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कटा

A2 adjective #3,500 most common 8 min read

कटा

kata Top 3,500

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips कटा in 30 Seconds

Explanation कटा in your Level:

At the A1 level, you only need to know 'कटा' (kaṭā) as a simple adjective for physical objects. Think of it as the word for 'cut' when you are talking about food or basic injuries. You will mostly see it in the context of 'कटा हुआ' (cut/chopped). For example, if you see a plate of fruit, you can say 'कटा हुआ फल' (cut fruit). At this stage, focus on the masculine singular form 'कटा' and how it changes to 'कटी' for feminine things like 'सब्जी' (vegetable) or 'उंगली' (finger). It is a very useful word for shopping at the market or describing a small accident in the kitchen. Just remember: it describes the state of something after it has been sliced with a knife or scissors. It is one of the first adjectives you will learn to describe the condition of an object.

At the A2 level, you start using 'कटा' in more varied daily situations. You will learn that it's not just for food, but also for utilities and communication. For instance, if your phone call drops, you can understand when someone says 'कॉल कट गई' (The call got cut). You also use it to describe injuries more accurately, like 'मेरा हाथ कटा है' (My hand is cut). You should begin to notice the difference between 'कटा' (cut) and 'फटा' (torn). A2 learners should also be comfortable with the plural form 'कटे' (kaṭe), such as 'कटे हुए पेड़' (cut trees). This level involves understanding that 'कटा' describes the result of an action that has already happened. You might also encounter it in phrases like 'टिकट कटाना' which means to get a ticket issued or booked.

At the B1 level, you move into the metaphorical and idiomatic uses of 'कटा'. You will hear people use 'कटा-कटा' to describe someone who is socially withdrawn or acting distant. For example, 'वह आजकल सबसे कटा-कटा रहता है' (These days he remains cut off from everyone). You will also encounter 'कटा' in more complex administrative contexts, such as 'बिजली का कनेक्शन कट गया' (The electricity connection was cut). You should be able to use it in the passive sense to describe systemic actions, like a name being 'cut' (removed) from a list. B1 learners should also recognize the word in the context of Indian culture, specifically the 'कटी पतंग' (cut kite) metaphor, which appears frequently in stories and films to represent someone who has lost their way or is adrift.

At the B2 level, you should be able to distinguish between the various nuances of 'कटा' and its synonyms like 'विच्छेदित' (disconnected) or 'पृथक' (separated). You will use 'कटा' in professional contexts, such as discussing deductions in a salary ('तनख्वाह में से पैसे कटे हैं') or the 'cutting' of a deal. You can handle the word in complex sentence structures, including conditional sentences like 'अगर तार कटा हुआ मिला, तो बिजली नहीं आएगी' (If the wire is found cut, the electricity won't come). Your understanding of the word's social implications deepens, allowing you to discuss alienation, social boundaries, and the 'cutting' of ties between people or organizations with nuance and appropriate emotional weight.

At the C1 level, your use of 'कटा' becomes sophisticated and stylistically varied. You can use the word in literary analysis to describe 'fragmented' narratives or characters who are 'severed' from their heritage. You understand the historical and political connotations, such as 'कटा हुआ देश' referring to a partitioned nation. You can use 'कटा' in high-level debates about social exclusion or economic 'cuts' (deductions) with precision. You are also familiar with obscure idioms and poetic uses where 'कटा' might describe the 'cutting' of time or the 'severing' of a karmic cycle. Your ability to switch between the literal, the administrative, and the highly metaphorical is seamless at this stage.

At the C2 level, you have a masterly grasp of 'कटा' and can use it to convey subtle shades of meaning in any register. You can use it in legal contexts regarding the 'severance' of contracts or in philosophical discourse regarding the 'cut' between the self and the external world. You are able to appreciate and use the word in wordplay, puns, and complex metaphors in creative writing. You understand the deep cultural resonance of the word in South Asian history, particularly in the context of the 1947 Partition, where 'कटा' takes on a heavy, tragic meaning. You can use the word's various forms and derivations to construct eloquent, persuasive, and nuanced arguments or artistic expressions.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

कटा in 30 Seconds

KATA means 'cut' or 'chopped' and is used for food, injuries, and physical objects.
It changes to KATI for feminine nouns and KATE for plural masculine nouns.
Metaphorically, it describes someone who is socially isolated or 'cut off' from others.
In daily life, it refers to disconnected utilities like electricity or dropped phone calls.

