सोलह (solah)

numeral The number sixteen (16), used both for counting and as an ordinary numeral adjective before nouns.
Sense 1 : the number sixteen
numeral
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: सोलह (solah) shows up in the well-known phrase सोलहवाँ साल (solahvaan saal, 'the sixteenth year') to mean the cusp of youth/adulthood, much like 'sweet sixteen' in English -- Hindi film songs love this image of a girl turning सोलह (solah) as a metaphor for blooming youth.
Common Mistakes: 1) सोलह (solah) is invariant regardless of the gender or number of the noun it counts, unlike एक (ek) which changes -- learners sometimes hunt for a feminine form that does not exist. 2) Don't confuse with सोला (solaa, a type of pith/cork material) or साल (saal, year) -- similar sounds but unrelated meanings.
Sample Sentences:
मेरी बेटी सोलह साल की हो गई है। My daughter has turned sixteen years old.
(merii betii solah saal kii ho gaii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
इस कक्षा में सोलह बच्चे हैं। There are sixteen children in this class.
(is kakshaa men solah bachche hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
गाना है 'अभी तो मैं जवान हूँ', पर असल में वो सोलहवें साल की बात करता है। The song is 'I'm still young', but it's actually talking about the sixteenth year.
(gaanaa hai 'abhii to main javaan hoon', par asal men vo solahven saal kii baat kartaa hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
फिल्मों में सोलहवाँ साल हमेशा खिलती जवानी का प्रतीक माना जाता है। In films, the sixteenth year is always considered a symbol of blooming youth.
(philmon men solahvaan saal hameshaa khiltii javaanii kaa pratiik maanaa jaataa hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
अगर मेरे पास सोलह हज़ार रुपये होते, तो मैं वह लैपटॉप खरीद लेता। If I had sixteen thousand rupees, I would have bought that laptop.
(agar mere paas solah hazaar rupye hote, to main vah laiptop khariid letaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Perfective -- Voice: Active
कृपया सोलह नंबर की सीट पर बैठिए। Please sit in seat number sixteen.
(kripyaa solah nambar kii siit par baithie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
शायद उसकी उम्र सोलह साल के आसपास हो। Perhaps her age is around sixteen years.
(shaayad uskii umr solah saal ke aaspaas ho।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
जब मैं सोलह साल का था, तब मुझे साइकिल चलाना बहुत पसंद था। When I was sixteen years old, I loved riding a bicycle.
(jab main solah saal kaa thaa, tab mujhe saaikil chalaanaa bahut pasand thaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
टीम ने सोलह मैच जीते हैं इस सीज़न में। The team has won sixteen matches this season.
(tiim ne solah maich jiite hain is siizan men।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
सोलह श्रृंगार दुल्हन की सजावट का पुराना पारंपरिक रूप है। The sixteen adornments are an old traditional form of a bride's decoration.
(solah shrringaar dulhan kii sajaavat kaa puraanaa paaramprik roop hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
वह सोलहवें साल में ऐसी दिखती थी जैसे कोई परी हो। In her sixteenth year, she looked as if she were some fairy.
(vah solahven saal men aisii dikhtii thii jaise koii parii ho।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active