कुशल (kushal)
adjective/noun
Mainly an adjective meaning skilled or competent; also used as a noun meaning welfare or well-being, mostly seen in the set phrase कुशल-मंगल (kushal-mangal).
Sense
1
:
skilled, competent, expert
adjective
Synonyms: निपुण (nipun), माहिर (maahir), दक्ष (daksh, somewhat formal), कुशाग्र (kushaagr, rare, more about sharp intellect)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will hear कुशल (kushal) applied to all kinds of practical expertise -- कुशल कारीगर (kushal kaariigar, 'a skilled craftsman'), कुशल डॉक्टर (kushal doktar, 'a competent doctor') -- it has a slightly formal, respectful ring, the kind of word you'd use in a recommendation or a news report rather than casual chat about a friend being good at something.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes treat कुशल (kushal) as if it inflects like an ordinary -आ adjective; it does not change form for gender or number, so कुशल औरत (kushal aurat, 'a skilled woman') and कुशल आदमी (kushal aadmii, 'a skilled man') both use the same form. 2) कुशल (kushal) is used for practical skill or expertise (a craftsman, a driver, a doctor), not for being merely clever or witty, which would call for a different word.
Sample Sentences:
वह एक कुशल कारीगर है।
He is a skilled craftsman.
(vah ek kushal kaariigar hai।)
हमारे अस्पताल में एक बहुत कुशल डॉक्टर हैं।
There is a very competent doctor at our hospital.
(hamaare asptaal men ek bahut kushal doktar hain।)
इस काम के लिए हमें एक कुशल इंजीनियर की ज़रूरत है।
For this job, we need a skilled engineer.
(is kaam ke lie hamen ek kushal injiiniyar kii zaroorat hai।)
वह पहले उतना कुशल नहीं था, पर अब बहुत कुशल हो गया है।
He wasn't that skilled before, but now he has become very skilled.
(vah pahle utnaa kushal nahiin thaa, par ab bahut kushal ho gayaa hai।)
कंपनी को एक कुशल प्रबंधक की तलाश है।
The company is looking for a competent manager.
(kampnii ko ek kushal prabandhak kii talaash hai।)
काश मैं भी उतना ही कुशल होता जितना वह है।
I wish I were as skilled as he is.
(kaash main bhii utnaa hii kushal hotaa jitnaa vah hai।)
अगर वह इतना कुशल न होता, तो यह मशीन कभी ठीक नहीं होती।
If he weren't so skilled, this machine would never have been fixed.
(agar vah itnaa kushal n hotaa, to yah mashiin kabhii thiik nahiin hotii।)
समाचार में बताया गया कि वे देश के सबसे कुशल शल्य चिकित्सकों में से एक हैं।
It was reported in the news that he is one of the country's most skilled surgeons.
(samaachaar men bataayaa gayaa ki ve desh ke sabse kushal shaly chikitskon men se ek hain।)
यह प्रमाणपत्र दर्शाता है कि आवेदक इस क्षेत्र में पूर्णतः कुशल है।
This certificate shows that the applicant is fully competent in this field.
(yah pramaanpatr darshaataa hai ki aavedak is kshetr men poorntah kushal hai।)
उसे इस नौकरी के लिए चुना गया क्योंकि वह सबसे कुशल उम्मीदवार थी।
She was chosen for this job because she was the most competent candidate.
(use is naukrii ke lie chunaa gayaa kyonki vah sabse kushal ummiidvaar thii।)
Sense
2
:
welfare, well-being (as in inquiring after someone)
noun, masculine Almost always appears in the compound कुशल-मंगल (kushal-mangal, 'welfare and well-being'), especially in the greeting-style question कुशल-मंगल पूछना (kushal-mangal poochhnaa, 'to ask after someone's welfare').
Synonyms: मंगल (mangal), भलाई (bhalaaii), खुशहाली (khushahaalii)
Frequency: low
Cultural Note: This sense survives mainly in the phrase कुशल-मंगल पूछना (kushal-mangal poochhnaa), the kind of thing an elder relative does when you visit -- asking not just 'how are you' but genuinely checking that all is well with your health, family, and affairs. It has a warm, old-fashioned courtesy to it, often heard from grandparents or in more traditional letters and phone calls.
Sample Sentences:
दादी ने आते ही सबका कुशल-मंगल पूछा।
As soon as grandmother arrived, she asked after everyone's welfare.
(daadii ne aate hii sabkaa kushal-mangal poochhaa।)
चिट्ठी में उन्होंने सबका कुशल-मंगल पूछा था।
In the letter, he had asked after everyone's welfare.
(chitthii men unhonne sabkaa kushal-mangal poochhaa thaa।)
फोन पर बात करते हुए वे हमेशा घर का कुशल पूछते हैं।
While talking on the phone, he always asks after the family's welfare.
(phon par baat karte hue ve hameshaa ghar kaa kushal poochhte hain।)
नानाजी हर बार मिलने पर मेरा कुशल-मंगल पूछते थे।
Grandfather used to ask after my welfare every time we met.
(naanaajii har baar milne par meraa kushal-mangal poochhte the।)
पहले तो उसका कुशल-मंगल पूछो, फिर बात करो।
First ask after his welfare, then talk business.
(pahle to uskaa kushal-mangal poochho, phir baat karo।)
काश वह भी कभी मेरा कुशल-मंगल पूछता।
If only he too would sometimes ask after my welfare.
(kaash vah bhii kabhii meraa kushal-mangal poochhtaa।)
उम्मीद है कि आप सब लोगों का कुशल-मंगल पूछेंगे।
I hope you will ask after everyone's welfare too.
(ummiid hai ki aap sab logon kaa kushal-mangal poochhenge।)
पत्र में उसका कुशल-मंगल पूछा गया था।
In the letter, his welfare had been inquired after.
(patr men uskaa kushal-mangal poochhaa gayaa thaa।)
Morphology
Adjective (invariant)
invariant:
कुशल
(kushal)
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
कुशल
(kushal)
(sg.m.oblique):
कुशल
(kushal)
(pl.m.direct):
कुशल
(kushal)
(pl.m.oblique):
कुशलों
(kushlon)