विद्या (vidyaa)
noun
A respected, somewhat formal word for 'knowledge' or 'learning' -- covers both the abstract idea of scholarship and specific fields of learning or skill.
Sense
1
:
knowledge, learning (formal/scholarly sense)
noun, feminine
Synonyms: ज्ञान (gyaan), शिक्षा (shikshaa, more about formal schooling)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: विद्या (vidyaa) carries a reverent tone in Hindi -- it's the word behind Saraswati's epithet विद्या की देवी (vidyaa kii devii, 'goddess of learning'), and you'll see it in school names and mottos across India. It feels a notch more formal and 'weighty' than everyday words for study or school.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for ज्ञान (gyaan) as a default translation of 'knowledge'; विद्या (vidyaa) leans more toward learning acquired through study or schooling, while ज्ञान (gyaan) can be broader, including wisdom or insight gained from life or spirituality. 2) विद्या (vidyaa) is grammatically feminine, so verbs and adjectives agreeing with it take feminine forms -- e.g. विद्या अच्छी है (vidyaa achchhii hai, 'learning/education is good'), not the masculine form.
Sample Sentences:
विद्या मनुष्य का सबसे बड़ा धन है।
Knowledge is a person's greatest wealth.
(vidyaa manushy kaa sabse badaa dhan hai।)
सरस्वती को विद्या की देवी माना जाता है।
Saraswati is regarded as the goddess of learning.
(sarasvtii ko vidyaa kii devii maanaa jaataa hai।)
गुरु जी सदा कहते थे कि विद्या कभी व्यर्थ नहीं जाती।
The teacher always used to say that knowledge is never wasted.
(guru jii sadaa kahte the ki vidyaa kabhii vyarth nahiin jaatii।)
यदि उसने विद्या प्राप्त की होती, तो आज उसका जीवन अलग होता।
If he had acquired knowledge, his life would be different today.
(yadi usne vidyaa praapt kii hotii, to aaj uskaa jiivan alag hotaa।)
विद्या प्राप्त करने के लिए धैर्य और लगन ज़रूरी है।
To acquire knowledge, patience and dedication are necessary.
(vidyaa praapt karne ke lie dhairy aur lagan zaroorii hai।)
इस विद्यालय की स्थापना विद्या के प्रसार के लिए हुई थी।
This school was established for the spread of knowledge.
(is vidyaalay kii sthaapnaa vidyaa ke prasaar ke lie huii thii।)
विद्या अर्जित करो, धन तो आता-जाता रहेगा।
Acquire knowledge -- wealth will keep coming and going.
(vidyaa arjit karo, dhan to aataa-jaataa rahegaa।)
प्राचीन भारत में विद्या गुरुकुलों में दी जाती थी।
In ancient India, knowledge used to be imparted in gurukuls.
(praachiin bhaarat men vidyaa gurukulon men dii jaatii thii।)
काश मुझे भी इतनी विद्या मिली होती।
If only I too had gained so much knowledge.
(kaash mujhe bhii itnii vidyaa milii hotii।)
विद्या से विनय आती है, यह पुरानी कहावत है।
From knowledge comes humility -- this is an old saying.
(vidyaa se vinay aatii hai, yah puraanii kahaavat hai।)
Sense
2
:
a field of learning, science, or specialized skill/art (often in compounds)
noun, feminine Common as the second element of compound words naming specific disciplines or skills, e.g. गणित विद्या (ganit vidyaa, 'mathematics'), राजनीति विद्या (raajniiti vidyaa, 'political science').
Synonyms: शास्त्र (shaastr, used similarly in compounds for a discipline)
Frequency: low
Cultural Note: This is the sense behind words like ज्योतिष विद्या (jyotish vidyaa, 'astrology') or जादू विद्या (jaadoo vidyaa, 'magic/sorcery') -- विद्या (vidyaa) here signals a whole organized body of skill or lore, almost like '-ology' or '-craft' in English.
Sample Sentences:
ज्योतिष विद्या भारत में हज़ारों साल पुरानी है।
The science of astrology is thousands of years old in India.
(jyotish vidyaa bhaarat men hazaaron saal puraanii hai।)
वह जादू विद्या में माहिर माना जाता है।
He is considered an expert in the art of magic.
(vah jaadoo vidyaa men maahir maanaa jaataa hai।)
गुरुजी ने उसे युद्ध विद्या सिखाई थी।
The guru had taught him the art of warfare.
(gurujii ne use yuddh vidyaa sikhaaii thii।)
आयुर्वेद एक प्राचीन चिकित्सा विद्या है।
Ayurveda is an ancient medical science.
(aayurved ek praachiin chikitsaa vidyaa hai।)
काश मैं भी वह गुप्त विद्या सीख पाता।
If only I too could have learned that secret art.
(kaash main bhii vah gupt vidyaa siikh paataa।)
इस विद्या को सीखने के लिए वर्षों की साधना चाहिए।
Learning this art/science requires years of dedicated practice.
(is vidyaa ko siikhne ke lie varshon kii saadhnaa chaahie।)
क्या तुम्हें सम्मोहन विद्या के बारे में कुछ पता है?
Do you know anything about the art of hypnosis?
(kyaa tumhen sammohan vidyaa ke baare men kuchh pataa hai?)
उस साधु ने तंत्र विद्या से सबको चकित कर दिया।
That ascetic astonished everyone with the art of tantra.
(us saadhu ne tantr vidyaa se sabko chakit kar diyaa।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
विद्या
(vidyaa)
(sg.f.oblique):
विद्या
(vidyaa)
(pl.f.direct):
विद्याएँ
(vidyaaen)
(pl.f.oblique):
विद्याओं
(vidyaaon)