होनहार (honahaar)

adjective A single-sense adjective meaning 'promising, showing future potential' -- almost always applied to children or young people. Related in root to होना (honaa, 'to happen/be'), carrying the sense of what is 'going to be.'
Sense 1 : promising, talented, showing signs of future success
adjective
Synonyms: प्रतिभाशाली (pratibhaashaalii, more formal), गुणी (gunii, literary), काबिल (kaabil, meaning scope: capable, not future-oriented)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This is the word every Indian relative reaches for when praising a bright child: होनहार बच्चा (honahaar bachchaa, 'promising child') is a stock phrase heard at report-card time or after a good exam result. There's even a common saying, होनहार बिरवान के होत चीकने पात (honahaar birvaan ke hot chiikne paat, 'a plant destined for greatness shows shiny leaves early'), used to say that real talent reveals itself young.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes use होनहार (honahaar) for anyone skilled or successful right now -- it specifically points to future potential, especially in the young, not present accomplishment. 2) It is almost always positive and forward-looking; it doesn't fit an adult who has already 'arrived' in their career.
Sample Sentences:
वह बहुत होनहार बच्चा है। He is a very promising child.
(vah bahut honahaar bachchaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उसकी अध्यापिका हमेशा कहती थी कि वह एक होनहार छात्रा है। Her teacher always used to say that she is a promising student.
(uskii adhyaapikaa hameshaa kahtii thii ki vah ek honahaar chhaatraa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
स्कूल के दिनों में ही वह होनहार साबित हो गया था। He had already proven promising back in his school days.
(skool ke dinon men hii vah honahaar saabit ho gayaa thaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
काश मेरा बेटा भी उसकी तरह होनहार होता। I wish my son were as promising as him too.
(kaash meraa betaa bhii uskii tarah honahaar hotaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
अगर वह होनहार न होता, तो उसे इतनी बड़ी छात्रवृत्ति नहीं मिलती। If he weren't promising, he wouldn't have gotten such a big scholarship.
(agar vah honahaar n hotaa, to use itnii badii chhaatrvritti nahiin miltii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
दादी हमेशा कहती हैं, होनहार बिरवान के होत चीकने पात। Grandma always says, a plant destined for greatness shows shiny leaves early.
(daadii hameshaa kahtii hain, honahaar birvaan ke hot chiikne paat।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
क्या तुम्हें लगता है कि यह लड़की सच में होनहार है? Do you think this girl is really promising?
(kyaa tumhen lagtaa hai ki yah ladkii sach men honahaar hai?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उनके सबसे होनहार शिष्य ने ही यह अनुसंधान पूरा किया। It was their most promising disciple who completed this research.
(unke sabse honahaar shishy ne hii yah anusandhaan pooraa kiyaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
यह संस्थान होनहार खिलाड़ियों को छात्रवृत्ति देता है। This institute gives scholarships to promising players.
(yah sansthaan honahaar khilaadiyon ko chhaatrvritti detaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
देश के सबसे होनहार वैज्ञानिकों को इस सम्मेलन में बुलाया गया है। The country's most promising scientists have been invited to this conference.
(desh ke sabse honahaar vaigyaanikon ko is sammelan men bulaayaa gayaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
Morphology
Adjective (invariant)
invariant: होनहार (honahaar)