प्राचीन (praachiin)
adjective
A single-sense adjective meaning 'ancient, old, of a bygone era' -- used for historical, archaeological, or civilizational old age rather than the old age of a person or everyday object.
Sense
1
:
ancient, age-old (historical/civilizational)
adjective
Synonyms: पुराना (puraanaa, everyday word for old things), प्राचीनतम (praachiintam, superlative form, rare), पुरातन (puraatan, literary), प्राचीन काल का (praachiin kaal kaa, of ancient times)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You'll see प्राचीन (praachiin) all over museum plaques and tourist signboards -- प्राचीन मंदिर (praachiin mandir, 'ancient temple'), प्राचीन सभ्यता (praachiin sabhytaa, 'ancient civilization') -- it carries a certain reverence, almost pulling the listener back into इतिहास (itihaas, history) rather than just marking the passage of time. Contrast this with पुराना (puraanaa), which is what you'd say about your grandfather's old scooter, no reverence required.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for प्राचीन (praachiin) when they mean an old chair or an old friend -- for everyday oldness of objects, age, or relationships, पुराना (puraanaa) is the natural word; प्राचीन (praachiin) is reserved for temples, civilizations, texts, cities, and historical eras. 2) It does not describe an elderly person -- for that, learners want बूढ़ा (boodhaa) or वृद्ध (vriddh), not प्राचीन (praachiin).
Sample Sentences:
यह प्राचीन मंदिर दो हज़ार साल पुराना है।
This ancient temple is two thousand years old.
(yah praachiin mandir do hazaar saal puraanaa hai।)
भारत की प्राचीन सभ्यता आज भी दुनिया को प्रभावित करती है।
India's ancient civilization still influences the world today.
(bhaarat kii praachiin sabhytaa aaj bhii duniyaa ko prabhaavit kartii hai।)
पुरातत्वविदों ने एक प्राचीन शहर की खोज की।
The archaeologists discovered an ancient city.
(puraatatvvidon ne ek praachiin shahar kii khoj kii।)
यह पांडुलिपि प्राचीन भाषा में लिखी गई थी।
This manuscript was written in an ancient language.
(yah paandulipi praachiin bhaashaa men likhii gaii thii।)
काश हम प्राचीन काल में जा पाते और अपनी आँखों से वह वैभव देख पाते।
If only we could travel to ancient times and see that splendor with our own eyes.
(kaash ham praachiin kaal men jaa paate aur apnii aankhon se vah vaibhav dekh paate।)
अगर यह किला प्राचीन न होता, तो इतने पर्यटक यहाँ न आते।
If this fort were not ancient, so many tourists wouldn't come here.
(agar yah kilaa praachiin n hotaa, to itne parytak yahaan n aate।)
प्राचीन ग्रंथों में इस नदी का उल्लेख मिलता है।
This river is mentioned in ancient scriptures.
(praachiin granthon men is nadii kaa ullekh miltaa hai।)
क्या तुमने कभी कोई प्राचीन गुफा देखी है?
Have you ever seen an ancient cave?
(kyaa tumne kabhii koii praachiin guphaa dekhii hai?)
सरकार प्राचीन स्मारकों के संरक्षण के लिए धन आवंटित करेगी।
The government will allocate funds for the preservation of ancient monuments.
(sarkaar praachiin smaarkon ke sanrakshan ke lie dhan aavantit karegii।)
इस प्राचीन परंपरा को आगे भी जीवित रखना चाहिए।
This ancient tradition should be kept alive going forward.
(is praachiin parampraa ko aage bhii jiivit rakhnaa chaahie।)
Morphology
Adjective (variable)
(sg.m):
प्राचीन
(praachiin)
(pl.m):
प्राचीने
(praachiine)
(sg.f):
प्राचीनी
(praachiinii)
(pl.f):
प्राचीनी
(praachiinii)