कोमल (komal)
adjective
An adjective meaning 'soft, tender, delicate' -- used both for physical texture and for gentle emotions/nature; also survives as a common personal name.
Sense
1
:
gentle, tender (emotions, nature, temperament)
adjective
Synonyms: सौम्य (saumy), नाज़ुक (naazuk, can overlap with 'fragile')
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This is the sense you meet in phrases like कोमल भावनाएँ (komal bhaavnaaen, 'tender feelings') or कोमल स्वभाव (komal svabhaav, 'gentle nature') -- Hindi often uses this same word to bridge the physical and emotional, so a 'soft heart' and 'soft cloth' share one adjective where English would split them.
Sample Sentences:
उसका स्वभाव बहुत कोमल है।
His nature is very gentle.
(uskaa svabhaav bahut komal hai।)
माँ के मन में बच्चों के लिए कोमल भावनाएँ थीं।
The mother had tender feelings for her children in her heart.
(maan ke man men bachchon ke lie komal bhaavnaaen thiin।)
वह इतनी कोमल है कि किसी को दुखी नहीं देख सकती।
She is so tender-hearted that she cannot bear to see anyone sad.
(vah itnii komal hai ki kisii ko dukhii nahiin dekh saktii।)
अपने कोमल स्वभाव के कारण वह सबको प्रिय है।
Because of his gentle nature, everyone loves him.
(apne komal svabhaav ke kaaran vah sabko priy hai।)
काश तुम इतने कोमल न होते, तो लोग तुम्हारा फायदा न उठाते।
If only you weren't so soft-hearted, people wouldn't take advantage of you.
(kaash tum itne komal n hote, to log tumhaaraa phaaydaa n uthaate।)
कवि ने अपनी कविता में प्रेम की कोमल भावनाओं को व्यक्त किया।
The poet expressed the tender feelings of love in his poem.
(kavi ne apnii kavitaa men prem kii komal bhaavnaaon ko vyakt kiyaa।)
बच्चों के साथ थोड़ा कोमल बनो, वे अभी छोटे हैं।
Be a little gentle with the children, they are still young.
(bachchon ke saath thodaa komal bano, ve abhii chhote hain।)
अगर वह इतना कोमल हृदय न रखता, तो सैनिक नहीं बन पाता।
If he hadn't had such a tender heart, he wouldn't have been able to become a soldier -- and yet he did.
(agar vah itnaa komal hriday n rakhtaa, to sainik nahiin ban paataa।)
समय के साथ उसका कठोर स्वभाव कोमल होता गया।
Over time, his harsh temperament gradually became gentle.
(samay ke saath uskaa kathor svabhaav komal hotaa gayaa।)
शायद उसका दिल इतना कोमल हो कि वह माफ कर दे।
Perhaps his heart is tender enough that he might forgive.
(shaayad uskaa dil itnaa komal ho ki vah maaph kar de।)
Sense
2
:
soft, delicate (physical texture)
adjective
Synonyms: मुलायम (mulaayam), नरम (naram)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: Think of कोमल (komal) as the word you'd use for a baby's skin, a flower petal, or a soft voice -- it carries a gentleness that goes beyond just 'not hard.' It's a common girl's name in India for exactly this reason, evoking tenderness.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for नरम (naram) or मुलायम (mulaayam) by default; कोमल (komal) is not wrong but leans slightly more literary/refined than these two everyday words, so it sounds a touch elevated in casual speech about, say, bread or cloth.
Sample Sentences:
बच्चे की त्वचा बहुत कोमल होती है।
A baby's skin is very soft.
(bachche kii tvachaa bahut komal hotii hai।)
यह कपड़ा कितना कोमल है, ज़रा हाथ लगाकर देखो।
This cloth is so soft, just touch it and see.
(yah kapdaa kitnaa komal hai, zaraa haath lagaakar dekho।)
फूल की पंखुड़ियाँ कोमल थीं इसलिए वे जल्दी मुरझा गईं।
The flower's petals were delicate, so they wilted quickly.
(phool kii pankhudiyaan komal thiin islie ve jaldii murjhaa gaiin।)
अगर तकिया ज़्यादा कोमल होता तो गर्दन में दर्द नहीं होता।
If the pillow had been softer, my neck wouldn't have hurt.
(agar takiyaa zyaadaa komal hotaa to gardan men dard nahiin hotaa।)
इस साड़ी का रेशम इतना कोमल है कि छूते ही मन खुश हो जाता है।
This sari's silk is so soft that touching it makes you happy instantly.
(is saadii kaa resham itnaa komal hai ki chhoote hii man khush ho jaataa hai।)
डॉक्टर ने कहा कि घाव पर कोमल कपड़ा ही रखें।
The doctor said to keep only a soft cloth on the wound.
(doktar ne kahaa ki ghaav par komal kapdaa hii rakhen।)
नई पत्तियाँ कितनी कोमल दिख रही हैं।
The new leaves look so tender.
(naii pattiyaan kitnii komal dikh rahii hain।)
शिशु के लिए हमेशा कोमल कपड़े ही चुने जाते हैं।
Only soft clothes are always chosen for an infant.
(shishu ke lie hameshaa komal kapde hii chune jaate hain।)
कवि ने चाँदनी की तुलना कोमल रेशम से की है।
The poet has compared the moonlight to soft silk.
(kavi ne chaandnii kii tulnaa komal resham se kii hai।)
Morphology
Adjective (variable)
(sg.m):
कोमल
(komal)
(pl.m):
कोमले
(komle)
(sg.f):
कोमली
(komlii)
(pl.f):
कोमली
(komlii)