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B1 verb 7 min read

मोटा होना

mota hona
Examples Notes & Tips मोटा होना in 30 Seconds
Explanation मोटा होना in your Level:
At the A1 level, learners should focus on the basic meaning of 'मोटा होना' as 'to become fat'. You will mostly use it in very simple sentences to describe yourself or others. At this stage, you only need to know that 'मोटा' (mota) is for males and 'मोटी' (moti) is for females. The verb 'होना' (hona) changes to 'हो गया' (ho gaya) for 'became' or 'हो रहा है' (ho raha hai) for 'is becoming'. For example, if you eat a lot of chocolate, you might say 'मैं मोटा हो रहा हूँ' (I am becoming fat). It is a physical description word. You will see it in basic flashcards and beginner lessons about adjectives. Don't worry about complex grammar yet; just remember the gender agreement. If you see a fat cat, you can say 'बिल्ली मोटी हो गई है' (The cat has become fat). This level is about identifying the change in body shape using simple vocabulary. You should also know the opposite, which is 'पतला होना' (to become thin).
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At the A2 level, you begin to use 'मोटा होना' to describe reasons and consequences. You can link it with food or lifestyle. For instance, 'वह बहुत सोता है, इसलिए वह मोटा हो गया है' (He sleeps a lot, therefore he has become fat). You should also be comfortable with the future tense, like 'अगर तुम व्यायाम नहीं करोगे, तो मोटे हो जाओगे' (If you don't exercise, you will become fat). At this level, you start to notice that 'मोटा' can also describe things, like a 'मोटा किताब' (thick book), but 'मोटा होना' as a verb phrase is almost always about people or animals. You should practice using it with simple conjunctions like 'क्योंकि' (because) and 'इसलिए' (so). You will also learn that in Indian culture, people might say this to you as a casual observation, and it isn't always meant to be mean. Understanding the basic social context of the word is part of A2 learning.
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At the B1 level, you are expected to understand the nuances of 'मोटा होना' in different contexts. You should be able to distinguish between 'मोटा होना' (becoming fat) and 'वज़न बढ़ना' (gaining weight). B1 learners should use 'मोटा होना' in conversations about health, habits, and personal changes. You will encounter this phrase in news articles about health crises or in stories where a character's appearance changes. You should be able to conjugate it in more complex forms, like 'मोटा होते जाना' (to keep becoming fat). You also begin to understand that 'मोटा होना' can be a sensitive topic. You might use phrases like 'मुझे लगता है कि मैं मोटा हो रहा हूँ' (I feel that I am becoming fat) to express personal concern. You should also be familiar with related terms like 'चर्बी' (fat/grease) and how they relate to the process of 'मोटा होना'. This level involves moving beyond simple descriptions to discussing the implications of physical changes.
At the B2 level, you can use 'मोटा होना' in more abstract or metaphorical discussions. You might discuss societal standards of beauty and how the pressure to not 'मोटा होना' affects people. You should be able to use the phrase in the passive voice or in complex conditional sentences. For example, 'अगर बचपन में ही खान-पान पर ध्यान दिया जाता, तो वह इतना मोटा न होता' (If attention had been paid to diet in childhood itself, he wouldn't have become so fat). You will also understand the colloquialisms associated with it, such as how 'मोटा होना' might be used ironically. At B2, you should be able to compare 'मोटा होना' with more sophisticated synonyms like 'स्थूलता' (obesity) or 'वज़न में वृद्धि' (increase in weight). You can participate in debates about health policies and use this vocabulary to describe trends in the population. Your understanding of the word should include its social impact and the various ways it is perceived across different age groups in India.
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At the C1 level, your mastery of 'मोटा होना' includes an understanding of its stylistic and literary uses. You can recognize when an author uses the phrase to symbolize greed, laziness, or even prosperity in a historical text. You are aware of the subtle difference in registers—knowing that 'मोटा होना' might be too blunt for a formal speech, where you would instead use 'मोटापे का शिकार होना' (falling prey to obesity). You can discuss the etymology and the linguistic structure of the compound verb. You should be able to use it in creative writing to add descriptive depth. For instance, 'उसका शरीर धीरे-धीरे मोटा होता गया, मानो उसकी चिंताएँ मांस बनकर उसके शरीर पर चिपक गई हों' (His body gradually became fat, as if his worries had become flesh and stuck to his body). At this level, you are also sensitive to the 'body positivity' movement in Hindi media and how the language around 'मोटा होना' is evolving to be more inclusive or less judgmental.
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At the C2 level, you have a near-native grasp of 'मोटा होना'. You can use it in any context, from high-level academic discussions on public health to deep philosophical reflections on the physical body. You understand the historical shifts in the meaning of 'मोटा' in Hindi literature and how 'मोटा होना' has been portrayed from the era of Premchand to modern-day Bollywood. You can use the phrase with perfect precision, incorporating subtle adverbs and modal verbs to convey exact shades of meaning. You can also critique how the phrase is translated into other languages and what cultural nuances are lost in translation. You are capable of using the phrase in puns, high-level sarcasm, or complex metaphors. Your command over the word is such that you can navigate even the most sensitive social situations involving discussions of weight with linguistic grace, choosing between 'मोटा होना' and its myriad alternatives based on the precise emotional and social requirements of the moment.
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Examples Notes & Tips