The Hindi word कटा (kaṭā) is an adjective that primarily translates to 'cut,' 'chopped,' or 'severed' in English. It is the perfective participle of the verb काटना (kāṭnā), which means 'to cut.' However, its usage in Hindi is far more expansive than its literal English counterpart. At its most basic level, it describes a physical state of an object that has been divided by a sharp tool. For instance, if you walk into an Indian kitchen, you might see कटा हुआ प्याज (chopped onion) or कटा हुआ फल (cut fruit) waiting to be served. The word changes its form based on the gender and number of the noun it describes: कटा (masculine singular), कटी (feminine singular), and कटे (masculine plural/respectful).

Physical State: Describes items like paper, cloth, or vegetables that have been physically sliced. Example: 'कटा हुआ काग़ज़' (Cut paper).
Injury: Refers to a wound or a gash on the body. Example: 'कटा हुआ हाथ' (A cut hand).
Disconnection: Used for utilities or communication lines that have been severed or stopped. Example: 'फोन कटा हुआ है' (The phone is disconnected).

Beyond the physical, कटा carries profound metaphorical weight. It can describe a person who feels isolated or alienated from their community or family. In this context, you might hear someone say, वह सबसे कटा-कटा रहता है, meaning 'He remains cut off from everyone.' This suggests a sense of social withdrawal or emotional distance. It is also used in the context of tickets or receipts; a कटा हुआ टिकट (issued/booked ticket) implies that the transaction is finalized. In the world of kite flying, a popular sport in India, कटी पतंग (a cut kite) refers to a kite whose string has been severed by a competitor, a term so iconic it has become a metaphor for someone lost or without direction in life.

मेज पर कटा हुआ सेब रखा है। (A cut apple is kept on the table.)

In commercial settings, this word is frequently encountered. When electricity is cut off due to unpaid bills, the common phrase is बिजली कटी है. In tailoring, it refers to fabric that has been measured and sliced according to a pattern. Interestingly, it is also used for insect bites; while we say 'bitten' in English, in Hindi, one might say मच्छर का कटा (a mosquito's cut/bite mark). This versatility makes it a foundational word for any learner navigating daily life in a Hindi-speaking environment.

Using कटा correctly requires an understanding of Hindi's grammatical agreement rules. As an adjective derived from a verb, it must mirror the gender and number of the noun it modifies. This is the most crucial step for learners transitioning from English, where 'cut' remains static regardless of the object. For a masculine singular noun like पेड़ (tree), you use कटा. For a feminine singular noun like सब्जी (vegetable), you use कटी. For plural masculine nouns like पेड़ (trees), you use कटे.

Masculine Singular: यह रास्ता कटा हुआ है। (This path is cut off/severed.)
Feminine Singular: उसकी उंगली कटी है। (Her finger is cut.)
Masculine Plural: सारे तार कटे हुए हैं। (All the wires are cut.)

A common sentence pattern involves the addition of the auxiliary verb हुआ (huā), which acts like 'is in the state of being.' Saying कटा हुआ emphasizes the result of the action. For example, कटा हुआ फल (fruit that is in a cut state). This is particularly useful when you want to distinguish between the action of cutting and the current state of the object. In more advanced usage, the word is doubled (कटा-कटा) to intensify the meaning of isolation. वह समाज से कटा-कटा रहता है translates to 'He lives in a state of being completely cut off from society,' implying a habitual or deep-seated isolation.

बाज़ार से कटा हुआ मांस मत खरीदना। (Don't buy cut meat from the market.)

When discussing phone calls, if the line drops suddenly, you might say फोन कट गया (The phone got cut) or आवाज़ कटी-कटी आ रही है (The voice is coming through in a 'cut' or fragmented way). This use for audio clarity is something every learner will find helpful during video calls or mobile conversations. Another important context is the 'issuance' of documents. In Hindi, when a traffic fine is issued, it is 'cut.' मेरा चालान कटा है literally means 'My fine has been cut,' but translates to 'I have been fined.'

If you are in an Indian city, you will hear कटा in a variety of vibrant, everyday contexts. One of the most common places is the local Sabzi Mandi (vegetable market). Customers often ask for कटा हुआ कद्दू (pre-cut pumpkin) or complain about a कटा हुआ आलू (a potato that has a cut or rot mark). In this environment, the word is purely functional and descriptive of the goods being sold. Similarly, at a butcher shop, you'll specify how you want the meat cut using this word.

