पाँव (paanv)
noun
The everyday word for 'foot' or 'leg', used in countless idioms about status, respect, and travel. It largely overlaps with पैर (pair) in literal meaning but shows up in a distinct set of fixed expressions.
Sense
1
:
foot / leg (body part)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: पैर (pair)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: In everyday Delhi speech, पैर (pair) is slightly more common in casual conversation, while पाँव (paanv) has a warmer, slightly more traditional or affectionate flavor -- you'll hear it often in songs, blessings, and elders' speech, like touching someone's पाँव (paanv) to seek their blessing.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often assume पाँव (paanv) and पैर (pair) are perfectly interchangeable in all fixed phrases -- they overlap heavily for the literal body part, but many idioms fix on one word and don't accept the other, so it's safer to learn idioms as whole chunks rather than swapping freely.
Sample Sentences:
मेरे पाँव में दर्द हो रहा है।
My foot is hurting.
(mere paanv men dard ho rahaa hai।)
दादी रोज़ रात को अपने पाँव धोकर सोती हैं।
Grandmother washes her feet every night before sleeping.
(daadii roz raat ko apne paanv dhokar sotii hain।)
बच्चे का पाँव पत्थर से टकरा गया।
The child's foot hit against a stone.
(bachche kaa paanv patthar se takraa gayaa।)
अपने पाँव सीधे रखो, वरना कुर्सी गिर जाएगी।
Keep your feet straight, or the chair will fall.
(apne paanv siidhe rakho, varnaa kursii gir jaaegii।)
डॉक्टर ने कहा कि उसका पाँव टूट गया है।
The doctor said that his foot is broken.
(doktar ne kahaa ki uskaa paanv toot gayaa hai।)
अगर तुम सर्दी में जूते पहनते तो तुम्हारे पाँव इतने ठंडे नहीं होते।
If you wore shoes in winter, your feet wouldn't be this cold.
(agar tum sardii men joote pahante to tumhaare paanv itne thande nahiin hote।)
उसके पाँव इतने सूज गए थे कि वह चल भी नहीं पा रही थी।
Her feet had swollen so much that she couldn't even walk.
(uske paanv itne sooj gae the ki vah chal bhii nahiin paa rahii thii।)
फिजियोथेरेपिस्ट ने मरीज़ के पाँव की मालिश की।
The physiotherapist massaged the patient's foot.
(phijiyotherepist ne mariiz ke paanv kii maalish kii।)
बालक के छोटे-छोटे पाँव देखकर माँ मुस्कुरा उठी।
Seeing the child's tiny feet, the mother broke into a smile.
(baalak ke chhote-chhote paanv dekhkar maan muskuraa uthii।)
पाँव में काँटा लग गया, इसलिए वह लंगड़ाते हुए चल रहा था।
A thorn had pricked his foot, so he was walking with a limp.
(paanv men kaantaa lag gayaa, islie vah langdaate hue chal rahaa thaa।)
क्या तुम्हारे पाँव अभी भी दर्द कर रहे हैं?
Are your feet still hurting?
(kyaa tumhaare paanv abhii bhii dard kar rahe hain?)
Sense
2
:
foot/feet as a symbol of respect, touch, or humility (in fixed idioms)
noun, masculine Appears mainly inside set phrases like पाँव पड़ना (paanv padnaa, 'to touch someone's feet in respect/pleading') and पाँव छूना (paanv chhoonaa, 'to touch someone's feet as a gesture of respect').
Synonyms: पैर (pair)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: Touching an elder's or teacher's पाँव (paanv) is a living custom across North India, especially at festivals, weddings, or before a journey -- it's a small physical ritual that carries real emotional and social weight, not just a figure of speech.
Common Mistakes: 1) This idiomatic 'feet' sense doesn't translate literally -- touching someone's पाँव (paanv) in Hindi culture signals deep respect or a humble request, which can confuse learners expecting a literal description of a physical action rather than a social gesture.
Sample Sentences:
दिवाली पर मैंने अपने दादा जी के पाँव छुए।
On Diwali, I touched my grandfather's feet.
(divaalii par mainne apne daadaa jii ke paanv chhue।)
बेटा, जाने से पहले अपनी माँ के पाँव छू लो।
Son, touch your mother's feet before you go.
(betaa, jaane se pahle apnii maan ke paanv chhoo lo।)
शादी में दुल्हन अपने सास-ससुर के पाँव छूती है।
At the wedding, the bride touches her in-laws' feet.
(shaadii men dulhan apne saas-sasur ke paanv chhootii hai।)
गुरु जी का आशीर्वाद लेने के लिए वह उनके पाँव पड़ी।
To receive the teacher's blessing, she fell at his feet.
(guru jii kaa aashiirvaad lene ke lie vah unke paanv padii।)
अगर तुम सच में माफी माँगना चाहते हो, तो जाकर उनके पाँव पकड़ लो।
If you really want to apologize, go and grab hold of his feet.
(agar tum sach men maaphii maangnaa chaahte ho, to jaakar unke paanv pakad lo।)
काश मैं भी उस समय वहाँ होता और गुरुजी के पाँव छू पाता।
I wish I had been there too and could have touched the teacher's feet.
(kaash main bhii us samay vahaan hotaa aur gurujii ke paanv chhoo paataa।)
यह ज़रूरी नहीं कि हर बार बड़ों के पाँव छुए ही जाएँ, पर सम्मान दिखाना ज़रूरी है।
It is not necessary that elders' feet be touched every single time, but showing respect is essential.
(yah zaroorii nahiin ki har baar badon ke paanv chhue hii jaaen, par sammaan dikhaanaa zaroorii hai।)
पूजा में भक्त भगवान की मूर्ति के पाँव छूकर प्रणाम करते हैं।
During worship, devotees bow and touch the feet of the deity's idol.
(poojaa men bhakt bhagvaan kii moorti ke paanv chhookar pranaam karte hain।)
क्या तुमने अपने बड़े भाई के पाँव छुए, जब वह विदेश से लौटा?
Did you touch your elder brother's feet when he returned from abroad?
(kyaa tumne apne bade bhaaii ke paanv chhue, jab vah videsh se lautaa?)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
पाँव
(paanv)
(sg.m.oblique):
पाँव
(paanv)
(pl.m.direct):
पाँव
(paanv)
(pl.m.oblique):
पाँवों
(paanvon)