भय (bhay)

noun A somewhat formal/literary word for 'fear' -- the everyday word डर (dar) is what you'll hear most in casual speech, while भय (bhay) shows up in more elevated or written contexts, set phrases, and compounds.
Sense 1 : fear, dread
noun, masculine
Synonyms: डर (dar), खौफ़ (khauf), त्रास (traas, literary)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You'll meet भय (bhay) heavily in religious and moral contexts -- ईश्वर का भय (iishvar kaa bhay, 'fear of God') is a common phrase in sermons, proverbs, and news headlines, giving the word a weightier, almost civic tone compared to the homely डर (dar) you'd use about a spider or a dark room.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for भय (bhay) in ordinary conversation where a native speaker would say डर (dar) -- e.g. 'मुझे डर लगता है' (mujhe dar lagtaa hai, 'I feel scared') is far more natural day-to-day than the भय (bhay) equivalent. 2) Like डर (dar), भय (bhay) pairs with लगना (lagnaa) and को (ko)-marked experiencers (e.g. 'उसे भय लगा' (use bhay lagaa, 'he felt afraid')), not with होना (honaa) alone as the main way to express the feeling.
Sample Sentences:
उसके मन में ईश्वर का भय है। He has the fear of God in his heart.
(uske man men iishvar kaa bhay hai।)
Register: Devotional -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
कानून का भय न हो तो समाज में अराजकता फैल जाए। If there were no fear of the law, chaos would spread in society.
(kaanoon kaa bhay n ho to samaaj men araajaktaa phail jaae।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
नेताओं के भाषणों में अक्सर भय और लालच दोनों का सहारा लिया जाता है। Politicians' speeches often rely on both fear and greed.
(netaaon ke bhaashnon men aksar bhay aur laalach donon kaa sahaaraa liyaa jaataa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
पुराने समय में राजा के प्रति भय ही शासन का आधार होता था। In olden times, fear of the king was the very basis of rule.
(puraane samay men raajaa ke prati bhay hii shaasan kaa aadhaar hotaa thaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
गुरु ने कहा कि पाप से बचने के लिए ईश्वर का भय मन में रखो। The guru said, keep the fear of God in your heart to avoid sin.
(guru ne kahaa ki paap se bachne ke lie iishvar kaa bhay man men rakho।)
Register: Devotional -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
क्या तुम्हें पाप करने से पहले कोई भय नहीं होता? Don't you feel any fear before committing a sin?
(kyaa tumhen paap karne se pahle koii bhay nahiin hotaa?)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
शायद उसके मन में सज़ा का भय हो, इसीलिए वह सच नहीं बोल रहा। Perhaps there is a fear of punishment in his heart, which is why he isn't telling the truth.
(shaayad uske man men sazaa kaa bhay ho, isiilie vah sach nahiin bol rahaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर लोगों में ईश्वर का भय होता, तो इतना भ्रष्टाचार न होता। If people had the fear of God, there would not be so much corruption.
(agar logon men iishvar kaa bhay hotaa, to itnaa bhrashtaachaar n hotaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Voice: Active
समाचार पत्र में लिखा था कि जनता में सरकार के प्रति भय बढ़ रहा है। The newspaper had written that fear of the government is growing among the public.
(samaachaar patr men likhaa thaa ki jantaa men sarkaar ke prati bhay badh rahaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
हे प्रभु, हमें अपना भय और अपनी भक्ति दोनों दे। O Lord, grant us both fear of You and devotion to You.
(he prabhu, hamen apnaa bhay aur apnii bhakti donon de।)
Register: Devotional -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): भय (bhay)
(sg.m.oblique): भय (bhay)
(pl.m.direct): भय (bhay)
(pl.m.oblique): भयों (bhayon)