लाजवाब (laajvaab)

adjective An adjective praising something as unbeatable or matchless -- most often food, performances, or experiences. Literally 'answer-less,' i.e. nothing can be said in reply or rebuttal.
Sense 1 : unmatched, exquisite, superb
adjective
Synonyms: बेमिसाल (bemisaal), अद्भुत (adbhut), बेहतरीन (behatriin)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This is the word your rishtedaar (relative) reaches for after the third helping of your maa's biryani -- it is one of the highest compliments you can pay a cook in Delhi-NCR. The literal sense, 'without a jawaab (javaab, answer/reply),' captures the idea that the thing is so good it leaves you speechless, with no comeback or comparison possible.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes treat लाजवाब (laajvaab) as a variable adjective ending in आ (aa) like कड़ा (kadaa), but it does not change for gender or number -- it stays लाजवाब (laajvaab) whether describing खाना (khaanaa, m) or चाय (chaay, f). 2) It is used for praise only -- it cannot describe something merely 'okay' or neutral, unlike ठीक (thiik).
Sample Sentences:
आज की बिरयानी सच में लाजवाब थी। Today's biryani was truly unbeatable.
(aaj kii biryaanii sach men laajvaab thii।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
मेरी नानी के हाथ का खाना हमेशा लाजवाब होता है। The food made by my grandmother's hands is always superb.
(merii naanii ke haath kaa khaanaa hameshaa laajvaab hotaa hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
यह गज़ल इतनी लाजवाब है कि मैं इसे बार-बार सुन रहा हूँ। This ghazal is so exquisite that I keep listening to it again and again.
(yah gazal itnii laajvaab hai ki main ise baar-baar sun rahaa hoon।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
काश आपकी माँ की बिरयानी जैसी लाजवाब कोई और डिश होती। If only there were another dish as unbeatable as your mother's biryani.
(kaash aapkii maan kii biryaanii jaisii laajvaab koii aur dish hotii।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
अगर मेहमान तीसरी बार खाना माँगें, तो समझ लीजिए कि वह लाजवाब बना है। If the guests ask for food a third time, take it that it turned out unbeatable.
(agar mehmaan tiisrii baar khaanaa maangen, to samajh liijie ki vah laajvaab banaa hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
इस होटल के शेफ़ ने एक लाजवाब पकवान तैयार किया। This hotel's chef prepared an exquisite dish.
(is hotal ke shef ne ek laajvaab pakvaan taiyaar kiyaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
यह स्मारक वास्तुकला का लाजवाब नमूना माना जाता है। This monument is considered an unmatched example of architecture.
(yah smaarak vaastuklaa kaa laajvaab namoonaa maanaa jaataa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
अरे भाई, यह मिठाई तो एकदम लाजवाब है, एक और दे दो! Oh man, this sweet is absolutely unbeatable, give me one more!
(are bhaaii, yah mithaaii to ekdam laajvaab hai, ek aur de do!)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
समारोह में उन्होंने जो भाषण दिया, वह लाजवाब था। The speech he gave at the ceremony was superb.
(samaaroh men unhonne jo bhaashan diyaa, vah laajvaab thaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
समीक्षकों ने फ़िल्म के अभिनय को लाजवाब बताया। The critics called the film's acting unmatched.
(samiikshkon ne film ke abhinay ko laajvaab bataayaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
काश मैं ऐसा लाजवाब चित्र बना पाता। If only I could create such an exquisite painting.
(kaash main aisaa laajvaab chitr banaa paataa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Adjective (invariant)
invariant: लाजवाब (laajvaab)