Definition
The eye; the organ used for seeing. Also used in many Hindi expressions about vision, attention, or love.
Example
उसकी आँखें बहुत सुंदर हैं।
Show translation
Her eyes are very beautiful.
Etymology
From Sanskrit अक्षि (akṣi), meaning "eye," via Prakrit akkhi. The same root gives us the Sanskrit-derived English term "ocular" through a shared Proto-Indo-European ancestor *h₃ekʷ- ("to see").
Cultural note
आँख is deeply embedded in Hindi idiom and poetry. "आँखों का तारा" (the star of one's eyes) means a deeply cherished person — often a child. "आँख मारना" (to wink the eye) is a casual, flirty gesture. In classical Urdu-Hindi poetry (ghazal tradition), the beloved's eyes are a central motif, capable of both killing and healing. Note also: the anusvara (ँ) nasalizes the vowel, giving it a distinct nasal quality — a feature easy for English speakers to miss.