jhoota

Jhoota is a common term in Hindi, Urdu, and Punjabi that broadly means false, fake, or deceptive. It functions as both an adjective and a noun in everyday speech. As an adjective, jhoota describes something not true or not genuine, such as a claim, story, or object. As a noun, it can refer to a person who habitually lies or to a lie itself. The masculine form is jhootha, the feminine form jhoothi, and the masculine noun for a lie is jhooth. In informal use, a person who frequently deceives others may be called a jhoota.

In practice, jhoota appears in discussions of misinformation, rumors, or counterfeit items. It is commonly heard in media, politics, and casual conversation when distinguishing between truth and falsity. While it has a pejorative connotation, its tone can range from critical to humorous depending on context and intent.

Etymology traces jhoota to the Indo-Aryan language family, with cognates across Hindi, Urdu, and Punjabi. Variants and related terms include jhooth (lie) and jhoothi (feminine form used in reference to lies or deceit). The concept of jhoota interacts with broader ideas of truth, credibility, and trust in multilingual South Asian discourse.

See also: truth, lie, falsehood, misinformation. Note that the term can be offensive if aimed at a person; use with consideration of context and audience.