मोटा होना in 30 Seconds

  • मोटा होना is a Hindi verb meaning to become fat or gain weight.
  • It requires gender agreement: मोटा (masculine) and मोटी (feminine).
  • It is used in informal, formal, and medical contexts across India.
  • Commonly associated with lifestyle, diet, and sometimes prosperity in traditional views.

The Hindi verb phrase मोटा होना (mōṭā hōnā) is a fundamental expression used to describe the process of gaining weight or becoming physically larger. In its literal sense, 'मोटा' translates to 'fat' or 'thick', and 'होना' means 'to be' or 'to become'. Together, they form a compound verb that is ubiquitous in daily Hindi conversation. Unlike some languages where discussing weight might be strictly taboo, in Hindi-speaking cultures, particularly in India, observations about a person's physical appearance, including weight gain, are often made more freely, though the social context dictates whether it is perceived as a compliment, a concern, or a critique.

Literal Meaning
To become fat; the transition from a thinner state to a heavier state.
Clinical Context
Used by doctors and health professionals to discuss obesity or weight gain related to health conditions.
Colloquial Usage
Commonly heard in family gatherings where elders might comment on a child or relative 'filling out' or looking 'healthy' (which often implies gaining weight).

शादी के बाद राहुल काफी मोटा हो गया है। (Rahul has become quite fat after the wedding.)

Understanding the nuance of this phrase requires an awareness of the cultural backdrop. In many traditional Indian households, 'मोटा होना' was historically associated with prosperity and good health—a sign that one is well-fed and living a comfortable life. However, with the rise of modern fitness culture in urban India, the phrase has increasingly taken on a negative or self-deprecating tone, similar to Western contexts. People use it to express dissatisfaction with their lifestyle or to warn others about the health risks associated with sedentary habits. It is also used metaphorically in some regional dialects to mean becoming 'thick-skinned' or arrogant, though the physical meaning remains dominant.

अगर तुम कसरत नहीं करोगे, तो मोटे हो जाओगे। (If you don't exercise, you will become fat.)

Using 'मोटा होना' correctly involves mastering the conjugation of the auxiliary verb 'होना' while ensuring the adjective 'मोटा' agrees with the subject. Because 'होना' is an intransitive verb here, the subject is the person undergoing the change. The phrase can be used in all tenses: past, present, and future. In the past tense, it often takes the form 'हो गया' (ho gayā) to indicate a completed transition. In the continuous present, 'हो रहा है' (ho rahā hai) suggests an ongoing process of weight gain.

Subject-Adjective Agreement
Masculine Singular: मोटा होना | Feminine Singular: मोटी होना | Masculine Plural: मोटे होना.