Another very frequent setting is in the realm of bureaucracy and administration. If you go to a railway station, you might ask क्या मेरा टिकट कट गया है? (Has my ticket been cut/issued?). Here, 'cut' refers to the physical act of tearing a ticket from a book or the digital act of finalizing a reservation. Likewise, in traffic, if a policeman pulls you over, the dreaded phrase is आपका चालान कटेगा (Your fine will be issued). It is also heard during power outages, which are common in some parts of South Asia. Neighbors will shout across balconies, क्या बिजली कट गई? (Has the electricity been cut?).

In the Kitchen: Asking if the vegetables are ready: 'क्या सब्जियां कटी हुई हैं?'
In a Tailor Shop: Discussing fabric: 'यह कपड़ा यहाँ से कटा है।' (This cloth is cut from here.)
During Sports: Kite flying: 'वो काटा!' (I cut that one!) - used when one kite cuts another's string.

मेरा हाथ गलती से कटा है, पट्टी कहाँ है? (My hand is accidentally cut, where is the bandage?)

In emotional or literary contexts, you will hear it in Bollywood songs and poetry. The 'cut kite' (कटी पतंग) is a legendary trope representing a broken heart or a lost soul. You might hear someone describe a person's behavior as कटा-कटा if they are being unusually quiet or distant at a party. This social nuance is important for intermediate learners to grasp, as it moves the word from the kitchen to the heart of human relationships. Finally, in the digital age, a 'cut' call (कॉल कट गई) is perhaps the most frequent use of the word among the youth.

The most frequent mistake English speakers make with कटा is failing to adjust for gender and number. In English, 'cut' is an invariant adjective. In Hindi, saying कटा उंगली (cut finger) is grammatically incorrect because 'finger' (उंगली) is feminine. The correct form is कटी उंगली. Similarly, for plural items like 'cut wires,' using the singular कटा तार instead of कटे तार will sound unnatural to native speakers.

Another point of confusion is the difference between the adjective कटा and the verb काटना. Learners often use the verb where the adjective is needed. For example, if you want to say 'The bread is cut,' don't say ब्रेड काटना है (The bread has to be cut); instead, say ब्रेड कटा हुआ है. The first implies an action that needs to happen, while the second describes the current state.

Confusion with 'Bitten': English speakers look for a word like 'bitten' for mosquitoes. In Hindi, 'मच्छर का कटा' (mosquito's cut) is the standard way to describe a bite mark.
Metaphorical Misuse: Using 'कटा' to mean 'to reduce' in price. While related, for price reduction, 'कम' (less) or 'छूट' (discount) is more common, though 'पैसे कट गए' (money was deducted) is correct for bank transactions.

Lastly, learners sometimes confuse कटा with फटा (phaṭā - torn). While both describe damage, कटा implies a sharp slice (like a knife), whereas फटा implies a rip or a burst (like a balloon or a shirt catching on a nail). If you tell a tailor your shirt is कटा, he will look for a clean slice; if you say फटा, he will look for a jagged tear. Distinguishing these two is vital for clear communication.

While कटा is the most versatile word for 'cut,' several synonyms and related terms can add precision to your Hindi. Understanding these nuances will help you sound more like a native speaker. For instance, if you are talking specifically about something being 'severed' or 'separated' in a formal or technical sense, the word पृथक (pṛthak) or अलग (alag) might be more appropriate, though they don't imply the act of cutting itself.

चीरा (Chīrā): Specifically refers to a surgical cut or a long slit. Used in medical contexts like 'ऑपरेशन का चीरा'.
खंडित (Khaṇḍit): Means 'broken into pieces' or 'fragmented.' Used for idols, statues, or abstract concepts like 'peace.'
टुकड़ा (Tukṛā): A noun meaning 'piece.' Instead of saying 'कटा हुआ सेब,' you could say 'सेब का टुकड़ा' (a piece of apple).

In the context of 'disconnected' utilities, कटा is the informal standard, but विच्छेदित (vicchēdit) is the formal, technical term you might see on an official notice from the electricity board. For social isolation, instead of कटा-कटा, you could use एकांतप्रिय (ēkāntapriya - someone who loves solitude) or अकेला (akēlā - alone), though these lack the nuance of being 'cut off' from others. Knowing when to use कटा versus its synonyms allows you to navigate different registers of the language, from a street market to a formal business meeting.

यह कपड़ा कटा नहीं है, यह तो फटा हुआ है। (This cloth is not cut; it is torn.)

Lastly, consider the word छँटा (chhăṇṭā). It sounds similar but means 'sorted' or 'selected.' Be careful not to confuse them, especially in a market where you might be 'sorting' good vegetables from 'cut' ones. By mastering कटा and its alternatives, you gain a powerful tool for describing the physical and emotional world around you.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The word 'कटा' is cognate with the English word 'cut' through the Proto-Indo-European root *ker- (to cut). Even though they are thousands of miles apart, they share an ancient linguistic ancestor!

