होशियार (hoshiyaar)
adjective/interjection
Primarily an adjective meaning 'clever, smart, skillful' or 'alert, careful'; also used as a standalone interjection meaning 'watch out!'.
Sense
1
:
clever, intelligent, skillful
adjective
Synonyms: समझदार (samajhdaar), चालाक (chaalaak, can imply cunning), तेज़ (tez, quick-witted), बुद्धिमान (buddhimaan, formal)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This is the word every Indian parent, teacher, or relative uses to praise a sharp kid -- 'बहुत होशियार है!' (bahut hoshiyaar hai, 'very clever/sharp!') is practically a national compliment for children who do well in school. It carries warmth and approval, unlike चालाक (chaalaak), which can carry a whiff of suspicion.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes reach for चालाक (chaalaak) as a direct synonym, but चालाक (chaalaak) often leans toward 'cunning, sly' -- होशियार (hoshiyaar) is the safer, more positive word for praising someone's intelligence or skill. 2) होशियार (hoshiyaar) is commonly used for being good at something practical (studies, work, a game), not just abstract intelligence -- होशियार छात्र (hoshiyaar chhaatr, 'a smart/sharp student') is a very natural combination.
Sample Sentences:
मेरी बेटी बहुत होशियार है, हर क्लास में अव्वल आती है।
My daughter is very clever, she comes first in every class.
(merii betii bahut hoshiyaar hai, har klaas men avval aatii hai।)
वह क्लास का सबसे होशियार बच्चा था।
He was the smartest kid in the class.
(vah klaas kaa sabse hoshiyaar bachchaa thaa।)
अगर तुम थोड़े और होशियार होते तो यह गलती नहीं करते।
If you were a bit smarter, you wouldn't have made this mistake.
(agar tum thode aur hoshiyaar hote to yah galtii nahiin karte।)
काश मैं उतना ही होशियार होता जितनी मेरी बहन है।
I wish I were as clever as my sister.
(kaash main utnaa hii hoshiyaar hotaa jitnii merii bahan hai।)
शिक्षक ने कहा कि यह लड़का बहुत होशियार है, इसे आगे पढ़ाना चाहिए।
The teacher said that this boy is very intelligent, he should continue his studies.
(shikshak ne kahaa ki yah ladkaa bahut hoshiyaar hai, ise aage padhaanaa chaahie।)
होशियार बनो, बड़े होकर कुछ बनना है तो अभी से मेहनत करो।
Be smart -- if you want to become something when you grow up, work hard now.
(hoshiyaar bano, bade hokar kuchh bannaa hai to abhii se mehnat karo।)
इस कंपनी के सबसे होशियार इंजीनियरों को इस प्रोजेक्ट के लिए चुना गया है।
The company's smartest engineers have been chosen for this project.
(is kampnii ke sabse hoshiyaar injiiniyron ko is projekt ke lie chunaa gayaa hai।)
अरे वाह, बहुत होशियार है तू तो!
Oh wow, you're so clever!
(are vaah, bahut hoshiyaar hai too to!)
यह देखकर लगता है कि वह गणित में काफी होशियार होगा।
Seeing this, it seems he must be quite good at math.
(yah dekhkar lagtaa hai ki vah ganit men kaaphii hoshiyaar hogaa।)
मुझे ऐसे होशियार लोगों की टीम चाहिए जो हर समस्या का हल निकाल सकें।
I need a team of clever people who can find a solution to every problem.
(mujhe aise hoshiyaar logon kii tiim chaahie jo har samasyaa kaa hal nikaal saken।)
विद्यार्थी जितना होशियार होता है, उतनी ही जल्दी नई बातें सीख लेता है।
The more intelligent a student is, the faster he picks up new things.
(vidyaarthii jitnaa hoshiyaar hotaa hai, utnii hii jaldii naii baaten siikh letaa hai।)
Sense
2
:
alert, careful, on guard
adjective Often paired with रहना (rahnaa) in the frame होशियार रहना (hoshiyaar rahnaa, 'to stay alert/careful').
Synonyms: सावधान (saavdhaan), चौकस (chaukas, formal/watchful)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will hear this shouted by a street vendor or rickshaw driver as a quick heads-up -- 'होशियार!' (hoshiyaar) -- functioning almost like 'watch out!' in the moment, which connects directly to its use as an interjection below.
Common Mistakes: 1) This sense overlaps with सावधान (saavdhaan) but होशियार (hoshiyaar) feels slightly more colloquial and is often used as a sharp, direct warning in the moment, while सावधान (saavdhaan) can sound a touch more formal or instructional (like on signs).
Sample Sentences:
सड़क पार करते समय होशियार रहो।
Be careful while crossing the road.
