लाश (laash)

noun A single-sense noun meaning a dead body or corpse; used literally and, informally, in exaggerated figurative speech.
Sense 1 : dead body, corpse
noun, feminine
Synonyms: शव (shav, formal), मृतक शरीर (mritak shariir, formal)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will hear लाश (laash) constantly in Hindi crime dramas and news-style dialogue -- 'लाश मिली' (laash milii, 'the body was found') is a stock phrase. In casual exaggeration, someone dead tired might joke मैं तो लाश हो गया (main to laash ho gayaa, 'I've turned into a corpse'), much like English 'I'm dead' after a long day.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes reach for शरीर (shariir) to mean 'corpse', but शरीर (shariir) just means 'body' (living or dead) -- लाश (laash) specifically means a dead body, so use it (or the more formal शव (shav)) when the context is death. 2) In hospital, police, or news contexts, शव (shav) is the word you will actually hear or read -- लाश (laash) is common in everyday speech but can sound blunt or even a bit crude in formal reporting.
Sample Sentences:
पुलिस को नदी के पास एक लाश मिली। The police found a corpse near the river.
(pulis ko nadii ke paas ek laash milii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
लाश की पहचान अभी तक नहीं हो पाई है। The corpse has still not been identified.
(laash kii pahchaan abhii tak nahiin ho paaii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
आज सुबह फैक्ट्री के पीछे एक लाश पड़ी मिली। This morning a corpse was found lying behind the factory.
(aaj subah phaiktrii ke piichhe ek laash padii milii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
लाश को पोस्टमार्टम के लिए भेजा जा रहा है। The corpse is being sent for a post-mortem.
(laash ko postmaartam ke lie bhejaa jaa rahaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
अगर वक्त पर मदद मिल जाती, तो वह लाश न बनता। If he had gotten help in time, he wouldn't have become a corpse.
(agar vakt par madad mil jaatii, to vah laash n bantaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Perfective -- Voice: Active
आज ऑफिस में इतना काम था कि मैं तो लाश हो गया। There was so much work at the office today that I've turned into a corpse.
(aaj ophis men itnaa kaam thaa ki main to laash ho gayaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
लाश को कंबल से ढक दो, कोई देख न ले। Cover the corpse with a blanket, so that no one sees it.
(laash ko kambal se dhak do, koii dekh n le।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
जब तक फॉरेंसिक टीम न आए, लाश को छुआ न जाए। Until the forensic team arrives, the corpse should not be touched.
(jab tak phorensik tiim n aae, laash ko chhuaa n jaae।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Passive
गाँव वाले कई दिनों से जंगल में पड़ी लाश की चर्चा कर रहे थे। The villagers had been discussing the corpse lying in the forest for several days.
(gaanv vaale kaii dinon se jangal men padii laash kii charchaa kar rahe the।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
युद्ध के मैदान में जहाँ तक नज़र जाती, बस लाशें ही बिछी थीं। On the battlefield, as far as the eye could see, there were only corpses strewn about.
(yuddh ke maidaan men jahaan tak nazar jaatii, bas laashen hii bichhii thiin।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
क्या तुमने कभी अपनी आँखों से कोई लाश देखी है? Have you ever seen a corpse with your own eyes?
(kyaa tumne kabhii apnii aankhon se koii laash dekhii hai?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): लाश (laash)
(sg.f.oblique): लाश (laash)
(pl.f.direct): लाशें (laashen)
(pl.f.oblique): लाशों (laashon)