पशु (pashu)
noun
A single core sense: an animal, especially a four-legged domestic or wild beast, with a common figurative extension for brutish/inhuman human behavior.
Sense
1
:
animal, beast (especially quadruped)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: जानवर (jaanvar), जीव (jiiv, broader: living being), मृग (mrig, literary, deer/wild animal)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Think of पशु (pashu) as the word you'd see on a government sign like पशु चिकित्सालय (pashu chikitsaalay, 'animal hospital/veterinary clinic') or hear from a farmer talking about his पशुधन (pashudhan, 'livestock, animal wealth') -- cows and buffaloes are a real economic asset in rural Indian households, so this word carries a slightly more official or agricultural flavor than the everyday जानवर (jaanvar).
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for जानवर (jaanvar) by default; पशु (pashu) is the word you will actually see on signboards, in farming/veterinary contexts, and in formal or written registers -- जानवर (jaanvar) is the everyday spoken default. 2) पशु (pashu) leans toward domesticated or farm animals (cows, goats, buffaloes) in everyday use, even though it technically covers wild animals too.
Sample Sentences:
गाँव में हर घर में कुछ न कुछ पशु ज़रूर होते हैं।
In the village, every household definitely has some animals or the other.
(gaanv men har ghar men kuchh n kuchh pashu zaroor hote hain।)
पास के कस्बे में एक नया पशु चिकित्सालय खुला है।
A new veterinary hospital has opened in the nearby town.
(paas ke kasbe men ek nayaa pashu chikitsaalay khulaa hai।)
किसान का सारा पशुधन बाढ़ में बह गया।
The farmer's entire livestock was swept away in the flood.
(kisaan kaa saaraa pashudhan baadh men bah gayaa।)
सरकार ने आवारा पशुओं के लिए एक विशेष आश्रय बनाया है।
The government has built a special shelter for stray animals.
(sarkaar ne aavaaraa pashuon ke lie ek vishesh aashray banaayaa hai।)
सड़क पर पशुओं को मत छेड़ो, वे डर सकते हैं।
Don't tease the animals on the road, they might get scared.
(sadak par pashuon ko mat chhedo, ve dar sakte hain।)
अगर बारिश ज़्यादा होती तो सारे पशु ऊँची जगह भाग जाते।
If it had rained more, all the animals would have run to higher ground.
(agar baarish zyaadaa hotii to saare pashu oonchii jagah bhaag jaate।)
पशुओं की देखभाल के लिए हर हफ़्ते डॉक्टर आता था।
A doctor used to come every week to look after the animals.
(pashuon kii dekhbhaal ke lie har hafte doktar aataa thaa।)
जंगल में तरह-तरह के पशु पाए जाते हैं।
All kinds of animals are found in the forest.
(jangal men tarah-tarah ke pashu paae jaate hain।)
उम्मीद है कि नए कानून से पशुओं के साथ बेहतर व्यवहार हो सकेगा।
It is hoped that the new law will enable better treatment of animals.
(ummiid hai ki nae kaanoon se pashuon ke saath behtar vyavahaar ho sakegaa।)
मेला शुरू होने से पहले पशुओं को साफ़ पानी और चारा दिया गया।
The animals were given clean water and fodder before the fair began.
(melaa shuroo hone se pahle pashuon ko saaf paanii aur chaaraa diyaa gayaa।)
पशु और मनुष्य दोनों को स्वच्छ पर्यावरण की ज़रूरत होती है।
Both animals and humans need a clean environment.
(pashu aur manushy donon ko svachchh paryaavran kii zaroorat hotii hai।)
Sense
2
:
brute, beast (figurative, of a person)
noun, masculine Used predicatively or as a direct insult, e.g. calling someone पशु (pashu) for acting without decency or restraint.
Synonyms: जानवर (jaanvar, figurative use also common), दरिंदा (darindaa, stronger: predator/monster), हैवान (haivaan, stronger: monster, inhuman)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You'll hear this in a moral or scolding tone -- a parent or teacher might say तुम पशु जैसे व्यवहार कर रहे हो (tum pashu jaise vyavahaar kar rahe ho, 'you're behaving like an animal') to shame bad manners, tying back to the cultural idea that पशु (pashu) lack buddhi (buddhi, reason/discernment), the trait that supposedly separates humans from beasts.
Common Mistakes: 1) This figurative insult is milder than हैवान (haivaan) or दरिंदा (darindaa), which imply real cruelty or violence -- पशु (pashu) is closer to 'brute' or 'animal' used for someone who is crude, uncultured, or lacking self-control, not necessarily violent.
Sample Sentences:
तुम पशु जैसे व्यवहार कर रहे हो।
You're behaving like a brute.
(tum pashu jaise vyavahaar kar rahe ho।)
जो आदमी अपनी बीवी को मारे, वह पशु है।
A man who beats his wife is a brute.
(jo aadmii apnii biivii ko maare, vah pashu hai।)
इतनी बेरहमी से मत मारो, पशु मत बनो!
Don't hit him so brutally, don't turn into a brute!
(itnii berahmii se mat maaro, pashu mat bano!)
बिना बुद्धि के इंसान भी पशु ही होता है।
A human without reason is nothing but a brute.
(binaa buddhi ke insaan bhii pashu hii hotaa hai।)
उस अफ़सर ने कैदियों के साथ पशु जैसा व्यवहार किया।
That officer treated the prisoners like brutes -- with sheer brutality.
(us afsar ne kaidiyon ke saath pashu jaisaa vyavahaar kiyaa।)
अगर उसमें थोड़ी भी शर्म होती, तो वह ऐसे पशु जैसे काम नहीं करता।
If he had even a little shame, he wouldn't do such brutish things.
(agar usmen thodii bhii sharm hotii, to vah aise pashu jaise kaam nahiin kartaa।)
समाज में ऐसे पशुओं के लिए कोई जगह नहीं होनी चाहिए।
There should be no place in society for such brutes.
(samaaj men aise pashuon ke lie koii jagah nahiin honii chaahie।)
मासूम बच्चों पर हाथ उठाने वाला पशु कहलाने के लायक भी नहीं है।
A man who raises his hand against innocent children doesn't even deserve to be called a brute.
(maasoom bachchon par haath uthaane vaalaa pashu kahlaane ke laayak bhii nahiin hai।)
पशुओं जैसा व्यवहार करने वाले नेता को जनता ने सबक सिखाया।
The public taught a lesson to the leader who behaved like a brute.
(pashuon jaisaa vyavahaar karne vaale netaa ko jantaa ne sabak sikhaayaa।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
पशु
(pashu)
(sg.m.oblique):
पशु
(pashu)
(pl.m.direct):
पशु
(pashu)
(pl.m.oblique):
पशुों
([[पशुों]])