(sadak paar karte samay hoshiyaar raho।)
वह हमेशा होशियार रहता है, कोई उसे धोखा नहीं दे सकता।
He always stays alert, no one can deceive him.
(vah hameshaa hoshiyaar rahtaa hai, koii use dhokhaa nahiin de saktaa।)
अंधेरी गली में वह होशियार होकर चल रही थी।
She was walking carefully in the dark lane.
(andherii galii men vah hoshiyaar hokar chal rahii thii।)
अगर तुम होशियार रहते, तो जेबकतरे से बच जाते।
If you had stayed alert, you would have escaped the pickpocket.
(agar tum hoshiyaar rahte, to jebkatre se bach jaate।)
पुलिस ने सभी नागरिकों से होशियार रहने की अपील की।
The police appealed to all citizens to stay alert.
(pulis ne sabhii naagrikon se hoshiyaar rahne kii apiil kii।)
यह सुझाव दिया जाता है कि यात्री अपने सामान के बारे में होशियार रहें।
It is suggested that passengers remain careful about their belongings.
(yah sujhaav diyaa jaataa hai ki yaatrii apne saamaan ke baare men hoshiyaar rahen।)
आगे बर्फ़ जमी हुई है, होशियार रहना।
There's ice ahead, be careful.
(aage barf jamii huii hai, hoshiyaar rahnaa।)
काश मैं थोड़ा और होशियार होता, तो यह गलती न होती।
If only I had been a bit more careful, this mistake wouldn't have happened.
(kaash main thodaa aur hoshiyaar hotaa, to yah galtii n hotii।)
अजनबियों से बात करते हुए हमेशा होशियार रहना चाहिए।
One should always stay alert while talking to strangers.
(ajanbiyon se baat karte hue hameshaa hoshiyaar rahnaa chaahie।)
सीमा पर तैनात सैनिक हर पल होशियार रहते हैं।
The soldiers posted at the border stay alert every moment.
(siimaa par tainaat sainik har pal hoshiyaar rahte hain।)
Sense
3
:
watch out! be careful! (as a warning shout)
interjection
Synonyms: सावधान (saavdhaan, slightly more formal/instructional), ख़बरदार (khabardaar, sharper, can sound like a threat)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This is the classic shout you hear from someone carrying a heavy load through a crowded market or a cyclist weaving through traffic -- a quick, functional 'watch it!' that keeps the flow of chaotic Indian streets moving safely.
Common Mistakes: 1) ख़बरदार (khabardaar) is a stronger, more threatening version -- होशियार (hoshiyaar) as a shouted warning is more neutral, like alerting someone to a physical danger (a step, a vehicle) rather than issuing a threat.
Sample Sentences:
होशियार! पीछे हटो!
Watch out! Move back!
(hoshiyaar! piichhe hato!)
होशियार, साइकिल आ रही है!
Watch out, a bicycle is coming!
(hoshiyaar, saaikil aa rahii hai!)
रेहड़ी वाला भीड़ में से गुज़रते हुए चिल्लाया, "होशियार! होशियार!"
The cart vendor shouted, "Watch out! Watch out!" as he passed through the crowd.
(rehdii vaalaa bhiid men se guzarte hue chillaayaa, "hoshiyaar! hoshiyaar!")
होशियार, ऊपर से ईंट गिर रही है!
Watch out, a brick is falling from above!
(hoshiyaar, oopar se iint gir rahii hai!)
होशियार! गरम चाय है, बच जाओ!
Watch out! It's hot tea, get out of the way!
(hoshiyaar! garam chaay hai, bach jaao!)
अगर वह होशियार न चिल्लाता, तो कोई ज़रूर घायल हो जाता।
If he hadn't shouted 'watch out,' someone would surely have gotten hurt.
(agar vah hoshiyaar n chillaataa, to koii zaroor ghaayal ho jaataa।)
कुली सामान उठाकर होशियार, होशियार कहते हुए भीड़ के बीच से निकल गया।
The porter lifted the luggage and made his way through the crowd, calling out 'watch out, watch out.'
(kulii saamaan uthaakar hoshiyaar, hoshiyaar kahte hue bhiid ke biich se nikal gayaa।)
होशियार, यह रास्ता फिसलन भरा है।
Watch out, this path is slippery.
(hoshiyaar, yah raastaa phislan bharaa hai।)
जब भी ठेला वाला मुड़ता है, वह होशियार चिल्लाता है ताकि कोई टकरा न जाए।
Whenever the cart-puller turns, he shouts 'watch out' so that no one collides with him.
(jab bhii thelaa vaalaa mudtaa hai, vah hoshiyaar chillaataa hai taaki koii takraa n jaae।)
Morphology
Adjective (invariant)
invariant:
होशियार
(hoshiyaar)