pagal

Pagal is a term used in several South Asian languages, notably Hindi, Urdu, and Punjabi, meaning "crazy," "mad," or "insane." It functions as an adjective or a noun and has masculine and feminine forms, with pagal (masc) and pagli (fem). In Devanagari, पागल; in Urdu script, پاگل. The word is widely used in everyday speech and pop culture; in casual contexts, it can be a lighthearted insult or an affectionate tease among friends. In more formal or sensitive situations, using pagal to describe a person is considered disrespectful or stigmatizing, especially regarding mental health.

Etymology: Pagal originates in Hindustani, with roots in Urdu and Hindi and possible influences from Persian; exact origin is not definitively established. The term has given rise to compound forms such as paagalpan meaning madness, reflecting the semantic spread from simple insult to broader concept of insanity.

Usage notes: It is non-clinical language and not appropriate in medical or professional descriptions of mental illness. The feminine counterpart pagli is commonly used to refer to a woman or girl in a teasing or affectionate manner.

Cultural context: The word appears in music, films, and everyday slang, illustrating its strong recognizability in South Asia and diaspora communities. Speakers should be mindful of context and audience to avoid offense.

See also: mental health terminology, stigma, Hindustani languages.