Hindi · People & Family

"Woman" in Hindi: औरत / महिला

औरत / महिलाaurat / mahila

Say it: au-RAT / ma-HI-laafeminine noun/ɔːrət̪/, /məɦɪlɑː/

Woman in Hindi is औरत (aurat) or महिला (mahila), both feminine. Mahila sounds more polite or formal; aurat is everyday and blunt.

Queue sign

महिला लाइन उधर है।

mahila line udhar hai.

The women’s line is that way.
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How to pronounce औरत / महिला

Say it

au-RAT / ma-HI-laa

/ɔːrət̪/, /məɦɪlɑː/

Aurat is au-RAT with au like how. Mahila is ma-HI-laa with stress on hi.

"Woman" in Hindi: quick reference

HindiEnglish
औरतauratwoman

Everyday; can sound blunt.

महिलाmahilawoman; lady

Polite and formal.

स्त्रीstriwoman; female

Formal / written.

महिलाएँmahilaaenwomen

Plural of mahila.

How to use औरत / महिला in real life

  1. 1Queue sign

    महिला लाइन उधर है।

    mahila line udhar hai.

    The women’s line is that way.

    Polite mahila on signs.

  2. 2News caption

    एक महिला ने मदद की।

    ek mahila ne madad ki.

    A woman helped.

    Neutral report.

  3. 3Street description

    वहाँ एक औरत खड़ी है।

    vahaan ek aurat khadi hai.

    A woman is standing there.

    Everyday aurat.

Mistakes English speakers make with औरत / महिला

Incorrect: Calling elders aurat to their face casually.

Correct: Prefer mahila / महिला or ji titles in polite speech.

औरत can sound blunt; महिला is safer in respectful contexts.

Incorrect: Aadmi for a woman.

Correct: Woman is aurat or mahila / औरत / महिला।

Keep the woman headwords, not आदमी.

Good to know

Forms and metro signs prefer mahila. Everyday speech still uses aurat, but tone matters — with strangers, mahila or a name plus ji is kinder.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Asking staff about a women’s counter

  1. ChatPal

    महिला काउंटर कौन सा है?

    mahila counter kaun sa hai?

    Which is the women’s counter?

  2. You

    उधर महिला डेस्क दिख रही है।

    udhar mahila desk dikh rahi hai.

    I can see the women’s desk over there.

  3. ChatPal

    क्या कोई औरत पहले से लाइन में है?

    kya koi aurat pehle se line mein hai?

    Is any woman already in line?

  4. You

    हाँ, दो महिलाएँ खड़ी हैं।

    haan, do mahilaaen khadi hain.

    Yes, two women are standing.

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"Woman" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Woman" in Hindi

Should I say aurat or mahila?

Mahila is politer. Aurat is common but can sound blunt.

Are both feminine?

Yes. Khadi, rahi, and thi agree with both.

What is the plural of mahila?

Mahilaaen.

What about lady?

People also say lady in English, or mahila in Hindi.

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