Pronunciation Guide

UK /kə.ʈɑː/

US /kə.ʈɑ/

The stress is primarily on the second syllable: ka-TA.

Rhymes With

हटा (haṭā - removed) फटा (phaṭā - torn) बटा (baṭā - divided) सटा (saṭā - adjacent) डटा (daṭā - stayed firm) चटा (chaṭā - licked) रटा (raṭā - memorized) घटा (ghaṭā - reduced)

Common Errors

Pronouncing the 't' as a dental 't' (like in 'think') instead of a retroflex 't' (like in 'truck').
Making the first 'a' too long (KAA-ta).
Forgetting to aspirate the 'k' slightly.
Not distinguishing between 'kata' (cut) and 'katha' (story).
Treating the final 'a' as a short vowel.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Very easy to recognize in text, usually appearing with its noun.

Writing 3/5

Requires attention to gender and number agreement (a/i/e endings).

Speaking 3/5

Retroflex 't' sound can be tricky for beginners to master.

Listening 2/5

Distinct sound makes it easy to pick out in conversation.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

काटना (to cut) फल (fruit) हाथ (hand) बिजली (electricity) हुआ (happened/was)

Learn Next

फटा (torn) टूटा (broken) खुला (open) बंद (closed) जुड़ा (connected)

Advanced

विच्छेद (separation) खंडन (denial/fragmentation) पृथक्करण (segregation) कटौती (deduction) नक्काशी (carving)

Grammar to Know

Adjectival Agreement

कटा (M), कटी (F), कटे (Plural). Example: कटा सेब, कटी उंगली, कटे पेड़।

Perfective Participle as Adjective

Verb 'काटना' becomes 'कटा' to describe a state. Similar to 'लिखना' -> 'लिखा हुआ' (written).

Echo Words/Reduplication

कटा-कटा (isolated) or कटी-फटी (tattered). Reduplication intensifies or broadens meaning.

Passive Construction with 'जाना'

टिकट कट गया (The ticket got issued/cut). The focus is on the object.

Use of 'हुआ' for Stative Description

कटा हुआ (In a cut state). 'हुआ' adds the 'state of being' nuance.

Examples by Level

यह सेब कटा है।

This apple is cut.

Masculine singular agreement with 'सेब'.

कटी हुई सब्जी लाओ।

Bring the chopped vegetables.

Feminine singular agreement with 'सब्जी'.

मेरा हाथ कटा है।

My hand is cut.

Masculine singular agreement with 'हाथ'.

कटा हुआ काग़ज़ कहाँ है?

Where is the cut paper?

Masculine singular agreement with 'काग़ज़'.

यह पेड़ कटा हुआ है।

This tree is cut.

Masculine singular agreement with 'पेड़'.

क्या फल कटा है?

Is the fruit cut?

Masculine singular agreement with 'फल'.

कटी पतंग देखो!

Look at the cut kite!

Feminine singular agreement with 'पतंग'.

वहाँ कटे हुए बाल हैं।

There are cut hairs there.

Masculine plural agreement with 'बाल'.

बिजली का तार कटा हुआ है।

The electricity wire is cut.

Masculine singular agreement with 'तार'.

फोन का कनेक्शन कटा है।

The phone connection is cut.

Masculine singular agreement with 'कनेक्शन'.

उसकी उंगली चाकू से कटी।

Her finger got cut by a knife.

Feminine singular agreement with 'उंगली'.

ये कटे हुए आम बहुत मीठे हैं।

These cut mangoes are very sweet.

Masculine plural agreement with 'आम'.

रास्ता बीच में से कटा हुआ है।

The path is cut off in the middle.

Masculine singular agreement with 'रास्ता'.

मेरा चालान कट गया।

My traffic fine has been issued (cut).

Masculine singular agreement with 'चालान'.

क्या तुमने टिकट कटा लिया?

Did you get the ticket issued?

Masculine singular agreement with 'टिकट'.

आवाज़ कटी-कटी आ रही है।

The voice is coming through fragmented/cut.

Feminine singular agreement with 'आवाज़'.

वह अपने परिवार से कटा-कटा रहता है।

He remains cut off from his family.

Metaphorical use for social isolation.

बिल न भरने पर पानी का कनेक्शन कटा हुआ है।

The water connection is cut due to non-payment of the bill.

Administrative use for utilities.

