hindī Śabdasāgara [lit. Sea of Hindi words] (in Hindi), Kashi [Varanasi]: Nagari Pracarini Sabha
• McGregor, Ronald Stuart (1993) “काँटा”, in The Oxford Hindi-English Dictionary, London: Oxford University Press
• Turner, Ralph Lilley (1969–1985) “kaṇṭa”, in A Comparative Dictionary of the Indo-Aryan Languages, London: Oxford University Press