मुसलमान (musalmaan)
noun/adjective
A noun meaning 'Muslim' (a follower of Islam), and by extension used as an adjective describing something as Muslim/Islamic; the same word serves both functions without changing form.
Sense
1
:
a Muslim person
noun, masculine/feminine
Synonyms: मुस्लिम (muslim)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: In Delhi-NCR, मुसलमान (musalmaan) and मुस्लिम (muslim) are used interchangeably in daily life, with मुस्लिम (muslim) feeling slightly more common in news and formal writing. You'll hear this word constantly in conversations about neighborhoods, festivals like ईद (iid), and India's religious diversity, where people casually refer to हिन्दू (hindoo) and मुसलमान (musalmaan) neighbors living side by side.
Common Mistakes: 1) मुसलमान (musalmaan) itself is neutral and standard in everyday speech; learners sometimes worry it might be impolite compared to मुस्लिम (muslim), but both are perfectly respectful in ordinary conversation. 2) As a noun the masculine plural form मुसलमान (musalmaan) stays identical to the singular in casual speech, which can confuse learners expecting a visible plural marker.
Sample Sentences:
हमारे मोहल्ले में हिन्दू और मुसलमान दोनों साथ रहते हैं।
Both Hindus and Muslims live together in our neighborhood.
(hamaare mohalle men hindoo aur musalmaan donon saath rahte hain।)
वह मुसलमान है और हर शुक्रवार मस्जिद जाता है।
He is a Muslim and goes to the mosque every Friday.
(vah musalmaan hai aur har shukrvaar masjid jaataa hai।)
मेरी सबसे अच्छी दोस्त मुसलमान है, और हम हर ईद साथ मनाते हैं।
My best friend is a Muslim, and we celebrate Eid together every year.
(merii sabse achchhii dost musalmaan hai, aur ham har iid saath manaate hain।)
पिछली जनगणना में इस शहर में मुसलमानों की संख्या बढ़ी थी।
In the last census, the number of Muslims in this city had increased.
(pichhlii jangannaa men is shahar men musalmaanon kii sankhyaa badhii thii।)
देश के संविधान में हर मुसलमान को बराबर अधिकार दिए गए हैं।
In the country's constitution, every Muslim has been given equal rights.
(desh ke sanvidhaan men har musalmaan ko baraabar adhikaar die gae hain।)
काश वह मुसलमान होता, तो उसे भी रोज़े का मतलब समझ आता।
If only he were a Muslim, he too would understand the meaning of fasting.
(kaash vah musalmaan hotaa, to use bhii roze kaa matlab samajh aataa।)
क्या तुम्हें पता है कि वह मुसलमान है या हिन्दू?
Do you know whether he is a Muslim or a Hindu?
(kyaa tumhen pataa hai ki vah musalmaan hai yaa hindoo?)
शायद वह मुसलमान हो, इसलिए उसने गोश्त नहीं खाया।
Maybe he is a Muslim, which is why he didn't eat the meat.
(shaayad vah musalmaan ho, islie usne gosht nahiin khaayaa।)
भारत में मुसलमानों की एक बड़ी आबादी सदियों से रह रही है।
A large population of Muslims has been living in India for centuries.
(bhaarat men musalmaanon kii ek badii aabaadii sadiyon se rah rahii hai।)
गंगा-जमुनी तहज़ीब की मिसाल है कि यहाँ मुसलमान और हिन्दू एक ही त्योहार पर इकट्ठा होते हैं।
It's an example of the composite Ganga-Jamuni culture that Muslims and Hindus gather here for the same festival.
(gangaa-jamunii tahziib kii misaal hai ki yahaan musalmaan aur hindoo ek hii tyohaar par ikatthaa hote hain।)
उस बुज़ुर्ग मुसलमान ने मुझे अपने घर बुलाकर सेवइयाँ खिलाईं।
That elderly Muslim man invited me to his house and fed me sewaiyan.
(us buzurg musalmaan ne mujhe apne ghar bulaakar sevaiyaan khilaaiin।)
Sense
2
:
Muslim, Islamic (describing people, customs, or things)
adjective Used invariantly before a noun, e.g. मुसलमान परिवार (musalmaan parivaar, 'a Muslim family'), without gender or number agreement.
Synonyms: मुस्लिम (muslim)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You'll often hear phrases like मुसलमान त्योहार (musalmaan tyohaar, 'Muslim festival') or मुसलमान इलाका (musalmaan ilaakaa, 'Muslim neighborhood') in everyday Delhi speech, especially when talking about local geography or festival calendars.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes try to inflect मुसलमान (musalmaan) like a regular adjective (adding आ/ई endings); it never changes form regardless of the noun's gender or number.
Sample Sentences:
यह मुसलमान इलाका बहुत पुराना है।
This Muslim neighborhood is very old.
(yah musalmaan ilaakaa bahut puraanaa hai।)
ईद मुसलमान त्योहार है।
Eid is a Muslim festival.
(iid musalmaan tyohaar hai।)
हमारे मोहल्ले में मुसलमान रीति-रिवाज भी मनाए जाते हैं।
Muslim customs are also observed in our neighborhood.
(hamaare mohalle men musalmaan riiti-rivaaj bhii manaae jaate hain।)
उस गली में एक मुसलमान मस्जिद है और साथ में एक मंदिर भी।
There's a Muslim mosque in that lane, and a temple right beside it too.
(us galii men ek musalmaan masjid hai aur saath men ek mandir bhii।)
मुझे मुसलमान खाना बहुत पसंद है, खासकर बिरयानी।
I really like Muslim food, especially biryani.
(mujhe musalmaan khaanaa bahut pasand hai, khaaskar biryaanii।)
पुरानी दिल्ली में कई मुसलमान इलाके हैं जहाँ पुरानी हवेलियाँ अब भी खड़ी हैं।
There are several Muslim neighborhoods in Old Delhi where old mansions still stand.
(puraanii dillii men kaii musalmaan ilaake hain jahaan puraanii haveliyaan ab bhii khadii hain।)
अगर यह मुसलमान त्योहार होता, तो स्कूल में छुट्टी होती।
If this were a Muslim festival, there would have been a holiday in school.
(agar yah musalmaan tyohaar hotaa, to skool men chhuttii hotii।)
उस ज़माने में मुसलमान संस्कृति और हिंदू संस्कृति साथ-साथ फली-फूली थीं।
In those times, Muslim culture and Hindu culture flourished side by side.
(us zamaane men musalmaan sanskriti aur hindoo sanskriti saath-saath phalii-phoolii thiin।)
क्या तुम्हें पता है कि यह मुसलमान रिवाज़ कब से चला आ रहा है?
Do you know since when this Muslim custom has been going on?
(kyaa tumhen pataa hai ki yah musalmaan rivaaz kab se chalaa aa rahaa hai?)
सरकार को मुसलमान संस्थानों की भी उतनी ही मदद करनी चाहिए जितनी बाकी सबकी।
The government should help Muslim institutions just as much as everyone else's.
(sarkaar ko musalmaan sansthaanon kii bhii utnii hii madad karnii chaahie jitnii baakii sabkii।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m/f.direct):
मुसलमान
(musalmaan)
(sg.m/f.oblique):
मुसलमान
(musalmaan)
(pl.m/f.direct):
मुसलमानें
(musalmaanen)
(pl.m/f.oblique):
मुसलमानों
(musalmaanon)
Adjective (invariant)
invariant:
मुसलमान
(musalmaan)