वह लड़की बहुत मोटी हो रही है। (That girl is becoming very fat.)

When constructing sentences, you can add adverbs to modify the intensity of the weight gain. Common adverbs include 'बहुत' (very), 'थोड़ा' (a little), or 'काफी' (quite). Additionally, you can specify the cause of the weight gain using the postposition 'से' (from/due to) or 'के कारण' (because of). For example, 'मिठाई खाने से मोटा होना' (becoming fat from eating sweets). It is important to distinguish this from 'मोटा करना' (to make someone fat), which is the causative form where an external agent is responsible for the weight gain.

ज़्यादा जंक फूड खाने से बच्चे मोटे हो रहे हैं। (Children are becoming fat due to eating too much junk food.)

You will encounter 'मोटा होना' in a variety of settings ranging from the highly informal to the semi-formal. One of the most common places is within the family circle. In Indian culture, it is not uncommon for a grandmother to look at a grandchild and say, 'तुम मोटे हो गए हो' (You have become fat), often with a sense of pride or affection, implying that the child is being well-cared for. This can be jarring for those from cultures where any comment on weight is viewed as an insult.

Social Gatherings
Friends might tease each other after a long vacation or a holiday season by pointing out that they have 'become fat'.
Media and Advertisements
Weight loss commercials often start with a 'before' scenario where someone laments, 'मैं बहुत मोटा हो गया था' (I had become very fat).

अरे भाई, तुम तो बहुत मोटे हो गए हो, क्या बात है? (Hey brother, you've become very fat, what's the matter?)

In gym environments or fitness blogs, the phrase is used as a pain point to motivate people to exercise. You might hear a trainer ask, 'क्या आप मोटे होने से परेशान हैं?' (Are you troubled by becoming fat?). In movies and TV shows, characters often use this phrase in comedic contexts, particularly when trying on old clothes that no longer fit. While the phrase is common, modern urban speakers are becoming more sensitive, and you might hear younger generations using 'healthy होना' as a euphemism for gaining weight, even though 'healthy' literally means something else.

The most frequent mistake learners make with 'मोटा होना' relates to grammatical gender agreement. Since 'मोटा' is an adjective, it must change to 'मोटी' when referring to a female subject and 'मोटे' for a group or for respectful address (though usually, weight isn't discussed with plural respect in a way that requires 'मोटे'). A common error is saying 'वह लड़की मोटा हो गई' instead of the correct 'वह लड़की मोटी हो गई'.

Confusing 'होना' with 'करना'
'मोटा होना' means 'to become fat' (passive/intransitive), whereas 'मोटा करना' means 'to make fat' (active/transitive).

Incorrect: मैं मोटा कर रहा हूँ। (I am making [someone] fat.)
Correct: मैं मोटा हो रहा हूँ। (I am becoming fat.)

Another mistake is using 'मोटा होना' when 'भारी होना' (to become heavy) or 'वज़न बढ़ना' (to gain weight) would be more appropriate. While 'मोटा' specifically refers to fatness, 'भारी' is more general. Furthermore, using 'मोटा' to describe an object being 'thick' (like a book or a wall) is correct, but the verb phrase 'मोटा होना' is almost exclusively used for living beings or things that can physically expand in a 'fattening' sense. Learners also often forget to use the 'हो गया' (perfective) form when talking about a change that has already happened, mistakenly using the simple present 'होता है' which implies a general habit rather than a specific change.

Depending on the context, you might want to use a more polite or a more specific term than 'मोटा होना'. In formal or medical contexts, the phrase 'वज़न बढ़ना' (vazan baṛhnā) is the standard. It literally translates to 'weight increasing' and is neutral in tone. If you want to describe someone who is becoming physically strong or 'filling out' in a positive way, the word 'तगड़ा होना' (tagṛā hōnā - becoming sturdy/strong) is a great alternative.

वज़न बढ़ना (Weight Gain)
Neutral and clinical. Example: 'दवा के कारण मेरा वज़न बढ़ गया।' (My weight increased due to the medicine.)
फूलना (To Bloat/Swell)
Often used for temporary weight gain or water retention. Example: 'ज़्यादा नमक खाने से शरीर फूल जाता है।' (Eating too much salt makes the body swell.)

