दक्षिण (dakshin)
noun/adjective
Primarily the cardinal direction 'south' (dakshin); also functions as an adjective meaning 'southern' and appears in the compound name दक्षिण भारत (dakshin bhaarat, 'South India').
Sense
1
:
the direction south
noun, masculine
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: In everyday speech, especially in the north, दक्षिण (dakshin) often carries a specific cultural weight beyond just the compass point -- दक्षिण भारत (dakshin bhaarat) or just 'दक्षिण' (dakshin) colloquially conjures South India as a whole, its languages, food, and culture, similar to how 'the South' can mean a whole region to an American. The word is Sanskrit-derived and feels a touch more formal/written than the everyday spoken alternative साउथ (saauth, borrowed from English), which many Delhi speakers use casually instead.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often try to use दक्षिण (dakshin) with की तरफ़ (kii taraf, 'towards') the same way as अंदर (andar) or बाहर (baahar) -- the natural phrasing is दक्षिण की ओर (dakshin kii or, 'towards the south') or दक्षिण में (dakshin men, 'in the south'), with ओर (or) sounding more natural than तरफ़ (taraf) in formal/geographic contexts, though both are heard.
Sample Sentences:
दिल्ली से दक्षिण की ओर चलें तो कुछ घंटों में आगरा आ जाता है।
If you go south from Delhi, Agra comes within a few hours.
(dillii se dakshin kii or chalen to kuchh ghanton men aagraa aa jaataa hai।)
सूरज हमेशा पूर्व में उगता है और दक्षिण की तरफ धीरे-धीरे ढलता जाता है।
The sun always rises in the east and gradually slants toward the south.
(sooraj hameshaa poorv men ugtaa hai aur dakshin kii taraph dhiire-dhiire dhaltaa jaataa hai।)
नक़्शे में दक्षिण नीचे की तरफ दिखाया जाता है।
On a map, south is shown at the bottom.
(naqshe men dakshin niiche kii taraph dikhaayaa jaataa hai।)
पिछली छुट्टियों में हम दक्षिण की यात्रा पर गए थे।
During the last holidays, we went on a trip to the south.
(pichhlii chhuttiyon men ham dakshin kii yaatraa par gae the।)
कृपया आगे बढ़कर दक्षिण दिशा की ओर मुड़ें।
Please go ahead and turn toward the south direction.
(kripyaa aage badhkar dakshin dishaa kii or muden।)
यह मंदिर मुख्य द्वार से दक्षिण में स्थित है।
This temple is located to the south of the main gate.
(yah mandir mukhy dvaar se dakshin men sthit hai।)
यदि हवा दक्षिण से चलती तो बारिश जल्दी आ जाती।
If the wind blew from the south, the rain would arrive sooner.
(yadi havaa dakshin se chaltii to baarish jaldii aa jaatii।)
प्राचीन ग्रंथों में दक्षिण दिशा को यम की दिशा माना गया है।
In ancient texts, the southern direction is considered the direction of Yama.
(praachiin granthon men dakshin dishaa ko yam kii dishaa maanaa gayaa hai।)
शायद वे दक्षिण की तरफ ही गए हों, यहाँ तो कोई नहीं मिला।
Perhaps they went toward the south only, no one was found here.
(shaayad ve dakshin kii taraph hii gae hon, yahaan to koii nahiin milaa।)
कंपास की सुई हमेशा दक्षिण और उत्तर के बीच घूमती रहती है।
The compass needle keeps swinging between south and north.
(kampaas kii suii hameshaa dakshin aur uttar ke biich ghoomtii rahtii hai।)
Sense
2
:
southern
adjective Commonly used invariantly before a noun in compounds like दक्षिण भारत (dakshin bhaarat, 'South India') or दक्षिण दिशा (dakshin dishaa, 'southern direction'), functioning much like an English noun-adjective.
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will meet this adjectival use constantly in news and geography contexts -- दक्षिण अफ्रीका (dakshin aphriikaa, 'South Africa'), दक्षिण एशिया (dakshin eshiyaa, 'South Asia') -- it is the standard formal way to build compass-direction place names, parallel to उत्तर (uttar, 'north'), पूर्व (poorv, 'east'), and पश्चिम (pashchim, 'west').
Sample Sentences:
दक्षिण अफ्रीका एक बहुत सुंदर देश है।
South Africa is a very beautiful country.
(dakshin aphriikaa ek bahut sundar desh hai।)
दक्षिण एशिया के देशों में सांस्कृतिक विविधता बहुत है।
There is a lot of cultural diversity among the countries of South Asia.
(dakshin eshiyaa ke deshon men saanskritik vividhtaa bahut hai।)
दक्षिण भारत के मंदिर अपनी वास्तुकला के लिए प्रसिद्ध हैं।
The temples of South India are famous for their architecture.
(dakshin bhaarat ke mandir apnii vaastuklaa ke lie prasiddh hain।)
पिछले साल हमने दक्षिण दिल्ली में एक नया घर खरीदा।
Last year we bought a new house in South Delhi.
(pichhle saal hamne dakshin dillii men ek nayaa ghar khariidaa।)
अगर सरकार दक्षिण एशिया के देशों के साथ व्यापार बढ़ाती, तो अर्थव्यवस्था मज़बूत होती।
If the government had increased trade with South Asian countries, the economy would have become stronger.
(agar sarkaar dakshin eshiyaa ke deshon ke saath vyaapaar badhaatii, to arthavyvasthaa mazboot hotii।)
आगामी सम्मेलन में दक्षिण अफ्रीका के प्रतिनिधि भी शामिल होंगे।
Representatives from South Africa will also be part of the upcoming conference.
(aagaamii sammelan men dakshin aphriikaa ke pratinidhi bhii shaamil honge।)
क्या तुमने कभी दक्षिण कोरिया की यात्रा की है?
Have you ever traveled to South Korea?
(kyaa tumne kabhii dakshin koriyaa kii yaatraa kii hai?)
दक्षिण मुंबई की सड़कों पर शाम को बहुत भीड़ रहती है।
In the evening, the streets of South Mumbai remain very crowded.
(dakshin mumbaii kii sadkon par shaam ko bahut bhiid rahtii hai।)
यह पुल दक्षिण क्षेत्र को शहर के बाकी हिस्सों से जोड़ने के लिए बनाया गया था।
This bridge was built to connect the southern region with the rest of the city.
(yah pul dakshin kshetr ko shahar ke baakii hisson se jodne ke lie banaayaa gayaa thaa।)
रिपोर्ट में कहा गया है कि दक्षिण राज्यों में बारिश ज़्यादा होती है।
The report states that the southern states get more rainfall.
(riport men kahaa gayaa hai ki dakshin raajyon men baarish zyaadaa hotii hai।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
दक्षिण
(dakshin)
(sg.m.oblique):
दक्षिण
(dakshin)
(pl.m.direct):
दक्षिण
(dakshin)
(pl.m.oblique):
दक्षिणों
(dakshinon)
Adjective (invariant)
invariant:
दक्षिण
(dakshin)