उसका नाम लिस्ट से कटा हुआ है।

His name is cut (removed) from the list.

Masculine singular agreement with 'नाम'.

कटी पतंग की तरह वह भटक रहा है।

He is wandering like a cut kite.

Idiomatic expression for being lost.

बाढ़ की वजह से गाँव का संपर्क कटा हुआ है।

The village's contact is cut off due to the flood.

Masculine singular agreement with 'संपर्क'.

जेबकतरे ने उसकी जेब काट दी, अब जेब कटी हुई है।

The pickpocket cut his pocket; now the pocket is cut.

Feminine singular agreement with 'जेब'.

शहर का यह हिस्सा मुख्य सड़क से कटा हुआ है।

This part of the city is cut off from the main road.

Masculine singular agreement with 'हिस्सा'.

मेरे वेतन से पाँच सौ रुपये कटे हैं।

Five hundred rupees have been deducted (cut) from my salary.

Masculine plural agreement with 'रुपये'.

वह समाज की मुख्यधारा से कटा हुआ महसूस करता है।

He feels cut off from the mainstream of society.

Abstract social isolation.

संपादक ने लेख का कटा हुआ हिस्सा हटा दिया।

The editor removed the cut (excised) portion of the article.

Masculine singular agreement with 'हिस्सा'.

युद्ध के दौरान कई देशों के कूटनीतिक संबंध कटे रहे।

During the war, diplomatic relations of many countries remained cut.

Masculine plural agreement with 'संबंध'.

यह कटा हुआ सिरा दूसरे तार से जोड़ दो।

Join this cut end to the other wire.

Masculine singular agreement with 'सिरा'.

उसकी बातों में एक कटा हुआ लहज़ा था।

There was a detached (cut) tone in his speech.

Metaphorical use for tone.

नदी के कटाव से किनारा कटा हुआ दिख रहा है।

The bank looks eroded (cut) due to river erosion.

Geological/physical description.

इस योजना के तहत कई लोगों के नाम कटे हैं।

Under this scheme, many people's names have been cut (removed).

Masculine plural agreement with 'नाम'.

कटी-फटी पुरानी किताबों को पुस्तकालय से हटा दिया गया।

The torn and cut old books were removed from the library.

Compound adjective 'कटी-फटी'.

विभाजन ने लाखों लोगों को उनकी जड़ों से कटा हुआ छोड़ दिया।

Partition left millions of people cut off from their roots.

Historical and emotional weight.

उसकी कविता में कटा हुआ समय एक प्रमुख बिंब है।

In his poetry, 'cut time' is a major image/metaphor.

Literary and philosophical use.

विकास की अंधी दौड़ में मनुष्य प्रकृति से कटा जा रहा है।

In the blind race of development, man is becoming cut off from nature.

Sociological critique.

दार्शनिक ने संसार से कटे रहने को ही मोक्ष का मार्ग बताया।

The philosopher described remaining cut off from the world as the path to salvation.

Philosophical context.

राजनीतिक अस्थिरता के कारण कई क्षेत्रों का संपर्क कटा रहा।

Due to political instability, contact with many regions remained cut.

Geopolitical context.

कटा हुआ सत्य अक्सर झूठ से भी अधिक खतरनाक होता है।

A cut (fragmented) truth is often more dangerous than a lie.

Abstract truth/philosophy.

उसकी आँखों में एक कटा हुआ सपना सा तैर रहा था।

A fragmented (cut) dream seemed to float in his eyes.

Poetic expression.

अर्थव्यवस्था के इस संकट में मध्यम वर्ग पूरी तरह कटा हुआ महसूस कर रहा है।

In this economic crisis, the middle class feels completely cut off.

Economic/social analysis.

अस्तित्ववाद की गहराइयों में मनुष्य स्वयं से ही कटा हुआ प्रतीत होता है।

In the depths of existentialism, man appears to be cut off from himself.

High-level philosophical discourse.

उसकी भाषा में एक ऐसी कटी हुई धार है जो सीधे हृदय पर प्रहार करती है।

There is such a sharp (cut) edge in his language that it strikes the heart directly.

Metaphorical use for rhetoric.

इतिहास के पन्नों में कई कटी हुई परंपराएं आज भी जीवित हैं।

In the pages of history, many severed (cut) traditions are still alive today.

Cultural and historical analysis.

ब्रह्मांड की विशालता के सामने हमारा अहंकार एक कटे हुए तिनके के समान है।

In front of the vastness of the universe, our ego is like a severed straw.

Metaphorical insignificance.

