छोटा

See also: छोटो, छींट, छोटी, and छोटे

Hindi

Etymology

From Ashokan Prakrit *𑀙𑁄𑀝𑁆𑀝 (*choṭṭa). Compare Nepali छोटो (choṭo, “small”), Gujarati છોટું (choṭũ), Punjabi ਛੋਟਾ (choṭā, “small”), Odia ଛୋଟ (choṭa, “small, lesser”), Assamese ছোট (süto, “junior, low grade”).

Earlier lexicographers suggested Sanskrit क्षुद्रक (kṣudraka, “small, insignificant”).

Pronunciation

• (Delhi) IPA^(key): /t͡ʃʰoː.ʈɑː/, [t͡ʃʰoː.ʈäː]
• Hyphenation: छो‧टा

Adjective

1. little, small

   (deprecated template usage)

   बाहर एक छोटा बच्चा खड़ा है।

   bāhar ek choṭā baccā khaṛā hai.

   There's a small child standing outside.

   (deprecated template usage) छोटी सी दुकान ― choṭī sī dukān ― a small shop

2. younger, junior, minor, lesser

   (deprecated template usage) छोटा भाई ― choṭā bhāī ― younger brother

   (deprecated template usage) छोटी बहन ― choṭī bahan ― younger sister

3. subordinate, inferior, common
4. trivial, trifling, unimportant, of no consequence

   (deprecated template usage) छोटी बात ― choṭī bāt ― trivial matter

5. low, mean, insignificant, contemptible; common

   (deprecated template usage)

   अगर छोटे आदमी को आवाज़ मिलती है तो वह छोटा नहीं रहता है।

   agar choṭe ādmī ko āvāz miltī hai to vah choṭā nahī̃ rahtā hai.

   If an insignificant man is given a voice he does not stay insignificant.

   (deprecated template usage) छोटे लोग ― choṭe log ― insignificant people, powerless people

References

• McGregor, Ronald Stuart (1993) “छोटा”, in The Oxford Hindi-English Dictionary, London: Oxford University Press
• Platts, John T. (1884) “छोटा”, in A dictionary of Urdu, classical Hindi, and English, London: W. H. Allen & Co.