निर्णय (nirnay)

noun A formal, single-sense noun meaning 'decision' or 'verdict' -- the word you reach for in official, legal, or deliberate contexts rather than casual chit-chat.
Sense 1 : decision, verdict, ruling
noun, masculine Commonly paired with the light verb लेना (lenaa) as निर्णय लेना (nirnay lenaa, 'to take a decision') or with सुनाना (sunaanaa) when a court/authority 'pronounces' a verdict.
Synonyms: फ़ैसला (faislaa, everyday word for personal/informal decisions), फ़ैसला (faislaa), फ़ैसला सुनाना (faislaa sunaanaa, verb phrase, not a noun synonym), फ़ैसला (faislaa)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will meet निर्णय (nirnay) constantly in news broadcasts, court reporting, and official announcements -- अदालत का निर्णय (adaalat kaa nirnay, 'the court's verdict') is a classic collocation. In daily family or friend conversation, though, most Delhi speakers reach for the warmer, more casual फ़ैसला (faislaa) instead.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often default to फ़ैसला (faislaa) for every 'decision,' but निर्णय (nirnay) sounds more formal/written -- in relaxed spoken conversation about personal choices, फ़ैसला (faislaa) is far more natural. 2) The verb of choice is लेना (lenaa) ('to take a decision'), not करना (karnaa) -- साying निर्णय करना (nirnay karnaa) is heard but लेना (lenaa) is the more idiomatic pairing.
Sample Sentences:
अदालत का निर्णय आज शाम तक आ जाएगा। The court's verdict will come by this evening.
(adaalat kaa nirnay aaj shaam tak aa jaaegaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
समिति ने अभी तक कोई निर्णय नहीं लिया है। The committee has not yet made any decision.
(samiti ne abhii tak koii nirnay nahiin liyaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
सरकार इस मुद्दे पर जल्दी ही निर्णय लेती है। The government usually makes a decision on this issue quickly.
(sarkaar is mudde par jaldii hii nirnay letii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
न्यायाधीश निर्णय सुना रहे थे जब बिजली चली गई। The judge was announcing the verdict when the power went out.
(nyaayaadhiish nirnay sunaa rahe the jab bijlii chalii gaii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
यह निर्णय पूरी टीम की सहमति से लिया जाएगा। This decision will be made with the whole team's agreement.
(yah nirnay poorii tiim kii sahamti se liyaa jaaegaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Passive
अगर समिति निष्पक्ष होती, तो निर्णय अलग होता। If the committee had been impartial, the decision would have been different.
(agar samiti nishpaksh hotii, to nirnay alag hotaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
कृपया अपना अंतिम निर्णय हमें लिखित रूप में भेजें। Please send us your final decision in writing.
(kripyaa apnaa antim nirnay hamen likhit roop men bhejen।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
उच्च न्यायालय का निर्णय सभी राज्यों पर लागू होगा। The High Court's ruling will apply to all states.
(uchch nyaayaalay kaa nirnay sabhii raajyon par laagoo hogaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
मुझे संदेह है कि यह निर्णय सही हो। I doubt that this decision is correct.
(mujhe sandeh hai ki yah nirnay sahii ho।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
बोर्ड की बैठक में कई महत्वपूर्ण निर्णय लिए गए। Several important decisions were made in the board meeting.
(bord kii baithak men kaii mahatvpoorn nirnay lie gae।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): निर्णय (nirnay)
(sg.m.oblique): निर्णय (nirnay)
(pl.m.direct): निर्णय (nirnay)
(pl.m.oblique): निर्णयों (nirnyon)