भोला (bholaa)
adjective/noun
An adjective meaning innocent, naive, or simple-hearted, describing someone (often a child) who is guileless -- it also lives on as a common personal name and as a familiar nickname for Lord Shiva.
Sense
1
:
innocent, naive, simple-hearted
adjective
Synonyms: मासूम (maasoom), सीधा (siidhaa, can also mean 'straightforward/simple'), निष्कपट (nishkpat, literary)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This is the classic word Indian parents and grandparents use for a wide-eyed child -- भोला बच्चा (bholaa bachchaa, 'innocent child') is a very common phrase. It is also a hugely popular boy's name in North India, often paired with भोला भाला (bholaa bhaalaa) as a set phrase meaning 'utterly innocent and harmless.'
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes use भोला (bholaa) as a compliment for adults meaning 'trustworthy,' but it can also carry a gentle edge of 'easily fooled' -- context and tone decide whether it is affectionate or mildly pitying. 2) Remember this is a variable adjective: भोला (bholaa) for masculine singular, भोली (bholii) for feminine, भोले (bhole) for masculine plural/oblique.
Sample Sentences:
वह बहुत भोला बच्चा है।
He is a very innocent child.
(vah bahut bholaa bachchaa hai।)
मेरी बेटी बहुत भोली है, उसे किसी पर शक ही नहीं होता।
My daughter is very innocent, she never suspects anyone.
(merii betii bahut bholii hai, use kisii par shak hii nahiin hotaa।)
वह भोला भाला लड़का शहर की चालबाज़ियाँ नहीं समझता।
That utterly innocent boy doesn't understand the city's cunning tricks.
(vah bholaa bhaalaa ladkaa shahar kii chaalbaaziyaan nahiin samajhtaa।)
बचपन में मैं बहुत भोला था, सबकी बातों पर विश्वास कर लेता था।
In my childhood I was very naive, I used to believe everyone's words.
(bachpan men main bahut bholaa thaa, sabkii baaton par vishvaas kar letaa thaa।)
इतना भोला मत बनो, दुनिया इतनी सीधी नहीं है।
Don't be so naive, the world isn't that simple.
(itnaa bholaa mat bano, duniyaa itnii siidhii nahiin hai।)
अगर वह इतना भोला न होता तो ठग उसे इतनी आसानी से न लूटता।
If he weren't so naive, the fraudster wouldn't have robbed him so easily.
(agar vah itnaa bholaa n hotaa to thag use itnii aasaanii se n loottaa।)
उसका भोला चेहरा देखकर कोई भी उस पर गुस्सा नहीं कर सकता।
Seeing her innocent face, no one can get angry at her.
(uskaa bholaa chehraa dekhkar koii bhii us par gussaa nahiin kar saktaa।)
शायद वह सच में इतना भोला हो कि उसे धोखे का अंदाज़ा ही न हो।
Maybe he really is so innocent that he has no idea of the deception at all.
(shaayad vah sach men itnaa bholaa ho ki use dhokhe kaa andaazaa hii n ho।)
इस भोली सूरत के पीछे इतनी होशियारी भी है, यह किसी ने नहीं सोचा था।
That there was so much cleverness behind this innocent face, no one had thought of that.
(is bholii soorat ke piichhe itnii hoshiyaarii bhii hai, yah kisii ne nahiin sochaa thaa।)
छोटे बच्चों की भोली-भाली बातें सुनकर सबका मन खुश हो जाता है।
Hearing the innocent chatter of little children, everyone's heart is filled with joy.
(chhote bachchon kii bholii-bhaalii baaten sunkar sabkaa man khush ho jaataa hai।)
उस भोले भक्त की श्रद्धा से देवता भी प्रसन्न हुए।
Even the deity was pleased by that innocent devotee's devotion.
(us bhole bhakt kii shraddhaa se devtaa bhii prasann hue।)
Sense
2
:
Bhola, an epithet of Lord Shiva
noun, masculine
Synonyms: भोलेनाथ (bholenaath), भोले बाबा (bhole baabaa)
Frequency: devotional
Cultural Note: भोला (bholaa) or भोलेनाथ (bholenaath) is an affectionate epithet for Shiva, capturing his reputation as a guileless god who is easily pleased by simple devotion -- you will hear this especially around Shivratri and among Shiva devotees, sometimes shouted as बम भोले! (bam bhole, a devotional chant/greeting).
Sample Sentences:
भोलेनाथ की पूजा सोमवार को की जाती है।
Bholenath is worshipped on Mondays.
(bholenaath kii poojaa somvaar ko kii jaatii hai।)
शिवरात्रि पर लोग "बम भोले!" के नारे लगाते हैं।
On Shivratri, people chant "Bam Bhole!"
(shivraatri par log "bam bhole!" ke naare lagaate hain।)
भोलेनाथ अपने भक्तों की सच्ची भक्ति से जल्दी प्रसन्न हो जाते हैं।
Bholenath is quickly pleased by his devotees' true devotion.
(bholenaath apne bhakton kii sachchii bhakti se jaldii prasann ho jaate hain।)
भोले बाबा, हम पर कृपा करो!
O Bhola Baba, have mercy on us!
(bhole baabaa, ham par kripaa karo!)
अगर भोले शंकर प्रसन्न हो जाएँ, तो सब कुछ ठीक हो जाता है।
If Bhole Shankar becomes pleased, then everything turns out fine.
(agar bhole shankar prasann ho jaaen, to sab kuchh thiik ho jaataa hai।)
पिछले सोमवार को मैंने भोलेनाथ के मंदिर में दूध चढ़ाया था।
Last Monday, I offered milk at Bholenath's temple.
(pichhle somvaar ko mainne bholenaath ke mandir men doodh chadhaayaa thaa।)
काश भोलेनाथ मुझे भी इतनी शांति दे देते।
If only Bholenath would grant me such peace too.
(kaash bholenaath mujhe bhii itnii shaanti de dete।)
भोले नाथ का सुमिरन करने से मन को शांति मिलती है।
Remembering Bhole Nath brings peace to the mind.
(bhole naath kaa sumiran karne se man ko shaanti miltii hai।)
Morphology
Adjective (variable)
(sg.m):
भोला
(bholaa)
(pl.m):
भोले
(bhole)
(sg.f):
भोली
(bholii)
(pl.f):
भोली
(bholii)
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
भोला
(bholaa)
(sg.m.oblique):
भोले
(bhole)
(pl.m.direct):
भोले
(bhole)
(pl.m.oblique):
भोलों
(bholon)