उसने अपने अतीत से सारे संबंध काटकर स्वयं को एक कटा हुआ द्वीप बना लिया है।

By cutting all ties with his past, he has made himself a severed island.

Complex psychological metaphor.

सत्य की खोज में उसे कई कटी हुई पगडंडियों से गुजरना पड़ा।

In search of truth, he had to pass through many severed/broken footpaths.

Metaphorical journey.

आधुनिकता ने हमें सामुदायिक बोध से काटकर एक कटा हुआ व्यक्ति बना दिया है।

Modernity has cut us off from communal sense and made us severed individuals.

Sociological critique.

उसकी कला में कटी हुई रेखाएँ विखंडन का प्रतीक हैं।

The cut lines in his art are symbols of fragmentation.

Artistic theory.

Common Collocations

कटा हुआ फल

कटा हुआ हाथ

कटी हुई पतंग

कटा-कटा रहना

बिजली कटी है

कटा हुआ टिकट

कटी हुई आवाज़

कटा हुआ पेड़

कटा हुआ रास्ता

कटी-फटी किताबें

Common Phrases

जेब कटी

— Having one's pocket picked. Used when someone steals money from your pocket.

मेले में मेरी जेब कट गई।

चालान कटा

— To be issued a traffic fine. Very common in Indian cities.

बिना हेलमेट के उसका चालान कटा।

नाम कटना

— To have one's name removed from a list (e.g., school or voter list).

फीस न देने पर उसका नाम स्कूल से कट गया।

पैसे कटना

— Money being deducted from an account or salary.

बैंक से सर्विस चार्ज के पैसे कटे हैं।

रास्ता कटना

— To cross a path (often used superstitiously for a cat crossing your path).

बिल्ली ने रास्ता काट दिया।

बात कटना

— To be interrupted while speaking.

मेरी बात बीच में ही कट गई।

समय कटना

— To pass time (often implies passing time with difficulty).

जेल में उसका समय बड़ी मुश्किल से कटा।

कनेक्शन कटना

— A utility connection being severed.

इंटरनेट का कनेक्शन कट गया है।

कटी-फटी हालत

— A ragged or damaged condition of an object.

नोट कटी-फटी हालत में था।

कटा हुआ होना

— To be in a state of being cut.

यह तार कटा हुआ होना चाहिए।

Often Confused With

कटा vs काटा

This is the past tense verb 'cut' (He cut). 'कटा' is the adjective (It is cut).

कटा vs कथा

Sounds similar but means 'story'. The 'th' is dental and aspirated, unlike the retroflex 't' in 'kata'.

कटा vs काँटा

Means 'thorn' or 'fork'. It has a nasalized 'aa' and a long vowel.

Idioms & Expressions

"कटी पतंग होना"

— To be like a cut kite; to be without support or direction in life.

पिता की मृत्यु के बाद वह कटी पतंग हो गया।

Literary/Informal

"कटे पर नमक छिड़कना"

— To rub salt on a wound; to make a bad situation worse for someone.

उसकी हार पर उसका मज़ाक उड़ाकर तुम कटे पर नमक छिड़क रहे हो।

Common

"दाँतों तले उंगली दबाना"

— To be amazed (literally biting one's finger, though not 'cut', it uses the action).

उसका जादू देखकर सबने दाँतों तले उंगली दबा ली।

Idiomatic

"नाक कटना"

— To lose face or reputation; to be humiliated.

चोरी पकड़े जाने पर उसकी नाक कट गई।

Informal

"गला कटना"

— To be severely cheated or to face extreme competition (cut-throat).

बाज़ार में गला-काट प्रतियोगिता है।

Business/Informal

"कटी छँटी बातें"

— Brief, precise, or abbreviated talk.

उसने कटी छँटी बातों में अपनी समस्या बता दी।

Neutral

"समाज से कटा होना"

— To be socially alienated or isolated.

वह अपने व्यवहार के कारण समाज से कटा हुआ है।

Social

"टिकट कटना"

— Euphemism for being fired or not getting a political nomination.

इस बार चुनाव में कई मंत्रियों के टिकट कट गए।

Political/Informal

"पत्ते कटना"

— To be ousted from a position of power or a group.

नई टीम आते ही पुराने खिलाड़ियों के पत्ते कट गए।

Informal/Sports

"कटे-कटे शब्द"

— Broken or staccato words (often due to emotion or bad connection).

डर के मारे उसके मुँह से कटे-कटे शब्द निकल रहे थे।

Literary

Easily Confused

कटा vs फटा

Both describe damaged objects.