वह जिम जाकर काफी तगड़ा हो गया है। (He has become quite sturdy/strong by going to the gym.)

For a more derogatory or extreme description, one might use 'थुलथुल होना' (thulthul hōnā), which refers to becoming flabby or having loose fat. On the other hand, 'सेहत बनना' (sehat bannā) is a very positive idiomatic way to say someone is gaining weight and looking healthy. This is often used by parents when their children finally start eating well. Understanding these distinctions helps you navigate the social landscape of Hindi conversation more effectively, ensuring you don't accidentally offend someone when you intended to pay them a compliment about their health.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

"शारीरिक निष्क्रियता के कारण व्यक्ति मोटा होने लगता है।"

Neutral

"वह पिछले कुछ महीनों में काफी मोटा हो गया है।"

Informal

"अबे तू तो बहुत मोटा हो गया है!"

Child friendly

"देखो, छोटा भालू कितना मोटा हो गया है!"

Slang

"खा-खाकर मोटा हो रहा है साला।"

Fun Fact

In many Indian languages, the word for 'fat' and 'thick' is the same, unlike English where 'thick' is usually for objects and 'fat' for beings. Hence, a 'mota' book and a 'mota' person use the same adjective.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ˈmoː.ʈɑː ˈɦo.nɑː/
US /ˈmoʊ.tɑ ˈhoʊ.nɑ/
The primary stress is on the first syllable of each word: MO-ta HO-na.
Rhymes With
छोटा होना (chhota hona - to become small) खोटा होना (khota hona - to be counterfeit) लोटा (lota) गोटा (gota) सोटा (sota) झोटा (jhota) रोटा (rota) पोटा (pota)
Common Errors
  • Pronouncing 't' as a dental (as in 'thin') instead of retroflex.
  • Making the 'h' in 'hona' too silent.
  • Shortening the long 'o' sound in 'mota'.
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Examples by Level

1

मैं मोटा हो गया हूँ।

I have become fat.

Subject 'मैं' (masculine) matches with 'मोटा' and 'हो गया हूँ'.

2

वह बिल्ली मोटी हो रही है।

That cat is becoming fat.

Subject 'बिल्ली' is feminine, so 'मोटा' becomes 'मोटी'.

3

क्या मैं मोटा हूँ?

Am I fat?

Simple present question using 'हूँ'.

4

तुम मोटे हो जाओगे।

You will become fat.

Future tense 'हो जाओगे' for masculine singular informal 'तुम'.

5

वह बच्चा बहुत मोटा है।

That child is very fat.

Using 'मोटा' as a simple adjective.

6

ज़्यादा मत खाओ, मोटे हो जाओगे।

Don't eat too much, you will become fat.

Imperative 'मत खाओ' followed by future consequence.

7

मेरा कुत्ता मोटा हो गया है।

My dog has become fat.

Perfective aspect 'हो गया है'.

8

वह लड़की मोटी नहीं होना चाहती।

That girl does not want to become fat.

Infinitive 'मोटा होना' used with 'चाहती'.

1

वह मिठाई खाने से मोटा हो गया।

He became fat by eating sweets.

Use of 'से' to show cause.

2

अगर तुम नहीं दौड़ोगे, तो मोटे हो जाओगे।

If you don't run, you will become fat.

Conditional 'अगर... तो' sentence.

3

मेरी बहन मोटी हो रही है क्योंकि वह कसरत नहीं करती।

My sister is becoming fat because she doesn't exercise.

Using 'क्योंकि' to explain the reason.

4

क्या तुम मोटे होने से डरते हो?

Are you afraid of becoming fat?

Gerundive use of 'होने' with the postposition 'से'.

5

वह पहले पतला था, पर अब मोटा हो गया है।

He was thin before, but now he has become fat.

Contrast using 'पर' (but).

