किताब
kitāb
/kɪˈtaːb/
Definition
A book; a written or printed work with pages bound together, used for reading or learning.
Example
मेज़ पर एक पुरानी किताब रखी है।
Show translation
An old book is placed on the table.
Etymology
From Arabic كِتَاب (kitāb, "book, writing"), derived from the root k-t-b meaning "to write." The word entered Hindi via Persian, which heavily influenced the Hindi-Urdu vocabulary during the Mughal period. The same Arabic root gives us مَكْتُوب (maktūb, "letter/written") and كَاتِب (kātib, "scribe").
Cultural note
In South Asian culture, books — especially religious texts — are treated with great respect. Many Hindus avoid placing a kitāb on the floor, as this is seen as disrespectful to Saraswati, the goddess of learning. The word is shared across Hindi and Urdu, making it a small linguistic bridge between the two closely related languages and their communities.