आज़ाद (aazaad)
adjective
A single core sense meaning 'free/independent', used for people, nations, and situations. Related to the abstract noun आज़ादी (aazaadii, 'freedom').
Sense
1
:
free, independent (of a country, person, or situation)
adjective
Synonyms: स्वतंत्र (svatantr, formal), मुक्त (mukt, literary)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This is the word every Indian schoolchild learns alongside 15 अगस्त (15 agast) and भारत छोड़ो (bhaarat chhodo, 'Quit India') -- आज़ादी (aazaadii) is the everyday word for the freedom movement and Independence Day itself, not स्वतंत्रता (svatantrtaa), which sounds more like a textbook term. You'll also hear it used loosely and warmly, as when a parent tells a grown child तुम आज़ाद हो (tum aazaad ho, 'you're free to do as you like') -- meaning permission, not politics.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes reach for मुक्त (mukt) in everyday speech about a country or person being free -- native speakers overwhelmingly say आज़ाद (aazaad) in this everyday sense, saving मुक्त (mukt) for more formal or abstract contexts (like 'freed from suffering'). 2) As an invariant adjective, it does not change form before masculine or feminine nouns -- आज़ाद औरत (aazaad aurat, 'free woman') and आज़ाद मुल्क (aazaad mulk, 'free country') both use the same form.
Sample Sentences:
भारत १९४७ में आज़ाद हुआ था।
India became free in 1947.
(bhaarat 1947 men aazaad huaa thaa।)
तुम बड़े हो गए हो, अब तुम आज़ाद हो अपनी ज़िंदगी के फ़ैसले लेने के लिए।
You've grown up, now you're free to make your own life decisions.
(tum bade ho gae ho, ab tum aazaad ho apnii zindgii ke faisle lene ke lie।)
काश हम भी उस ज़माने में आज़ाद होते, अंग्रेज़ों के राज में नहीं।
I wish we too had been free in those days, not under British rule.
(kaash ham bhii us zamaane men aazaad hote, angrezon ke raaj men nahiin।)
जब तक देश आज़ाद नहीं होगा, हमारी लड़ाई जारी रहेगी।
Until the country becomes free, our fight will continue.
(jab tak desh aazaad nahiin hogaa, hamaarii ladaaii jaarii rahegii।)
जाओ, घूम आओ, तुम आज़ाद हो, कोई पाबंदी नहीं है।
Go on, go take a walk, you're free, there's no restriction.
(jaao, ghoom aao, tum aazaad ho, koii paabandii nahiin hai।)
कैदी को दस साल बाद आज़ाद कर दिया गया।
The prisoner was set free after ten years.
(kaidii ko das saal baad aazaad kar diyaa gayaa।)
शायद वह अब अपने पुराने रिश्ते से आज़ाद हो।
Perhaps she is free from her old relationship now.
(shaayad vah ab apne puraane rishte se aazaad ho।)
हे मातृभूमि, तू सदा आज़ाद रहे, यही हमारी प्रार्थना है।
O motherland, may you always remain free, this is our prayer.
(he maatribhoomi, too sadaa aazaad rahe, yahii hamaarii praarthnaa hai।)
वह हर बंधन से आज़ाद रहना चाहती थी, किसी की मोहताज नहीं।
She wanted to stay free from every bond, not dependent on anyone.
(vah har bandhan se aazaad rahnaa chaahtii thii, kisii kii mohtaaj nahiin।)
इस समझौते के बाद कंपनी पुराने क़र्ज़ों से आज़ाद हो जाएगी।
After this agreement, the company will be free of its old debts.
(is samjhaute ke baad kampnii puraane qarzon se aazaad ho jaaegii।)
अगर वह उस नौकरी से आज़ाद हो जाता, तो कहीं और नया काम शुरू करता।
If he had been freed from that job, he would have started something new elsewhere.
(agar vah us naukrii se aazaad ho jaataa, to kahiin aur nayaa kaam shuroo kartaa।)
Morphology
Adjective (invariant)
invariant:
आज़ाद
(aazaad)