Hindi

Noun

कलेजा • ‎(kalejā) m ‎(Urdu spelling کلیجا)

1. (metaphorically) heart

   उसके पास पत्थर का कलेजा है।

   He has a heart of stone.

   तुम मेरे कलेजे का टुकड़े हो।

   You are very dear to my heart. (lit. You are a piece of my heart.)

2. (organ) liver

Usage notes

• While कलेजा ‎(kalejā) technically refers to the liver organ (see यकृत् ‎(yakŕt)), it has various other meanings (heart, mind, courage, etc.) when commonly used.
• कलेजा ‎(kalejā) is usually applied to the liver of a human being; the feminine form कलेजी ‎(kalejī) being used for the liver of an animal.

Synonyms

• जिगर ‎(jigar)

Expressions

• कलेजा टूटना ‎(kalejā ṭūṭnā, “to be heartbroken”)
• कलेजा कांपना ‎(kalejā kāmpnā, “to be struck with terror”)
• कलेजा कड़ा करना ‎(kalejā kaṛā karnā, “to steel one's heart; to prepare for a shock/hardship”)
• कलेजा पत्थर का करना ‎(kalejā patthar kā karnā, “to become stone-hearted”)
• कलेजा निकाल कर रख देना ‎(kalejā nikāl kar rakh denā, “to express oneself without reservation”)

Related terms

• कलेजी ‎(kalejī)

References

• Bahri, Hardev (1989), “कलेजा”, in Siksarthi Hindi-Angrejhi Sabdakosa [Learners' Hindi-English Dictionary], Delhi: Rajpal & Sons