दोस्त
dost
/d̪oːst/
Definition
A friend; someone you know well and like very much.
Example
मेरा दोस्त हर रोज़ मेरे साथ स्कूल जाता है।
Show translation
My friend goes to school with me every day.
Etymology
Borrowed from Persian دوست (dōst), meaning "friend" or "beloved one." Persian itself traces the word to Old Iranian *daušta-, related to the root meaning "to like" or "to love." The word entered Hindi via centuries of Persian cultural and literary influence on the Indian subcontinent, particularly through the Mughal era.
Cultural note
दोस्त is the everyday, universally understood word for "friend" across India and Pakistan, cutting across regional and social boundaries. Its Persianate sibling मित्र (mitra, from Sanskrit) carries a slightly more formal or literary tone. In Bollywood films and popular culture, दोस्ती (dostī, "friendship") is a cherished theme — films like *Sholay* have made phrases like "ye dosti" iconic. Note for Urdu learners: دوست is identical in Urdu, making this a perfect cognate bridge between the two languages.