Which of the following words is feminine?

DSSSB 12 August 2024

English

Medium

Appeared in: DSSSB 12 August 2024

Explanation

The word 'Dhatu' (धातु), which means 'metal', is a feminine noun in the Hindi language.
A common grammatical rule is that many nouns ending in the 'उ' (u) vowel sound are feminine. Their plural form often ends in 'एँ' (en), such as धातु (singular) becoming धातुएँ (plural).
To confirm the gender, one can use an adjective. For example, in 'महंगी धातु' (expensive metal), the adjective 'महंगी' (expensive) is in its feminine form.
It is a notable exception that while the category word 'Dhatu' is feminine, most specific metals like gold (सोना) and iron (लोहा) are masculine. Silver (चाँदी) is another feminine metal.

Option A: The word 'Joda' (जोड़ा), meaning 'pair', is a masculine noun. This can be seen in phrases like 'मेरा जोड़ा' (my pair), where the possessive adjective 'मेरा' is masculine.
Option C: The word 'Patta' (पत्ता), meaning 'leaf', is a masculine noun. For example, in the sentence 'पत्ता गिर गया' (the leaf fell), the verb 'गिरा' is in its masculine form.
Option D: 'Pin' is a loanword from English. In colloquial Hindi, it is often treated as feminine (e.g., 'पिन गिर गई'). However, in a formal grammar test, a native Hindi word with a clear, established gender like 'Dhatu' is the intended correct answer.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Hindi Grammar: Gender Identification (लिंग) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
In Hindi grammar exams, identifying the gender of nouns is a fundamental and frequently tested skill.
A reliable strategy is to form a simple sentence using the noun. The form of the adjective (e.g., अच्छा/अच्छी), possessive pronoun (e.g., मेरा/मेरी), or verb (e.g., गया/गई) will reveal the noun's gender.
Be aware of loanwords (like 'Pin' from English) as their grammatical gender can sometimes be ambiguous or vary in colloquial use. Prioritize native words with established grammatical rules.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify that the question requires you to find the feminine (स्त्रीलिंग) noun from the given options.
Take each option and try to use it in a simple sentence with an adjective or verb that changes based on gender.
For 'Joda' (जोड़ा), think of 'अच्छा जोड़ा' (good pair). 'अच्छा' is masculine, so 'Joda' is masculine.
For 'Dhatu' (धातु), think of 'कीमती धातु' (precious metal). 'कीमती' is an adjective that doesn't change, but you could also think 'महंगी धातु' (expensive metal). 'महंगी' is feminine, so 'Dhatu' is feminine.
For 'Patta' (पत्ता), think of 'हरा पत्ता' (green leaf). 'हरा' is masculine, so 'Patta' is masculine.
For 'Pin', recognize it as a loanword whose gender might be inconsistent. Since 'Dhatu' is a native word with a clear feminine gender, it is the most reliable answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Qy8dcBNzt6mqWwrFfW37iG