पान (paan)
noun
Mainly the betel-leaf preparation chewed as a mouth-freshener/digestif after meals; also has an older, less common sense of 'drink/beverage' surviving mostly in compound words.
Sense
1
:
betel leaf preparation (chewed with areca nut, lime, etc.)
noun, masculine
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: पान (paan) is a fixture of Delhi street life -- you'll see a पानवाला (paanvaalaa, 'paan seller') at a small stall folding leaves with lime paste, katha, areca nut, and sometimes sweet gulkand or tobacco, then wrapping them into a neat triangular packet. It's traditionally eaten right after a meal or a wedding feast, believed to aid digestion and freshen the mouth, and offering पान (paan) to guests is itself a small gesture of hospitality.
Common Mistakes: 1) पान (paan) is not 'betel leaf' alone -- the plain leaf itself is पान का पत्ता (paan kaa pattaa, 'betel leaf'); पान (paan) usually refers to the whole folded, filled preparation ready to chew. 2) Don't confuse with पानी (paanii, 'water') -- learners sometimes mishear or misspell the two, but they are unrelated in meaning.
Sample Sentences:
खाने के बाद एक पान हो जाए तो मज़ा आ जाता है।
If we have a paan after the meal, it really hits the spot.
(khaane ke baad ek paan ho jaae to mazaa aa jaataa hai।)
पानवाला पान में कत्था और चूना लगा रहा है।
The paan seller is applying katha and lime paste to the paan.
(paanvaalaa paan men katthaa aur choonaa lagaa rahaa hai।)
शादी की दावत के बाद सबको मीठा पान दिया गया।
After the wedding feast, everyone was given a sweet paan.
(shaadii kii daavat ke baad sabko miithaa paan diyaa gayaa।)
मेहमानों को पान पेश करो, यह हमारी परंपरा है।
Offer the guests some paan, it's our tradition.
(mehmaanon ko paan pesh karo, yah hamaarii parampraa hai।)
अगर घर में सुपारी होती तो मैं अभी पान बना लेता।
If we had areca nut at home, I would make paan right now.
(agar ghar men supaarii hotii to main abhii paan banaa letaa।)
पुराने ज़माने में पान खाना शान की बात मानी जाती थी।
In the old days, eating paan was considered a mark of prestige.
(puraane zamaane men paan khaanaa shaan kii baat maanii jaatii thii।)
शायद वह पान खा चुका हो, इसलिए मुँह लाल है।
He's probably already eaten paan, that's why his mouth is red.
(shaayad vah paan khaa chukaa ho, islie munh laal hai।)
क्या आप चाहेंगे कि मैं आपके लिए पान लगाऊँ?
Would you like me to prepare a paan for you?
(kyaa aap chaahenge ki main aapke lie paan lagaaoon?)
कोने की दुकान पर बनारसी पान बहुत मशहूर है।
The Banarasi paan at the corner shop is very famous.
(kone kii dukaan par banaarsii paan bahut mashahoor hai।)
उसने मुँह में पान रखते ही खुशबू से पूरा कमरा भर दिया।
As soon as he put the paan in his mouth, its fragrance filled the whole room.
(usne munh men paan rakhte hii khushboo se pooraa kamraa bhar diyaa।)
दादी जी हर शाम खाने के बाद पान खाती हैं।
Grandmother eats paan every evening after dinner.
(daadii jii har shaam khaane ke baad paan khaatii hain।)
Sense
2
:
drink, beverage (mainly in compounds)
noun, masculine Rarely stands alone with this meaning in everyday speech -- mostly survives inside compound words like जलपान (jalpaan, 'light refreshment/snack').
Synonyms: पेय (pey, formal)
Frequency: low
Cultural Note: This older sense of पान (paan) as 'drink' is the same root you meet in जलपान (jalpaan) at a wedding or office reception, where you're offered tea, snacks, and cold drinks -- the word literally breaks down as जल (jal, 'water') plus पान (paan, 'drinking').
Sample Sentences:
जलपान की व्यवस्था हॉल के बाहर की गई है।
Refreshments have been arranged outside the hall.
(jalpaan kii vyavasthaa hol ke baahar kii gaii hai।)
शादी में मेहमानों के लिए जलपान का इंतज़ाम था।
There was an arrangement of refreshments for the guests at the wedding.
(shaadii men mehmaanon ke lie jalpaan kaa intzaam thaa।)
कृपया बैठक के बाद जलपान ग्रहण करें।
Please partake of refreshments after the meeting.
(kripyaa baithak ke baad jalpaan grahan karen।)
डॉक्टर ने उसे मद्यपान छोड़ने की सलाह दी।
The doctor advised him to give up drinking alcohol.
(doktar ne use madypaan chhodne kii salaah dii।)
यहाँ धूम्रपान और मद्यपान दोनों वर्जित हैं।
Both smoking and drinking are prohibited here.
(yahaan dhoomrpaan aur madypaan donon varjit hain।)
कार्यक्रम के बाद सबको जलपान दिया जाएगा।
Refreshments will be given to everyone after the program.
(kaaryakram ke baad sabko jalpaan diyaa jaaegaa।)
अगर समय पर जलपान मिल जाता तो सब खुश होते।
If the refreshments had arrived on time, everyone would have been happy.
(agar samay par jalpaan mil jaataa to sab khush hote।)
अत्यधिक मद्यपान स्वास्थ्य के लिए हानिकारक होता है।
Excessive drinking is harmful to health.
(atydhik madypaan svaasthy ke lie haanikaarak hotaa hai।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
पान
(paan)
(sg.m.oblique):
पान
(paan)
(pl.m.direct):
पान
(paan)
(pl.m.oblique):
पानों
(paanon)