बुज़ुर्ग (buzurg)
noun/adjective
A respectful word for an elderly person, used both as a noun ('elder, senior citizen') and as an adjective ('elderly, senior').
Sense
1
:
an elderly/senior person, especially a respected elder
noun, masculine/feminine
Synonyms: बड़े (bade, often used for family elders), वृद्ध (vriddh, formal)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: In Indian families, बुज़ुर्ग (buzurg) carries real social weight -- elders are consulted before big decisions, and touching their feet (pair chhoonaa) is a common gesture of respect. Calling someone बुज़ुर्ग (buzurg) rather than बूढ़ा (boodhaa) signals deference, not just age.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes treat बुज़ुर्ग (buzurg) as gender-marked like other nouns, but it stays the same form for men and women -- only the verb agreement or accompanying adjective changes. 2) It is used respectfully, not clinically -- for a neutral, purely biological sense of 'old person' without the respect connotation, बूढ़ा (boodhaa) or बूढ़ी (boodhii) is more common, though those can sound blunt or even rude depending on tone.
Sample Sentences:
घर के बुज़ुर्गों का आशीर्वाद बहुत ज़रूरी होता है।
The blessings of the elders in the family are very important.
(ghar ke buzurgon kaa aashiirvaad bahut zaroorii hotaa hai।)
बच्चों ने बुज़ुर्ग के पैर छुए।
The children touched the elder's feet.
(bachchon ne buzurg ke pair chhue।)
कोई भी बड़ा फ़ैसला लेने से पहले हमें बुज़ुर्गों से सलाह लेनी चाहिए।
Before making any big decision, we should take advice from the elders.
(koii bhii badaa faislaa lene se pahle hamen buzurgon se salaah lenii chaahie।)
बुज़ुर्गों की बात मानो, इसमें ही भलाई है।
Listen to what the elders say, that's for the best.
(buzurgon kii baat maano, ismen hii bhalaaii hai।)
मोहल्ले के बुज़ुर्ग अक्सर शाम को पार्क में बैठे मिलते हैं।
The elders of the neighborhood are often found sitting in the park in the evening.
(mohalle ke buzurg aksar shaam ko paark men baithe milte hain।)
यदि परिवार का कोई बुज़ुर्ग साथ रहता तो घर में इतना झगड़ा न होता।
If some elder of the family lived with them, there wouldn't be so much fighting at home.
(yadi parivaar kaa koii buzurg saath rahtaa to ghar men itnaa jhagdaa n hotaa।)
समाज में बुज़ुर्गों का सम्मान किया जाना चाहिए।
Elders should be respected in society.
(samaaj men buzurgon kaa sammaan kiyaa jaanaa chaahie।)
आदरणीय बुज़ुर्गजनों का मार्गदर्शन हमारी संस्कृति की नींव है।
The guidance of our respected elders is the foundation of our culture.
(aadarniiy buzurgajnon kaa maargdarshan hamaarii sanskriti kii niinv hai।)
दादी हमारे परिवार की सबसे बुज़ुर्ग सदस्य हैं।
Grandma is the most senior member of our family.
(daadii hamaare parivaar kii sabse buzurg sadasy hain।)
उस बुज़ुर्ग ने अपनी पूरी ज़िंदगी की कहानी सुनाई।
That elder narrated the story of his entire life.
(us buzurg ne apnii poorii zindgii kii kahaanii sunaaii।)
क्या तुमने बुज़ुर्गों को नमस्ते किया?
Did you greet the elders?
(kyaa tumne buzurgon ko namaste kiyaa?)
Sense
2
:
elderly, senior, aged
adjective
Synonyms: वृद्ध (vriddh, formal), बूढ़ा (boodhaa, can sound blunt)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You will hear this in respectful phrases like बुज़ुर्ग लोग (buzurg log, 'elderly people') in news reports, public announcements, or family conversations -- it is the polite, socially preferred way to describe someone as old.
Common Mistakes: 1) As an adjective, बुज़ुर्ग (buzurg) is invariant -- it does not change form before masculine or feminine nouns, unlike बूढ़ा (boodhaa) / बूढ़ी (boodhii), which learners often expect by analogy.
Sample Sentences:
मेरी दादी बहुत बुज़ुर्ग हैं।
My grandmother is very elderly.
(merii daadii bahut buzurg hain।)
बुज़ुर्ग लोगों को बस में सीट देनी चाहिए।
Elderly people should be given a seat on the bus.
(buzurg logon ko bas men siit denii chaahie।)
अस्पताल में बुज़ुर्ग मरीज़ों के लिए अलग लाइन थी।
There was a separate line in the hospital for elderly patients.
(asptaal men buzurg mariizon ke lie alag laain thii।)
बुज़ुर्ग नागरिकों के लिए टिकट में छूट दी जाती है।
A discount on tickets is given for senior citizens.
(buzurg naagrikon ke lie tikat men chhoot dii jaatii hai।)
जब वह बुज़ुर्ग हो जाएगा, तब हम उसकी देखभाल करेंगे।
When he becomes elderly, we will take care of him.
(jab vah buzurg ho jaaegaa, tab ham uskii dekhbhaal karenge।)
कृपया बुज़ुर्ग यात्रियों की सहायता करें।
Please assist elderly passengers.
(kripyaa buzurg yaatriyon kii sahaaytaa karen।)
अगर वह इतना बुज़ुर्ग न होता, तो खुद यात्रा कर लेता।
If he weren't so elderly, he would have traveled by himself.
(agar vah itnaa buzurg n hotaa, to khud yaatraa kar letaa।)
सरकार बुज़ुर्ग नागरिकों के लिए नई योजना ला रही है।
The government is bringing a new scheme for elderly citizens.
(sarkaar buzurg naagrikon ke lie naii yojnaa laa rahii hai।)
मोहल्ले में कई बुज़ुर्ग लोग शाम को पार्क में बैठे रहते हैं।
Many elderly people in the neighborhood sit in the park in the evenings.
(mohalle men kaii buzurg log shaam ko paark men baithe rahte hain।)
क्या तुम्हारे पापा अभी भी उतने बुज़ुर्ग नहीं दिखते?
Doesn't your dad still not look that elderly?
(kyaa tumhaare paapaa abhii bhii utne buzurg nahiin dikhte?)
बुज़ुर्ग होने के बावजूद वे रोज़ सुबह सैर करते हैं।
Despite being elderly, he goes for a walk every morning.
(buzurg hone ke baavjood ve roz subah sair karte hain।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m/f.direct):
बुज़ुर्ग
(buzurg)
(sg.m/f.oblique):
बुज़ुर्ग
(buzurg)
(pl.m/f.direct):
बुज़ुर्गें
(buzurgen)
(pl.m/f.oblique):
बुज़ुर्गों
(buzurgon)
Adjective (invariant)
invariant:
बुज़ुर्ग
(buzurg)