Definition
A natural flow of water that moves through the land and usually leads to the sea or a lake — a river.
Example
इस गाँव के पास एक बड़ी नदी बहती है।
Show translation
A large river flows near this village.
Etymology
From Sanskrit नदी (nadī), derived from the root *nad-* meaning "to flow" or "to make a rushing sound." The same root gives us नद (nad, a large river), and is distantly related to Proto-Indo-European *ned- ("to flow, be damp").
Cultural note
Rivers hold profound sacred significance in Indian culture. The Ganga (Ganges), Yamuna, Saraswati, and several others are worshipped as goddesses. The word नदी almost always carries feminine grammatical gender, which mirrors this reverence — rivers are addressed and spoken of as mothers (e.g., गंगा माँ). Many major Indian cities — Varanasi, Prayagraj, Patna — are built on riverbanks and define their identity around them.