'कटा' is a clean slice (knife), while 'फटा' is a rip or burst (paper, cloth, balloon).

कटा हुआ काग़ज़ (sliced paper) vs फटा हुआ काग़ज़ (torn paper).

कटा vs टूटा

Both describe broken things.

'टूटा' is for hard objects that break into pieces (glass, chair), 'कटा' is for things sliced or disconnected.

टूटा हुआ शीशा (broken glass) vs कटा हुआ तार (cut wire).

कटा vs बटा

Rhyming words.

'बटा' means 'divided' or 'distributed' (like profits or chores), not necessarily sliced.

काम सब में बटा है (Work is divided among all).

कटा vs छँटा

Rhyming and similar market context.

'छँटा' means 'sorted' or 'selected'.

अच्छे फल छँटे हुए हैं (Good fruits are sorted out).

कटा vs हटा

Rhyming words.

'हटा' means 'removed' or 'moved aside'.

वह रास्ते से हट गया (He moved from the path).

Sentence Patterns

यह [Noun] कटा है।

यह सेब कटा है।

[Noun] कटी है।

सब्जी कटी है।

[Subject] का [Noun] कटा है।

मेरा हाथ कटा है।

[Utility] कट गई है।

बिजली कट गई है।

[Subject] [Group] से कटा-कटा रहता है।

वह दोस्तों से कटा-कटा रहता है।

[Subject] का नाम [List] से कट गया।

उसका नाम लिस्ट से कट गया।

[Amount] रुपये [Source] से कटे हैं।

दो सौ रुपये खाते से कटे हैं।

[Abstract Noun] से कटा हुआ [Subject]...

समाज से कटा हुआ व्यक्ति अकेला होता है।

Word Family

Nouns

कटाई (kaṭāī - the act of cutting/harvesting)

कटान (kaṭān - erosion/cut)

कटौती (kaṭautī - deduction/cutback)

कतरन (katran - scraps/clippings)

Verbs

काटना (kāṭnā - to cut/bite)

कटना (kaṭnā - to be cut/to pass time)

कटवाना (kaṭvānā - to cause to be cut)

Adjectives

कटा-फटा (kaṭā-phaṭā - tattered)

काटदार (kāṭdār - sharp/cutting)

कैंची (scissors)

चाकू (knife)

कुल्हाड़ी (axe)

घाव (wound)

पट्टी (bandage)

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely common in daily spoken Hindi.

Common Mistakes

यह उंगली कटा है। → यह उंगली कटी है।
Finger (उंगली) is feminine in Hindi, so the adjective must be 'कटी'.
मैंने सेब कटना किया। → मैंने सेब काटा।
Don't use the adjective 'कटा' when you mean the action 'I cut'. Use the past tense verb 'काटा'.
कटा हुआ कपड़े। → कटे हुए कपड़े।
Clothes (कपड़े) is plural, so 'कटा' must change to 'कटे'.
मेरा फोन कटा हुआ। → मेरा फोन कट गया।
To say 'My phone call dropped', use the verb 'कट गया' rather than just the adjective 'कटा हुआ'.
वह समाज से कटा-कटी रहता है। → वह समाज से कटा-कटा रहता है।
The reduplicated form 'कटा-कटा' follows the gender of the subject (he), not the noun 'society'.

Tips

Gender Agreement

Always match the ending of 'कटा' with the noun. Apples are masculine (कटा), vegetables are feminine (कटी), and multiple apples are plural (कटे).

Chopped vs Whole

Use 'कटा हुआ' for chopped/cut items and 'साबुत' for whole/unbroken items when shopping.

Bad Signal

If you can't hear someone well on a call, say 'Awaaz kat-kat ke aa rahi hai'—it's the most natural way to describe a choppy signal.

Describing Loners

If someone is being unusually quiet or distant at a social gathering, the adjective 'कटा-कटा' is perfect to describe them.

Kite Flying

Learning the phrase 'Wo Kaata!' will help you bond with locals during the Makar Sankranti festival.

Fines

If a policeman says 'Challan katega,' be prepared to pay a fine. The word 'cut' here means 'issued'.

Injuries

For a minor cut, say 'Thoda sa kata hai' (It's cut a little). For a deep wound, use 'Gehra kata hai'.

Deductions

When checking your bank statement, 'Paisa kata' means money was taken out/deducted.

Severed Ties

Use 'Rishta kat gaya' to describe a relationship that has been completely severed.

