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Genders in Hindi | Ling लिंग in Hindi

An overview

The form of a noun that indicates the gender (male or female) of an object is called लिंग (linga) (gender).


In Hindi, there are two Linga लिंग (genders):

1. Puling पुलिंग (Masculine Gender) – The correct term is पुल्लिंग (Pullinga) or पुंल्लिंग (Pumlinga), but the commonly used form in Hindi is पुलिंग (Puling).

2. Streeling स्त्रीलिंग (Feminine Gender) – Refers to the female gender.


The entire creation has two main categories:

1. Chetan चेतन living beings: It refers to conscious or living beings and could be divided into two categories - Purush पुरुष (male) and Stri स्त्री (female).

2. Jad जड़ non-living entities: It refers to inanimate or non-living entities.


Based on these groups, grammar organizes their corresponding nouns into three genders:

  • Pulling (पुल्लिंग): masculine
  • Streeling (स्त्रीलिंग): feminine
  • Napunsak Linga (नपुंसक लिंग): neuter
In languages which follow this categorization, some inanimate objects are treated as animate due to their specific characteristics. So, objects exhibiting qualities like strength, rigidity, or superiority are associated with masculinity, and their corresponding nouns are classified as Pulling (पुल्लिंग) male.

Similarly, objects displaying traits such as softness, delicacy, or beauty are imagined as feminine, and their corresponding nouns are classified as Streeling (स्त्रीलिंग) female.

Inanimate objects that do not fit into these categories are generally classified as Napunsak Linga (नपुंसक लिंग) neuter.

Some of these languages are Sanskrit, Marathi, and Gujarati.


Categorization of genders in Hindi

In Hindi, all inanimate objects are considered animate. So, there is no Napunsak Linga (नपुंसक लिंग) neuter gender in Hindi. In Hindi, masculinity is often assigned to inanimate objects based on word forms or the original gender of borrowed words from other languages, rather than any systematic rule.

✿ A noun that conveys (real or imaginary) masculinity is categorized as Pulling (पुल्लिंग) masculine.

For example:

Admi (आदमी) man, Ghoda (घोड़ा) horse, Pustak (पुस्तक) book, and Mahal (महल) palace.

Here, "आदमी" (man) and "घोड़ा" (horse) represent actual masculinity, while "पुस्तक" (book) and "महल" (palace) represent perceived masculinity. {alertInfo}

✿ A noun that conveys (real or imaginary) femininity is categorized as Streeling (स्त्रीलिंग) feminine.

For example:

Mahila (महिला) woman, Billi (बिल्ली) cat, Kahani (कहानी) story, and Prashansa (प्रशंसा) praise.

Here, "महिला" (woman) and "बिल्ली" (cat) represent actual femininity, while "कहानी" (story) and "प्रशंसा" (praise) represent perceived femininity. {alertInfo}


In Hindi, the determination of gender लिंग (linga) can be done in two primary ways:

  1. By the meaning of the word
  2. By the form of the word

Generally, nouns referring to living beings प्राणिवाचक संज्ञाएँ (Pranivachak Sangyayein) are classified based on their meaning, while nouns referring to inanimate objects अप्राणिवाचक संज्ञाएँ (Apranivachak Sangyayein) are classified based on their form. However, for certain other nouns, gender is determined solely by convention or usage.


Special Cases

❁ Gender-Neutral Nouns for Non-Human Living Beings:

Certain nouns referring to non-human living beings are gender-neutral but are used as either masculine or feminine based on convention or behavior. In these cases, the grammatical gender does not correspond to the biological gender of the animal. Such nouns are referred to as Eka-Linga (एकलिंग - single-gendered).

Examples:

Masculine (Pulling): Pakshi पक्षी, Kauwa कौआ (Crow), Bhedia भेड़िया (Wolf), Khatmal खटमल (Bedbug), Kenchuwa केंचुआ (Earthworm)

Feminine (Streeling): Koyal कोयल (Cuckoo), Bater बटेर (Quail), Gilahari गिलहरी (Squirrel), Titli तितली (Butterfly), Machhli मछली (Fish)

❁ Gender of Collective Nouns for Living Beings:

Collective nouns that refer to groups of living beings are also classified as masculine or feminine based on conventional usage.

Examples:

Masculine (Pulling): Samooh समूह (Group), Sangh संघ (Association), Jhund झुंड (Herd), Dal दल (Team)

Feminine (Streeling): Bheed भीड़ (Crowd), Sabha सभा (Assembly), Sarkar सरकार (Government), Fauj फौज (Army)