6

ज़्यादा चावल खाने से लोग मोटे हो जाते हैं।

People become fat by eating too much rice.

Habitual present 'हो जाते हैं' for plural 'लोग'.

7

डॉक्टर ने कहा कि मैं मोटा हो रहा हूँ।

The doctor said that I am becoming fat.

Reported speech using 'कि'.

8

वह धीरे-धीरे मोटी हो रही है।

She is gradually becoming fat.

Adverb 'धीरे-धीरे' (gradually) modifying the verb.

1

मोटा होना सेहत के लिए अच्छा नहीं है।

Becoming fat is not good for health.

'मोटा होना' acts as the subject of the sentence.

2

तनाव की वजह से भी लोग मोटे हो सकते हैं।

People can also become fat because of stress.

Use of 'सकते हैं' to show possibility.

3

वह मोटा होने के बाद बहुत आलसी हो गया है।

After becoming fat, he has become very lazy.

Phrase 'होने के बाद' (after becoming).

4

आजकल के बच्चे जंक फूड की वजह से मोटे हो रहे हैं।

Nowadays, children are becoming fat because of junk food.

Plural agreement 'मोटे हो रहे हैं'.

5

अगर आप कम नहीं खाएंगे, तो आप मोटे होते जाएंगे।

If you don't eat less, you will keep becoming fat.

Aspectual compound 'होते जाना' indicating continuous process.

6

शहरों में लोग शारीरिक गतिविधि की कमी से मोटे हो रहे हैं।

In cities, people are becoming fat due to lack of physical activity.

Formal cause 'कमी से' (due to lack of).

7

उसे डर था कि वह शादी के बाद मोटी हो जाएगी।

She was afraid that she would become fat after the wedding.

Past tense 'था' with a future subordinate clause.

8

मोटा होना कोई बड़ी बात नहीं है, बस व्यायाम करो।

Becoming fat is not a big deal, just exercise.

Colloquial expression 'कोई बड़ी बात नहीं' (not a big deal).

1

आधुनिक जीवनशैली मोटा होने का एक मुख्य कारण है।

Modern lifestyle is a major cause of becoming fat.

Genitive 'होने का' linking to 'कारण' (reason).

2

वह मोटा होने के बावजूद बहुत फुर्तीला है।

Despite becoming fat, he is very agile.

Use of 'के बावजूद' (despite).

3

समाज में मोटा होने को अक्सर गलत नज़रिए से देखा जाता है।

In society, becoming fat is often seen from a wrong perspective.

Passive construction 'देखा जाता है'.

4

मोटा होने की प्रक्रिया को रोकने के लिए संतुलित आहार ज़रूरी है।

A balanced diet is necessary to stop the process of becoming fat.

Noun phrase 'मोटा होने की प्रक्रिया' (the process of becoming fat).

5

कुछ लोग आनुवंशिक कारणों से मोटे होते हैं।

Some people become fat due to genetic reasons.

Scientific/Formal context.

6

मोटा होना केवल शारीरिक ही नहीं, बल्कि मानसिक स्वास्थ्य को भी प्रभावित करता है।

Becoming fat affects not only physical but also mental health.

Correlative conjunction 'केवल ही नहीं... बल्कि... भी'.

7

क्या आपने कभी मोटा होने के सामाजिक प्रभावों के बारे में सोचा है?

Have you ever thought about the social impacts of becoming fat?

Present perfect question with 'के बारे में' (about).

8

जब वह बीमार था, तो वह काफी मोटा हो गया था।

When he was sick, he had become quite fat.

Past perfect 'हो गया था'.

1

साहित्य में मोटा होना अक्सर समृद्धि और आलस्य का प्रतीक माना गया है।

In literature, becoming fat has often been considered a symbol of prosperity and laziness.

Abstract literary analysis.

2

मोटा होने की समस्या अब केवल अमीर देशों तक सीमित नहीं रही।

The problem of becoming fat is no longer limited to only rich countries.

Complex negation 'सीमित नहीं रही'.

