सूना (soonaa)
adjective
An adjective describing emptiness or desolation, used for places, houses, or life situations that feel abandoned, quiet, or lacking someone/something.
Sense
1
:
empty, deserted, desolate
adjective
Synonyms: खाली (khaalii), वीरान (viiraan), उजाड़ (ujaad)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This word is often used for a house or a life that feels empty after someone has left or passed away -- घर सूना लगता है (ghar soonaa lagtaa hai, 'the house feels empty/desolate') is something you might hear from a mother whose children have moved away for work or studies, a very common reality in Delhi-NCR families. It pairs naturally with लगना (lagnaa) to describe this felt emptiness as something that happens to you, not a fact you simply state.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners confuse सूना (soonaa, 'empty/desolate') with सुना (sunaa, 'heard', past participle of सुनना (sunnaa)) -- the spellings differ only in vowel length but the meanings are unrelated. 2) सूना (soonaa) carries an emotional weight of loneliness or loss that खाली (khaalii) (simply 'empty', like an empty glass) does not -- a सूना घर (soonaa ghar, 'a desolate/empty-feeling house') suggests someone is missing, not just that the rooms are unoccupied.
Sample Sentences:
माँ के जाने के बाद घर सूना लगता है।
After mother left, the house feels empty.
(maan ke jaane ke baad ghar soonaa lagtaa hai।)
बच्चों के हॉस्टल जाने के बाद पूरा घर सूना हो गया है।
After the children went off to the hostel, the whole house has become empty.
(bachchon ke hostal jaane ke baad pooraa ghar soonaa ho gayaa hai।)
उसके पति की मौत के बाद उसकी ज़िंदगी सूनी हो गई थी।
After her husband's death, her life had become desolate.
(uske pati kii maut ke baad uskii zindgii soonii ho gaii thii।)
रात के इस वक्त सड़कें एकदम सूनी रहती हैं।
At this time of night, the streets remain completely deserted.
(raat ke is vakt sadken ekdam soonii rahtii hain।)
जब सब चले जाएँगे तो यह कमरा कैसा सूना लगेगा!
When everyone leaves, how empty this room will feel!
(jab sab chale jaaenge to yah kamraa kaisaa soonaa lagegaa!)
अगर तुम न होते तो यह घर बिल्कुल सूना होता।
If you weren't here, this house would feel completely empty.
(agar tum n hote to yah ghar bilkul soonaa hotaa।)
दीवाली की रात वह गली अजीब तरह से सूनी पड़ी थी।
On Diwali night, that lane was strangely deserted.
(diivaalii kii raat vah galii ajiib tarah se soonii padii thii।)
उसके जाने से मेरा दिल सूना-सूना हो गया।
With him gone, my heart has become desolate and empty.
(uske jaane se meraa dil soonaa-soonaa ho gayaa।)
क्या तुम्हें कभी यह मंदिर इतनी सुबह सूना नहीं लगता?
Does this temple never feel deserted to you so early in the morning?
(kyaa tumhen kabhii yah mandir itnii subah soonaa nahiin lagtaa?)
बेटे की शादी के बाद अगर वे साथ न रहें, तो घर सूना पड़ जाएगा।
If they don't stay together after their son's wedding, the house will fall silent and empty.
(bete kii shaadii ke baad agar ve saath n rahen, to ghar soonaa pad jaaegaa।)
Morphology
Adjective (variable)
(sg.m):
सूना
(soonaa)
(pl.m):
सूने
(soone)
(sg.f):
सूनी
(soonii)
(pl.f):
सूनी
(soonii)