बड़का / छोटकी

The Big One and the Little One

Level 3Sounds Like baṛakā ā chōṭakī

-का (for a man or a thing) and -की (for a woman) pick out one of a set.

How It Works

The ending turns an adjective into a name for one member of a group. बड़का is the big one or the eldest. छोटकी is the small one or the youngest woman.

Man or thingWomanMeaning
बड़काबड़कीthe big or eldest one
छोटकाछोटकीthe small or youngest one
नवकानवकीthe new one
पुरनकापुरनकीthe old one

It is common in families: बड़का भाई, छोटकी भउजी. In shops, it points at an item: नवका झोला.

A plain adjective does not change for gender (बड़ घर, बड़ औरत). The -का and -की forms are for the one among others.

Examples (5)

  1. बड़का भाई दिल्ली में रहेलें।

    The eldest brother lives in Delhi.

    बड़का picks the eldest.

  2. छोटकी बहिन स्कूल जात बाड़ी।

    The youngest sister is going to school.

    छोटकी goes with a woman.

  3. हमरा नवका झोला चाहीं।

    I want the new bag.

    नवका picks the new one.

  4. पुरनका घर बेचा गइल।

    The old house got sold.

    पुरनका picks the old one.

  5. बड़की भउजी चाय बनवली।

    The eldest sister-in-law made tea.

    बड़की goes with a woman.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

बड़का / छोटकीLevel 3The Big One and the Little One

Learn This First

बड़का and छोटकी put a pointing ending on an adjective.

Words in This Pattern

बड़काछोटका