Power Outage

Ask 'Bijli kab katti hai?' to find out the schedule for power cuts in your area.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Kite' that is 'KATA'. Both start with K. When a kite is KATA, it is cut off from its string and flies away alone.

Visual Association

Imagine a bright red apple sliced in half with a shiny knife. The state of that apple is 'KATA'.

Word Web

Apple Knife Electricity Phone Call Wound Isolation Ticket Kite

Challenge

Try to find five things in your house right now that are 'कटा हुआ'. Is there a cut piece of paper? A chopped vegetable? A disconnected wire? Say them out loud in Hindi.

Word Origin

Derived from the Sanskrit root 'कृत्' (kṛt), which means to cut, divide, or sever. Over centuries, this evolved through Prakrit into the Modern Hindi verb 'काटना' and its participle 'कटा'.

Original meaning: To divide into parts using a sharp instrument.

Indo-Aryan

Cultural Context

Be careful when using 'कटा' to describe people; while 'कटा-कटा रहना' is common, calling someone 'कटा हुआ' directly can sound like you are describing them as physically mutilated if the context isn't clear.

English speakers use 'cut' for many things, but Hindi uses 'कटा' specifically for the state. English 'cut' can be a verb, noun, or adjective; 'कटा' is strictly the adjective/participle.

'Kati Patang' (1970) - A famous Bollywood film starring Rajesh Khanna. 'Wo Kaata!' - The iconic shout during kite festivals. The phrase 'नाक कटवा दी' (You made us lose face) is a common trope in Indian family dramas.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At the Market

क्या यह फल कटा है?
कटी हुई सब्जियाँ मत देना।
आधा कटा हुआ तरबूज कितने का है?
सब्जी को छोटा-छोटा कटा हुआ चाहिए।

Dealing with Utilities

बिजली कब से कटी है?
पानी का कनेक्शन क्यों कटा?
मेरा इंटरनेट कटा हुआ है।
बिल भर दिया, फिर भी लाइन कटी है।

At the Doctor

मेरा हाथ चाकू से कटा है।
घाव कितना गहरा कटा है?
कटी हुई जगह पर पट्टी बाँध दो।
क्या यह टाँकों वाला कटा है?

Phone Conversations

आपकी आवाज़ कटी-कटी आ रही है।
बीच में फोन कट गया था।
नेटवर्क की वजह से कॉल कटी।
सुनो, लाइन कटने वाली है।

Social Situations

वह आजकल सबसे कटा-कटा रहता है।
तुम हमसे इतने कटे हुए क्यों हो?
पार्टी में वह सबसे कटा हुआ खड़ा था।
समाज से कटा हुआ व्यक्ति दुखी रहता है।

Conversation Starters

"क्या आपको बाज़ार का कटा हुआ फल खाना पसंद है?"

"अगर आपकी बिजली कट जाए, तो आप क्या करेंगे?"

"क्या कभी पतंग उड़ाते समय आपकी पतंग कटी है?"

"क्या आपको लगता है कि सोशल मीडिया से लोग एक-दूसरे से कटे हुए हो गए हैं?"

"क्या आपने कभी ट्रेन का टिकट खुद कटाया है?"

Journal Prompts

लिखिए कि जब आपके घर की बिजली कटी थी तब आपने क्या किया।

क्या आप कभी किसी से कटा-कटा महसूस करते हैं? क्यों?

कटी हुई पतंग के बारे में एक छोटी कहानी लिखिए।

बाज़ार में मिलने वाले कटे हुए फलों के फायदे और नुकसान बताइए।

एक ऐसे दिन के बारे में लिखिए जब आपके सारे काम 'कट' (रुक) गए थे।

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Mostly, but it covers a range of meanings from physically sliced food to disconnected phone calls and social isolation. It also means 'issued' for tickets and fines.

The feminine form is 'कटी' (kaṭī). For example, 'कटी हुई पेंसिल' (cut pencil).

You say 'कटी हुई सब्जियाँ' (kaṭī huī sabziyān).

Usually, 'टूटा हुआ दिल' is used for a broken heart. However, 'कटा' can be used metaphorically for a 'severed' relationship.

Yes, in Hindi you say 'मच्छर का कटा' to refer to the mark or the bite itself.

It means to stay aloof, distant, or socially isolated from others.

'कटा' is an adjective (cut/state), whereas 'काटा' is the past tense verb (did cut/action).

Indirectly. 'पैसे कटना' means money was deducted, which happens during a discount or a tax cut.

You can say 'Call kat gayi' (कॉल कट गई).

It is neutral. It is used in daily speech, markets, and also in news reports, though more technical words exist for formal documents.