3

विज्ञापनों ने मोटा होने को एक अभिशाप की तरह पेश किया है।

Advertisements have presented becoming fat like a curse.

Simile 'अभिशाप की तरह' (like a curse).

4

मोटा होने के मनोवैज्ञानिक पहलुओं पर गहरा शोध आवश्यक है।

Deep research on the psychological aspects of becoming fat is necessary.

Formal academic register.

5

वह इस बात से चिंतित था कि उसका शरीर दिन-ब-दिन मोटा होता जा रहा था।

He was worried about the fact that his body was becoming fatter day by day.

Idiomatic 'दिन-ब-दिन' (day by day).

6

मोटा होने के डर से कई लोग घातक डाइटिंग का सहारा लेते हैं।

Out of fear of becoming fat, many people resort to dangerous dieting.

Causal phrase 'के डर से' (out of fear of).

7

शहरीकरण और मोटा होने के बीच एक गहरा संबंध देखा गया है।

A deep connection has been observed between urbanization and becoming fat.

Sociological context.

8

मोटा होने की प्रवृत्ति को रोकने के लिए जन-जागरूकता अभियान चलाए जा रहे हैं।

Public awareness campaigns are being run to stop the tendency to become fat.

Passive continuous 'चलाए जा रहे हैं'.

1

मोटा होना केवल मांस का बढ़ना नहीं, बल्कि जीवन की बदली हुई प्राथमिकताओं का प्रतिबिंब है।

Becoming fat is not just the increase of flesh, but a reflection of changed life priorities.

Metaphorical and philosophical register.

2

उपभोक्तावाद की संस्कृति ने हमें मोटा होने की ओर धकेला है।

The culture of consumerism has pushed us towards becoming fat.

Personification of 'culture'.

3

मोटा होने की विडंबना यह है कि हम जितना समृद्ध होते हैं, उतने ही अस्वस्थ होते जाते हैं।

The irony of becoming fat is that the more prosperous we become, the more unhealthy we get.

Correlative 'जितना... उतना ही'.

4

क्या मोटा होना वास्तव में व्यक्तिगत चुनाव है या यह एक व्यवस्थागत विफलता है?

Is becoming fat truly an individual choice or is it a systemic failure?

Rhetorical question in a formal debate.

5

मोटा होने के प्रति समाज का दृष्टिकोण संवेदनहीनता की पराकाष्ठा पर है।

Society's attitude towards becoming fat is at the height of insensitivity.

High-level vocabulary like 'पराकाष्ठा' (pinnacle/height).

6

मोटा होने की प्रक्रिया में हार्मोनल असंतुलन की भूमिका को नकारा नहीं जा सकता।

The role of hormonal imbalance in the process of becoming fat cannot be denied.

Double negative for emphasis 'नकारा नहीं जा सकता'.

7

मोटा होने की ग्लानि अक्सर व्यक्ति को अवसाद की गहरी खाइयों में धकेल देती है।

The guilt of becoming fat often pushes a person into the deep trenches of depression.

Strong evocative imagery.

8

वैश्विक स्वास्थ्य परिदृश्य में मोटा होना एक मूक महामारी का रूप ले चुका है।

In the global health landscape, becoming fat has taken the form of a silent epidemic.

Metaphorical use of 'मूक महामारी' (silent epidemic).

Common Collocations

बहुत मोटा होना
अचानक मोटा होना
धीरे-धीरे मोटा होना
खाने से मोटा होना
दवा से मोटा होना
बैठे-बैठे मोटा होना
शादी के बाद मोटा होना
मोटा होने की बीमारी
मोटा होने का डर
मोटा होने से रोकना

Common Phrases

खा-पीकर मोटा होना

— To become fat by eating and drinking well. Often implies a carefree life.

वह छुट्टियों में खा-पीकर मोटा हो गया।

मोटा होने की दवाई

— Medicine to gain weight. Common in advertisements for supplements.

क्या कोई मोटा होने की सुरक्षित दवाई है?

मोटा होने का नुस्खा

— A recipe or home remedy for gaining weight.

