Definition
The time of day when it is dark outside; the night.
Example
आज रात आसमान में तारे बहुत सुंदर हैं।
Show translation
Tonight the stars in the sky are very beautiful.
Etymology
From Sanskrit रात्रि (rātri), meaning "night." Cognate with Avestan rātri and distantly related to Latin nox via the broader Proto-Indo-European root *nókʷts ("night"). The Hindi form rāt is a natural phonological reduction of the Sanskrit trisyllabic rātri through Prakrit ratti.
Cultural note
In Indian poetry and classical music, रात — especially the late hours called आधी रात (ādhī rāt, "midnight") — carries deep romantic and spiritual symbolism. Many Hindustani ragas, such as Yaman and Bhairavi, are prescribed specifically for night-time performance. The greeting शुभ रात्रि (śubh rātri, "good night") is the formal version; in casual speech, people simply say रात को सोना or just अलविदा before bed.