आत्मीय (aatmiiy)

adjective An adjective meaning 'close/dear, intimate' (of people or relationships), built from आत्मा (aatmaa, 'soul/self') -- so something 'of the self,' i.e. felt as one's own.
Sense 1 : close, dear, intimate (of a person or relationship)
adjective
Synonyms: प्रिय (priy), स्नेही (snehii), निकट (nikat, meaning scope: closeness without warmth), अपना (apnaa, colloquial)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This word carries a slightly warm, almost literary weight -- you'll hear it in speeches, obituaries, or heartfelt letters more than in daily bazaar chatter, describing someone who feels like 'family of the heart' even if not related by blood. It shares its root with आत्मा (aatmaa, 'soul') and आत्मनिर्भर (aatmnirbhar, 'self-reliant'), so an आत्मीय (aatmiiy) relationship is literally one that touches the self.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for पास (paas) or नज़दीक (nazdiik) to say someone is 'close' to them, but those describe physical or relational nearness, while आत्मीय (aatmiiy) describes emotional warmth and belonging -- you can live far from an आत्मीय (aatmiiy) friend. 2) It sounds noticeably more literary/formal than अपना (apnaa) or प्रिय (priy); in casual chat about a close friend, most Delhi speakers would just say अपना दोस्त (apnaa dost, 'my own/close friend') rather than आत्मीय दोस्त (aatmiiy dost).
Sample Sentences:
वह मेरे बहुत आत्मीय मित्र हैं। He is a very close friend of mine.
(vah mere bahut aatmiiy mitr hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उनका स्वभाव इतना आत्मीय था कि हर कोई उन्हें अपना समझता था। His nature was so warm and dear that everyone thought of him as their own.
(unkaa svabhaav itnaa aatmiiy thaa ki har koii unhen apnaa samajhtaa thaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
कृपया इस अवसर पर हमारे आत्मीय अतिथियों का स्वागत करें। Please welcome our dear guests on this occasion.
(kripyaa is avsar par hamaare aatmiiy atithiyon kaa svaagat karen।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
उनके निधन पर सब आत्मीय जनों ने गहरा शोक व्यक्त किया। On his passing, all his dear ones expressed deep grief.
(unke nidhan par sab aatmiiy janon ne gahraa shok vyakt kiyaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
काश वह हमारे प्रति थोड़ा और आत्मीय होते। If only he had been a little more warm and close toward us.
(kaash vah hamaare prati thodaa aur aatmiiy hote।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
यह पत्र किसी आत्मीय सम्बन्ध की गहराई को दर्शाता है। This letter reflects the depth of an intimate bond.
(yah patr kisii aatmiiy sambandh kii gahraaii ko darshaataa hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
शायद समय के साथ वे और आत्मीय हो जाएँ। Perhaps with time they will grow closer and become more dear to each other.
(shaayad samay ke saath ve aur aatmiiy ho jaaen।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
मुझे उनसे आत्मीय जुड़ाव महसूस होता है, जैसे वे परिवार के ही हों। I feel an intimate connection with them, as if they were family.
(mujhe unse aatmiiy judaav mahsoos hotaa hai, jaise ve parivaar ke hii hon।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
भाषण के अंत में उन्होंने अपने आत्मीय जनों को धन्यवाद दिया। At the end of his speech, he thanked his dear ones.
(bhaashan ke ant men unhonne apne aatmiiy janon ko dhanyvaad diyaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Adjective (invariant)
invariant: आत्मीय (aatmiiy)