आज (aaj)
adverb
A simple time adverb meaning 'today'; it also has an extended sense referring to the present era or modern times, as in 'nowadays.'
Sense
1
:
today (this calendar day)
adverb
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: आज (aaj) is one of the very first words every learner picks up, right alongside कल (kal) -- and famously कल (kal) does double duty for both 'yesterday' and 'tomorrow,' which makes आज (aaj) the stable anchor point in any conversation about time. You will hear it constantly in weather reports, plans, and greetings like आज (aaj) कैसा (kaisaa) दिन (din) है (hai, 'how is today')? .
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes add a postposition after आज (aaj) when talking about actions happening on that day, e.g. saying आज को (aaj ko) -- native speakers just say आज (aaj) जाऊँगा (jaaoongaa, 'will go'), no को (ko) needed, unlike with named days like सोमवार को (somvaar ko, 'on Monday'). 2) आज (aaj) is used with both past and future tense freely -- it does not lock you into one tense the way 'today' sometimes nudges English speakers.
Sample Sentences:
आज मैं दफ़्तर नहीं गया।
I did not go to the office today.
(aaj main daftar nahiin gayaa।)
Listen: M85
आज शाम को हम सिनेमा देखने जाएँगे।
This evening we will go to watch a movie.
(aaj shaam ko ham sinemaa dekhne jaaenge।)
Listen: M85
आज रात का खाना कौन बनाएगा?
Who will make dinner tonight?
(aaj raat kaa khaanaa kaun banaaegaa?)
Listen: M85
यह पत्र आज ही डाकघर से भेजा जाएगा।
This letter will be sent from the post office this very day.
(yah patr aaj hii daakghar se bhejaa jaaegaa।)
Listen: M85
आज बैठक हो सकती है, पक्का नहीं है।
There might be a meeting today, it's not certain.
(aaj baithak ho saktii hai, pakkaa nahiin hai।)
Listen: M85
आज मेरी माँ का जन्मदिन है।
Today is my mother's birthday.
(aaj merii maan kaa janmdin hai।)
Listen: F85
मान लीजिए आज बारिश हो जाए, तो हम कल जाएँगे।
Suppose it rains today, then we will go tomorrow.
(maan liijie aaj baarish ho jaae, to ham kal jaaenge।)
Listen: M85
Sense
2
:
nowadays, these days, in the present era
adverb
Synonyms: आजकल (aajkal, more common for this exact sense), वर्तमान (vartmaan, formal)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This sense shows up in reflective or generational comments, like something an elder might say about how times have changed: आज (aaj) के (ke) बच्चे (bachche) मोबाइल (mobaail) पर (par) लगे (lage) रहते (rahte) हैं (hain, 'today's children stay glued to their mobiles'). It is the same word stretched from a single day to an entire era, much like English 'today' can mean 'in this day and age.'
Common Mistakes: 1) For this extended sense many speakers actually reach for आजकल (aajkal) rather than आज (aaj) alone; using आज (aaj) by itself for 'nowadays' works but can sound slightly more literary or emphatic, as in आज (aaj) के (ke) ज़माने (zamaane) में (men, 'in today's era').
Sample Sentences:
आज के बच्चे मोबाइल पर लगे रहते हैं।
Nowadays' children stay glued to their mobiles.
(aaj ke bachche mobaail par lage rahte hain।)
Listen: F85
आज के ज़माने में सब कुछ इंटरनेट पर मिल जाता है।
Nowadays, you can find everything on the internet.
(aaj ke zamaane men sab kuchh intarnet par mil jaataa hai।)
Listen: F85
आज की पीढ़ी को बड़ों का उतना डर नहीं रहा।
Today's generation doesn't fear elders as much anymore.
(aaj kii piidhii ko badon kaa utnaa dar nahiin rahaa।)
Listen: M85
आज के दौर में रिश्ते निभाना आसान नहीं रहा।
In this day and age, maintaining relationships isn't easy anymore.
(aaj ke daur men rishte nibhaanaa aasaan nahiin rahaa।)
Listen: F85
अगर आज जैसा ज़माना पहले होता, तो लोग शायद इतना अकेला महसूस न करते।
If an era like today's had existed earlier, people probably wouldn't have felt so lonely.
(agar aaj jaisaa zamaanaa pahle hotaa, to log shaayad itnaa akelaa mahsoos n karte।)
Listen: F85
दादी अक्सर कहती हैं कि आज के बच्चों में सब्र नहीं रहा।
Grandmother often says that today's children have no patience left.
(daadii aksar kahtii hain ki aaj ke bachchon men sabr nahiin rahaa।)
Listen: F85
आज की दुनिया में जल्दी सफलता पाने की होड़ लगी रहती है।
In today's world, there's a constant race to achieve success quickly.
(aaj kii duniyaa men jaldii saphaltaa paane kii hod lagii rahtii hai।)
Listen: F85
काश आज के समय में इंसानियत भी उतनी ही तेज़ी से बढ़ती।
If only humanity grew as fast in this era too.
(kaash aaj ke samay men insaaniyat bhii utnii hii tezii se badhtii।)
Listen: F85
आज के समाज में हर कोई जल्दी में दिखता है।
In today's society, everyone seems to be in a hurry.
(aaj ke samaaj men har koii jaldii men dikhtaa hai।)
Listen: F85