दादी ने मुझे मोटा होने का एक नुस्खा बताया।

मोटा होने का शौक

— The desire or hobby of wanting to get bigger (rare, usually sarcastic).

तुम्हें क्या मोटा होने का शौक चढ़ा है?

मोटा होने की चिंता

— Worry about gaining weight.

उसे हर वक्त मोटा होने की चिंता सताती है।

मोटा होने का राज

— The secret behind someone's weight gain.

तुम्हारे मोटा होने का राज क्या है?

मोटा होने की संभावना

— The possibility of becoming fat.

इस डाइट से मोटा होने की संभावना कम है।

मोटा होने की हद

— The limit of becoming fat.

मोटा होने की भी एक हद होती है।

मोटा होने के लक्षण

— Symptoms or signs of gaining weight.

ये मोटा होने के शुरुआती लक्षण हैं।

मोटा होने का तरीका

— The method or way to gain weight.

मोटा होने का सबसे आसान तरीका क्या है?

Idioms & Expressions

"मोटा ताज़ा होना"

— To be healthy, fat, and energetic. Usually used for children or livestock.

तुम्हारा बेटा तो बहुत मोटा ताज़ा हो गया है।

Informal/Positive
"खाते-पीते घर का होना"

— To belong to a well-to-do family (implied by being slightly fat).

वह देखने में खाते-पीते घर का लगता है।

Colloquial
"मोटा आसामी"

— A wealthy person (literally 'a fat client/person').

पुलिस को कोई मोटा आसामी हाथ लगा है।

Slang/Informal
"मोटा दिमाग"

— Dull-witted or stupid (literally 'fat brain').

उसे कुछ समझ नहीं आता, उसका दिमाग मोटा है।

Informal/Derogatory
"मोटा काम"

— Rough or unskilled work.

वह केवल मोटा काम करना जानता है।

Neutral
"मोटा मुनाफा"

— A huge profit.

इस व्यापार में मोटा मुनाफा है।

Business/Informal
"मोटी रकम"

— A large sum of money.

उसने घर बेचने के लिए मोटी रकम माँगी।

Neutral
"मोटी बात"

— The main point or a simple truth.

मोटी बात यह है कि हमें मेहनत करनी होगी।

Colloquial
"मोटा हाथ मारना"

— To make a big, often illegal, gain or profit.

चोरों ने इस बार मोटा हाथ मारा है।

Slang
"मोटी बुद्धि"

— Lack of intelligence or common sense.

अपनी मोटी बुद्धि का इस्तेमाल मत करो।

Informal

Word Family

Nouns

Verbs

Adjectives

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Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Motor' (sounds like Mota). If you add too much fuel (food) to the motor, it gets heavy and 'becomes' a 'Mota' motor.

Visual Association

Imagine a balloon being inflated. As it gets bigger, it is 'mota hona'.

Word Web

Fat Weight Food Exercise Obesity Thick Body Health

Challenge

Try to use 'मोटा होना' in three different tenses (past, present, future) while describing a fictional character's journey through a food festival.

Word Origin

The word 'मोटा' (mōṭā) originates from the Sanskrit word 'मुकुट' (mukuṭa) or related Prakrit forms meaning 'blunt' or 'thick'. Over centuries, it evolved into the New Indo-Aryan 'mōṭā'. The verb 'होना' (hōnā) comes from the Sanskrit root 'भू' (bhū), meaning 'to be' or 'to become'.

Original meaning: Originally referred to physical thickness or broadness of an object before being applied to human body weight.

Indo-Aryan

Cultural Context

Be careful when using this with acquaintances or in professional settings. Use 'वज़न बढ़ना' to be safe.

In English, calling someone 'fat' is very offensive. In Hindi, 'मोटा' is direct but can range from affectionate to rude depending on the tone.

The song 'Mota Mota' from regional folk music. Comic characters like 'Motu' from the popular cartoon 'Motu Patlu'. Common dialogues in Bollywood family dramas where a mother worries about a thin son not 'becoming fat' (healthy).
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