बिलकुल (bilkul)

adverb/interjection An emphasis word meaning 'absolutely/completely' (adverb) or, in a short reply, 'exactly!/totally!' (interjection). Also commonly spelled बिल्कुल (bilkul) with a nukta-marked conjunct; both forms are used interchangeably by native speakers.

Sense 1 : completely, totally (intensifier)

adverb Functions as an intensifier before adjectives, adverbs, or negatives -- e.g. बिलकुल सही (bilkul sahii, 'completely right') or बिलकुल नहीं (bilkul nahiin, 'not at all').

Synonyms: पूरी तरह (poorii tarah), सर्वथा (sarvthaa, literary), एकदम (ekdam)

Frequency: high

Cultural Note: This is the word Delhi shopkeepers, friends, and family use constantly to add punch to a statement -- बिलकुल सही बात है (bilkul sahii baat hai, 'that's absolutely right') is something you'll hear in almost every animated conversation.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often place बिलकुल (bilkul) after the word it intensifies, as in English word order; native speakers put it right before the adjective or negation, e.g. बिलकुल ठीक (bilkul thiik) not ठीक बिलकुल.

Sample Sentences:

यह बात बिलकुल सही है। This is completely correct.

(yah baat bilkul sahii hai।)

मैं बिलकुल थक गया हूँ। I'm completely exhausted.

(main bilkul thak gayaa hoon।)

यह कमरा बिलकुल खाली था। This room was completely empty.

(yah kamraa bilkul khaalii thaa।)

उसने मेरी बात बिलकुल नहीं सुनी। He didn't listen to me at all.

(usne merii baat bilkul nahiin sunii।)

अगर तुम बिलकुल तैयार होते, तो हम अभी निकल सकते थे। If you were completely ready, we could have left right now.

(agar tum bilkul taiyaar hote, to ham abhii nikal sakte the।)

कृपया कमरे को बिलकुल साफ कर दो। Please clean the room completely.

(kripyaa kamre ko bilkul saaph kar do।)

उसकी हिंदी बिलकुल बदल गई है। Her Hindi has completely changed.

(uskii hindii bilkul badal gaii hai।)

यह योजना बिलकुल असफल साबित होगी। This plan will turn out to be a complete failure.

(yah yojnaa bilkul asphal saabit hogii।)

शायद वह बिलकुल भूल गया हो कि आज मीटिंग है। Maybe he has completely forgotten that there's a meeting today.

(shaayad vah bilkul bhool gayaa ho ki aaj miiting hai।)

यहाँ का माहौल बिलकुल बदल दिया गया है। The atmosphere here has been completely changed.

(yahaan kaa maahaul bilkul badal diyaa gayaa hai।)

बचपन में मैं बिलकुल शर्मीला था। In my childhood, I was completely shy.

(bachpan men main bilkul sharmiilaa thaa।)

Sense 2 : exactly, absolutely (agreement response)

interjection Used as a standalone emphatic 'yes' in response to a question or statement, without needing a following adjective.

Synonyms: ज़रूर (zaroor), एकदम सही (ekdam sahii)

Frequency: high

Cultural Note: Said on its own with a nod and a smile, बिलकुल! (bilkul) is the enthusiastic cousin of हाँ (haan) -- it signals wholehearted agreement, not just confirmation.

Sample Sentences:

बिलकुल! चलो चलते हैं। Absolutely! Let's go.

(bilkul! chalo chalte hain।)

"क्या तुम कल आओगे?" "बिलकुल!" "Will you come tomorrow?" "Absolutely!"

("kyaa tum kal aaoge?" "bilkul!")

बिलकुल, यह बहुत अच्छा आइडिया है। Absolutely, this is a great idea.

(bilkul, yah bahut achchhaa aaidiyaa hai।)

"सर, क्या मैं थोड़ी देर बाद आ सकता हूँ?" "बिलकुल, कोई बात नहीं।" "Sir, may I come a little later?" "Absolutely, no problem."

("sar, kyaa main thodii der baad aa saktaa hoon?" "bilkul, koii baat nahiin।")

बिलकुल! मुझे भी वही लग रहा था। Absolutely! I was thinking the same thing.

(bilkul! mujhe bhii vahii lag rahaa thaa।)

"क्या तुम्हें यह गाना पसंद है?" "बिलकुल!" "Do you like this song?" "Absolutely!"

("kyaa tumhen yah gaanaa pasand hai?" "bilkul!")

"अगर मैं मदद माँगूँ, तो क्या तुम आओगे?" "बिलकुल, बेशक।" "If I ask for help, will you come?" "Absolutely, of course."

("agar main madad maangoon, to kyaa tum aaoge?" "bilkul, beshak।")

मैंने कहा, "बिलकुल, यह सही है," और उसने सिर हिलाया। I said, "Absolutely, that's right," and he nodded.

(mainne kahaa, "bilkul, yah sahii hai," aur usne sir hilaayaa।)

अगर वह पूछता तो मैं "बिलकुल" ही कहता। If he had asked, I would have simply said "absolutely."

(agar vah poochhtaa to main "bilkul" hii kahtaa।)

बिलकुल! तुम्हारी बात में कोई शक नहीं। Absolutely! There's no doubt about what you're saying.

(bilkul! tumhaarii baat men koii shak nahiin।)