निराला (niraalaa)

adjective An adjective meaning unique, unusual, or singular in a striking, often admirable way; also a well-known surname/pen name (as in the poet Suryakant Tripathi 'Nirala').
Sense 1 : unique, unusual, distinctive (in a striking or admirable way)
adjective
Synonyms: अनोखा (anokhaa), अद्भुत (adbhut), विचित्र (vichitr, can lean toward 'odd/strange' rather than 'admirably unique'), असाधारण (asaadhaaran)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This word has a lovely warmth to it -- you'll hear a grandmother say किसी का अंदाज़ निराला है (kisii kaa andaaz niraalaa hai, 'someone's style is one-of-a-kind') about a child who does things their own charming way. It's also famously the pen name of the great Hindi poet Suryakant Tripathi 'Nirala,' chosen precisely because it means 'unlike any other.'
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes reach for अजीब (ajiib) as a direct swap, but अजीब (ajiib) leans toward 'strange/weird' with a slightly negative or puzzled tone, while निराला (niraalaa) usually carries admiration or delight at the distinctiveness. 2) It describes qualities, styles, people, or things standing out favorably -- not simply anything 'different' or 'foreign,' which would be अलग (alag) or विदेशी (videshii).
Sample Sentences:
उसका अंदाज़ ही निराला है। His style is simply one-of-a-kind.
(uskaa andaaz hii niraalaa hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
दादी हमेशा कहती हैं कि इस बच्चे का अंदाज़ निराला है। Grandmother always says that this child's style is one-of-a-kind.
(daadii hameshaa kahtii hain ki is bachche kaa andaaz niraalaa hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उस कलाकार की शैली सचमुच निराली थी। That artist's style was truly unique.
(us kalaakaar kii shailii sachmuch niraalii thii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
इस मंदिर की बनावट कितनी निराली है! How unique this temple's architecture is!
(is mandir kii banaavat kitnii niraalii hai!)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
काश मेरे पास भी कोई निराला हुनर होता। I wish I too had some one-of-a-kind talent.
(kaash mere paas bhii koii niraalaa hunar hotaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
सूर्यकांत त्रिपाठी ने अपने लिए 'निराला' उपनाम इसलिए चुना क्योंकि यह शब्द अद्वितीयता का प्रतीक है। Suryakant Tripathi chose the pen name 'Nirala' for himself because the word symbolizes uniqueness.
(soorykaant tripaathii ne apne lie 'niraalaa' upnaam islie chunaa kyonki yah shabd advitiiytaa kaa pratiik hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
उसकी लिखावट इतनी निराली है कि कोई भी पहचान ले। Her handwriting is so distinctive that anyone would recognize it.
(uskii likhaavat itnii niraalii hai ki koii bhii pahchaan le।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
इस डिज़ाइनर के कपड़ों की काट हमेशा निराली रहती है। This designer's clothes always have a distinctively unique cut.
(is dizaainar ke kapdon kii kaat hameshaa niraalii rahtii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उनकी सोच निराली थी, इसीलिए लोग उन्हें आज भी याद करते हैं। His thinking was one-of-a-kind, which is why people still remember him today.
(unkii soch niraalii thii, isiilie log unhen aaj bhii yaad karte hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
क्या तुमने कभी ऐसा निराला दृश्य देखा है? Have you ever seen such a unique sight?
(kyaa tumne kabhii aisaa niraalaa drishy dekhaa hai?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Adjective (variable)
(sg.m): निराला (niraalaa)
(pl.m): निराले (niraale)
(sg.f): निराली (niraalii)
(pl.f): निराली (niraalii)