भाप (bhaap)
noun
A single-sense everyday noun meaning 'steam/vapor', with a natural extension into kitchen-related compound usage (steaming food).
Sense
1
:
steam, vapor
noun, feminine
Synonyms: वाष्प (vaashp, literary/technical)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Think of the rising cloud off a hot cup of chai (chaay) on a winter morning in Delhi, or the whistle of a pressure cooker -- that's भाप (bhaap) in everyday life. It's also the word behind भाप में पकाना (bhaap men pakaanaa, 'to steam-cook'), used for idlis, momos, and other steamed foods that are very much part of the modern Indian kitchen.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes reach for वाष्प (vaashp) as the default word for 'steam', but in daily kitchen or bathroom contexts भाप (bhaap) is what people actually say -- वाष्प (vaashp) sounds bookish/scientific. 2) The common cooking phrase is भाप में पकाना (bhaap men pakaanaa, 'to cook in steam / to steam something') -- learners sometimes say भाप से पकाना (bhaap se pakaanaa) by analogy with other instrumental uses of से (se), but में (men) is the natural choice here since the food sits inside the steam.
Sample Sentences:
सर्दियों की सुबह चाय से भाप उठ रही थी।
On a winter morning, steam was rising from the tea.
(sardiyon kii subah chaay se bhaap uth rahii thii।)
कुकर की सीटी बजते ही तेज़ भाप निकलने लगी।
As soon as the cooker whistled, thick steam started coming out.
(kukar kii siitii bajte hii tez bhaap nikalne lagii।)
मोमोज़ को भाप में पकाना चाहिए, तेल में तलना नहीं।
Momos should be steam-cooked, not fried in oil.
(momoz ko bhaap men pakaanaa chaahie, tel men talnaa nahiin।)
इडली को भाप में पकाया जाता है।
Idlis are cooked in steam.
(idlii ko bhaap men pakaayaa jaataa hai।)
खिड़की का शीशा भाप से धुँधला हो गया।
The window glass became foggy from the steam.
(khidkii kaa shiishaa bhaap se dhundhlaa ho gayaa।)
अगर तुम बर्तन का ढक्कन खोलोगे तो भाप सीधे तुम्हारे चेहरे पर लगेगी।
If you open the lid of the pot, the steam will hit straight on your face.
(agar tum bartan kaa dhakkan khologe to bhaap siidhe tumhaare chehre par lagegii।)
ज़रा भाप से बचकर रहना, हाथ जल जाएगा।
Do stay careful of the steam, your hand will get burnt.
(zaraa bhaap se bachkar rahnaa, haath jal jaaegaa।)
अगर भाप का दबाव न होता तो कुकर काम ही नहीं करता।
If there were no steam pressure, the cooker wouldn't work at all.
(agar bhaap kaa dabaav n hotaa to kukar kaam hii nahiin kartaa।)
भाप इंजन के ज़माने में रेलगाड़ियाँ धीमी पर मज़बूत होती थीं।
In the age of steam engines, trains were slow but sturdy.
(bhaap injan ke zamaane men relgaadiyaan dhiimii par mazboot hotii thiin।)
वैज्ञानिक जल को भाप में परिवर्तित करने की प्रक्रिया समझा रहे थे।
The scientists were explaining the process of converting water into steam.
(vaigyaanik jal ko bhaap men parivartit karne kii prakriyaa samjhaa rahe the।)
क्या तुमने कभी भाप में पकाई हुई सब्ज़ियाँ खाई हैं?
Have you ever eaten vegetables cooked in steam?
(kyaa tumne kabhii bhaap men pakaaii huii sabziyaan khaaii hain?)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
भाप
(bhaap)
(sg.f.oblique):
भाप
(bhaap)
(pl.f.direct):
भापें
(bhaapen)
(pl.f.oblique):
भापों
(bhaapon)