साँवला (saanvlaa)
adjective
A single-sense descriptive adjective for dusky/dark-toned complexion, used mostly of people, most often admiringly rather than negatively.
Sense
1
:
dusky/dark-complexioned (of skin tone)
adjective
Synonyms: काला (kaalaa, blunter, can sound negative), श्याम (shyaam, literary), गेहुँआ (gehunaa, wheat-toned, a lighter shade than साँवला)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: In Hindi film songs and everyday flirtation alike, साँवला (saanvlaa) (and its feminine साँवली (saanvlii)) is practically a compliment -- think of how often lyrics praise a साँवली सूरत (saanvlii soorat, 'a dusky face'). It carries none of the harshness that काला (kaalaa) can carry when applied to a person's skin, which is worth knowing given how loaded complexion talk can be in Indian society.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for काला (kaalaa) to describe someone's complexion, but काला (kaalaa) can sound blunt or even rude about a person's skin, while साँवला (saanvlaa) is the polite, often admiring word Hindi speakers actually use in everyday conversation and even in matrimonial or descriptive contexts. 2) साँवला (saanvlaa) is used for people (and sometimes for dusky evening light, as in साँवली शाम (saanvlii shaam, 'dusky evening')), not for ordinary dark-colored objects -- for those, काला (kaalaa) is normal and neutral.
Sample Sentences:
उसका रंग साँवला है, पर बहुत सुंदर लगता है।
His complexion is dusky, but it looks very beautiful.
(uskaa rang saanvlaa hai, par bahut sundar lagtaa hai।)
गाने में हीरोइन की साँवली सूरत की बहुत तारीफ़ की गई है।
In the song, the heroine's dusky face is praised a great deal.
(gaane men hiiroin kii saanvlii soorat kii bahut taariif kii gaii hai।)
वह साँवली लड़की मुझे पहली नज़र में ही पसंद आ गई।
I liked that dusky girl at first sight itself.
(vah saanvlii ladkii mujhe pahlii nazar men hii pasand aa gaii।)
अगर वह साँवला न होता तो शायद इतना आकर्षक न लगता।
If he weren't dusky, he probably wouldn't look this attractive.
(agar vah saanvlaa n hotaa to shaayad itnaa aakarshak n lagtaa।)
साँवली त्वचा वालों को भी उतना ही आत्मविश्वास रखना चाहिए।
Those with dusky skin should also have just as much confidence.
(saanvlii tvachaa vaalon ko bhii utnaa hii aatmvishvaas rakhnaa chaahie।)
कवि ने अपनी प्रेमिका के साँवले रूप का वर्णन बड़े प्रेम से किया।
The poet described his beloved's dusky beauty with great affection.
(kavi ne apnii premikaa ke saanvle roop kaa varnan bade prem se kiyaa।)
फिल्मों में साँवली नायिकाएँ अब पहले से ज़्यादा दिखाई जा रही हैं।
Dusky heroines are now being shown more in films than before.
(philmon men saanvlii naayikaaen ab pahle se zyaadaa dikhaaii jaa rahii hain।)
मुझे साँवला रंग बहुत आकर्षक लगता है।
I find a dusky complexion very attractive.
(mujhe saanvlaa rang bahut aakarshak lagtaa hai।)
उसकी साँवली सूरत देखकर वह बस मुस्कुरा उठा।
Seeing her dusky face, he just broke into a smile.
(uskii saanvlii soorat dekhkar vah bas muskuraa uthaa।)
साँवली बहू को देखकर दादी ने कोई शिकायत नहीं की।
Seeing the dusky daughter-in-law, grandmother made no complaint.
(saanvlii bahoo ko dekhkar daadii ne koii shikaayat nahiin kii।)
Morphology
Adjective (variable)
(sg.m):
साँवला
(saanvlaa)
(pl.m):
साँवले
(saanvle)
(sg.f):
साँवली
(saanvlii)
(pl.f):
साँवली
(saanvlii)