विकलांग (viklaang)

adjective A single-sense adjective meaning 'disabled/handicapped' (physically), sometimes used as a noun referring to a person with a disability.
Sense 1 : physically disabled, handicapped
adjective
Synonyms: अपंग (apang), दिव्यांग (divyaang, preferred in official/formal contexts), लंगड़ा (langdaa, colloquial, can be rude if directed at a person)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You'll see विकलांग (viklaang) on government signage, bus reservations (विकलांग कोटा, viklaang kotaa, 'disability quota'), and parking spots all over Delhi-NCR. Since around 2015, the Indian government has pushed दिव्यांग (divyaang, literally 'divine-bodied') as a more dignified official replacement, so you'll now hear both terms used side by side, with older signage and colloquial speech still favoring विकलांग (viklaang).
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes use लंगड़ा (langdaa) thinking it is a neutral synonym, but it specifically means 'lame/limping' and can sound insensitive when used generally for disability. 2) In official, government, or media contexts, दिव्यांग (divyaang) is now the preferred and more respectful term -- विकलांग (viklaang) is still very common in everyday speech but is being phased out in formal writing.
Sample Sentences:
यह सीट विकलांग यात्रियों के लिए आरक्षित है। This seat is reserved for disabled passengers.
(yah siit viklaang yaatriyon ke lie aarakshit hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
मेरा चाचा एक दुर्घटना के बाद विकलांग हो गया था। My uncle became disabled after an accident.
(meraa chaachaa ek durghatnaa ke baad viklaang ho gayaa thaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
क्या आपके पास विकलांग कोटे का फॉर्म है? Do you have the disability quota form?
(kyaa aapke paas viklaang kote kaa phorm hai?)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
पार्किंग में वह जगह विकलांग व्यक्तियों के लिए बनी है। That spot in the parking lot is made for disabled persons.
(paarking men vah jagah viklaang vyaktiyon ke lie banii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
अगर वह बचपन में विकलांग न हुआ होता, तो शायद फौज में भर्ती हो जाता। If he hadn't become disabled in childhood, he might have joined the army.
(agar vah bachpan men viklaang n huaa hotaa, to shaayad phauj men bhartii ho jaataa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Perfective -- Voice: Active
सरकार चाहती है कि विकलांग बच्चों को भी अच्छी शिक्षा मिले। The government wants disabled children to get a good education too.
(sarkaar chaahtii hai ki viklaang bachchon ko bhii achchhii shikshaa mile।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
बस में हमेशा विकलांग यात्रियों को पहले चढ़ने दो। Always let disabled passengers board the bus first.
(bas men hameshaa viklaang yaatriyon ko pahle chadhne do।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
विकलांग व्यक्तियों के अधिकार अधिनियम में उनके लिए कई सुविधाओं का प्रावधान किया गया है। The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act has made provisions for many facilities for them.
(viklaang vyaktiyon ke adhikaar adhiniyam men unke lie kaii suvidhaaon kaa praavdhaan kiyaa gayaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
पुराने बोर्ड पर अभी भी विकलांग लिखा हुआ है, नया वाला दिव्यांग कहता है। The old board still says 'vikalang', the new one says 'divyang'.
(puraane bord par abhii bhii viklaang likhaa huaa hai, nayaa vaalaa divyaang kahtaa hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
इस इमारत में विकलांग लोगों के लिए रैंप बनाया जाएगा। A ramp for disabled people will be built in this building.
(is imaarat men viklaang logon ke lie raimp banaayaa jaaegaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Passive
वह विकलांग होते हुए भी हर रोज़ अकेले बाज़ार जाता है। Even though he is disabled, he goes to the market alone every day.
(vah viklaang hote hue bhii har roz akele baazaar jaataa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Adjective (invariant)
invariant: विकलांग (viklaang)