Word Meaning
कितनी
kitni
hiadjective / pronoun
Meaning
How many; how much; so many.
Detailed Meaning
In this couplet, 'kitni' functions as an interrogative or exclamatory quantifier modifying the feminine plural noun 'baatein' (words, excuses, or tales). It reflects the speaker's effort to invent countless pretexts or eloquent speeches to present before the beloved, all of which vanish in their overwhelming presence. The term conveys both the abundance of prepared thoughts and the utter futility of trying to voice them.
Etymology
From Sanskrit कियत् (kiyat) through Prakrit केत्तिअ (kettia) into Hindustani.
Usage
Commonly used in ghazal poetry to convey an immeasurable abundance of sorrow, longing, or fabricated excuses.
Examples
How many nights passed in awaiting you.
How many words remained unsaid in the heart.
Synonyms
किस क़दरकितनी हीअनेक
Related Words
कितनाकितनेबातें