प्रभावशाली (prabhaavshaalii)
adjective
A single adjective meaning 'influential' or 'impressive' -- describing someone or something with notable power, presence, or effect.
Sense
1
:
influential, powerful (of a person or position)
adjective
Synonyms: ताकतवर (taakatvar), रसूखदार (rasookhdaar, for social/political clout), शक्तिशाली (shaktishaalii)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: In everyday talk about politics, business, or family hierarchy, प्रभावशाली (prabhaavshaalii) is the go-to word for someone whose word carries weight -- a प्रभावशाली नेता (prabhaavshaalii netaa, 'influential leader') or प्रभावशाली परिवार (prabhaavshaalii parivaar, 'influential family') gets things done through connections and standing, not just formal power.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes use this where प्रभावित (prabhaavit, 'affected/impressed') is meant -- प्रभावशाली (prabhaavshaalii) describes the one who has influence, while प्रभावित (prabhaavit) describes the one who receives it. 2) Do not confuse with प्रभावी (prabhaavii), which leans toward 'effective' (as in a policy or method working well) rather than 'influential' as a trait of a person.
Sample Sentences:
वह इलाके का सबसे प्रभावशाली नेता है।
He is the most influential leader in the area.
(vah ilaake kaa sabse prabhaavshaalii netaa hai।)
उसका परिवार शहर के सबसे प्रभावशाली परिवारों में गिना जाता है।
His family is counted among the most influential families in the city.
(uskaa parivaar shahar ke sabse prabhaavshaalii parivaaron men ginaa jaataa hai।)
मंत्री बनने के बाद वह बहुत प्रभावशाली हो गया।
After becoming a minister, he became very influential.
(mantrii banne ke baad vah bahut prabhaavshaalii ho gayaa।)
अगर वह इतना प्रभावशाली न होता, तो यह काम कभी नहीं होता।
If he weren't so influential, this work would never have gotten done.
(agar vah itnaa prabhaavshaalii n hotaa, to yah kaam kabhii nahiin hotaa।)
कंपनी को आगे बढ़ाने के लिए हमें किसी प्रभावशाली व्यक्ति की मदद लेनी चाहिए।
To move the company forward, we should take help from some influential person.
(kampnii ko aage badhaane ke lie hamen kisii prabhaavshaalii vyakti kii madad lenii chaahie।)
उस समय वह इलाके के सबसे प्रभावशाली आदमियों में से एक था।
At that time, he was one of the most influential men in the area.
(us samay vah ilaake ke sabse prabhaavshaalii aadmiyon men se ek thaa।)
यार, उसके चाचा बहुत प्रभावशाली आदमी हैं, वे सब कुछ ठीक कर देंगे।
Dude, his uncle is a very influential man, he'll sort everything out.
(yaar, uske chaachaa bahut prabhaavshaalii aadmii hain, ve sab kuchh thiik kar denge।)
समिति के अधिक से अधिक प्रभावशाली सदस्यों को इस बैठक में बुलाया जाए।
As many influential members of the committee as possible should be invited to this meeting.
(samiti ke adhik se adhik prabhaavshaalii sadasyon ko is baithak men bulaayaa jaae।)
राजनीति में प्रभावशाली लोगों से रिश्ते बनाना कोई नई बात नहीं है।
Building relationships with influential people in politics is nothing new.
(raajniiti men prabhaavshaalii logon se rishte banaanaa koii naii baat nahiin hai।)
अगर तुम इतने प्रभावशाली होते, तो यह लाइसेंस कब का मिल गया होता।
If you were that influential, this license would have come through long ago.
(agar tum itne prabhaavshaalii hote, to yah laaisens kab kaa mil gayaa hotaa।)
किसी प्रभावशाली व्यक्ति की सिफारिश के बिना यहाँ काम नहीं बनता।
Without a recommendation from some influential person, nothing gets done here.
(kisii prabhaavshaalii vyakti kii siphaarish ke binaa yahaan kaam nahiin bantaa।)
Sense
2
:
impressive, striking (of a speech, personality, or performance)
adjective
Synonyms: दमदार (damdaar, colloquial), असरदार (asardaar)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This sense shows up a lot in reviews and compliments -- a प्रभावशाली भाषण (prabhaavshaalii bhaashan, 'impressive speech') or प्रभावशाली व्यक्तित्व (prabhaavshaalii vyaktitv, 'impressive/commanding personality') praises the impact someone makes on an audience, distinct from sense 1's focus on real-world clout.
Sample Sentences:
उसका भाषण बहुत प्रभावशाली था।
His speech was very impressive.
(uskaa bhaashan bahut prabhaavshaalii thaa।)
उसका व्यक्तित्व इतना प्रभावशाली है कि लोग उसे देखते ही याद रख लेते हैं।
His personality is so impressive that people remember him the moment they see him.
(uskaa vyaktitv itnaa prabhaavshaalii hai ki log use dekhte hii yaad rakh lete hain।)
निर्देशक चाहता था कि फ़िल्म का क्लाइमैक्स ज़्यादा प्रभावशाली बने।
The director wanted the film's climax to be more impressive.
(nirdeshak chaahtaa thaa ki film kaa klaaimaiks zyaadaa prabhaavshaalii bane।)
अपनी प्रस्तुति को प्रभावशाली बनाना है तो शुरुआत मज़बूत रखो।
If you want to make your presentation impressive, keep the opening strong.
(apnii prastuti ko prabhaavshaalii banaanaa hai to shuruaat mazboot rakho।)
अगर उसने थोड़ी तैयारी की होती तो उसका इंटरव्यू और प्रभावशाली रहता।
If he had prepared a little, his interview would have been even more impressive.
(agar usne thodii taiyaarii kii hotii to uskaa intravyoo aur prabhaavshaalii rahtaa।)
समारोह में मुख्य अतिथि का भाषण सबसे प्रभावशाली रहा।
At the ceremony, the chief guest's speech was the most impressive.
(samaaroh men mukhy atithi kaa bhaashan sabse prabhaavshaalii rahaa।)
समीक्षक ने लिखा कि अभिनेत्री की अदाकारी अत्यंत प्रभावशाली थी।
The critic wrote that the actress's performance was extremely impressive.
(samiikshak ne likhaa ki abhinetrii kii adaakaarii atyant prabhaavshaalii thii।)
इस प्रभावशाली प्रदर्शन के लिए टीम को हर तरफ़ से बधाइयाँ दी जा रही हैं।
The team is being congratulated from every side for this impressive performance.
(is prabhaavshaalii pradarshan ke lie tiim ko har taraf se badhaaiyaan dii jaa rahii hain।)
क्या तुम्हें उसका डिज़ाइन प्रभावशाली नहीं लगा?
Didn't you find his design impressive?
(kyaa tumhen uskaa dizaain prabhaavshaalii nahiin lagaa?)
मंच पर उसकी उपस्थिति इतनी प्रभावशाली होगी, यह किसी ने नहीं सोचा था।
No one had thought that his stage presence would be so impressive.
(manch par uskii upasthiti itnii prabhaavshaalii hogii, yah kisii ne nahiin sochaa thaa।)
Morphology
Adjective (invariant)
invariant:
प्रभावशाली
(prabhaavshaalii)