सफ़ेद (safed)
adjective
The everyday word for the color white; one core sense, occasionally extended figuratively (as in white hair signaling age, or a 'blank/pale' face).
Sense
1
:
white (color)
adjective
Synonyms: श्वेत (shvet, literary), धवल (dhaval, literary)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: White clothing carries strong cultural weight in North India: politicians favor सफ़ेद कुर्ता-पाजामा (safed kurtaa-paajaamaa, 'white kurta-pajama') as a mark of simplicity, while it is also the color of mourning at funerals, unlike in the West where black plays that role. Calling someone's hair सफ़ेद (safed) is a common, gentle way to note they've aged, similar to saying 'gone gray' in English.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often write सफेद (saphed) without the nuqta under फ; both spellings are seen, but सफ़ेद (safed) with the nuqta is the standard form taught in schools and used in print. 2) As an invariant adjective, it does not change form before masculine or feminine nouns -- सफ़ेद कमीज़ (safed kamiiz, 'white shirt') and सफ़ेद कुर्ता (safed kurtaa, 'white kurta') both use the same form.
Sample Sentences:
उसने सफ़ेद कुर्ता-पाजामा पहना है।
He is wearing a white kurta-pajama.
(usne safed kurtaa-paajaamaa pahnaa hai।)
मेरी दादी के बाल पूरी तरह सफ़ेद हो गए हैं।
My grandmother's hair has gone completely white.
(merii daadii ke baal poorii tarah safed ho gae hain।)
अंतिम संस्कार में सब लोग सफ़ेद कपड़े पहनते हैं।
At the funeral, everyone wears white clothes.
(antim sanskaar men sab log safed kapde pahante hain।)
दीवार को सफ़ेद रंग से रंग दो।
Paint the wall white.
(diivaar ko safed rang se rang do।)
अगर मौसम गरम न होता तो मैं सफ़ेद शर्ट न पहनता।
If the weather weren't hot, I wouldn't wear a white shirt.
(agar mausam garam n hotaa to main safed shart n pahantaa।)
नेता जी हमेशा सफ़ेद कुर्ता-पाजामा पहनते हैं ताकि सादगी दिखाई दे।
The politician always wears white kurta-pajama so that simplicity shows.
(netaa jii hameshaa safed kurtaa-paajaamaa pahante hain taaki saadgii dikhaaii de।)
शायद उसकी नई साड़ी सफ़ेद हो।
Perhaps her new sari is white.
(shaayad uskii naii saadii safed ho।)
आसमान में सफ़ेद बादल तैर रहे थे।
White clouds were floating in the sky.
(aasmaan men safed baadal tair rahe the।)
पूरा घर सफ़ेद फूलों से सजाया गया था।
The whole house was decorated with white flowers.
(pooraa ghar safed phoolon se sajaayaa gayaa thaa।)
अगले हफ़्ते वह अपनी कार सफ़ेद रंग में रंगवाएगा।
Next week he will get his car painted white.
(agle hafte vah apnii kaar safed rang men rangvaaegaa।)
उसकी दाढ़ी अब सफ़ेद होने लगी है।
His beard has now started turning white.
(uskii daadhii ab safed hone lagii hai।)
Morphology
Adjective (invariant)
invariant:
सफ़ेद
(safed)