इंद्रिय (indriy)

noun A somewhat formal/philosophical word for a bodily 'sense organ' or, by extension, a sense/faculty itself (sight, hearing, etc.) -- most often heard in the plural इंद्रियाँ (indriyaan) or in the compound पाँच इंद्रियाँ (paanch indriyaan, 'the five senses').
Sense 1 : sense organ / faculty of perception
noun, feminine
Synonyms: इंद्रिय-अंग (indriy-ang, rare)
Frequency: low
Cultural Note: This word comes straight from Sanskrit and carries a slightly textbook or philosophical flavor -- you will meet it in school biology lessons (पाँच ज्ञानेंद्रियाँ (paanch gyaanendriyaan, 'the five sense organs')) and in yoga or spiritual talk about controlling the senses (इंद्रियों पर काबू (indriyon par kaaboo, 'control over the senses')), rather than in casual chat about your eyes or ears hurting.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for अंग (ang, 'body part') when they mean a sense organ specifically -- इंद्रिय (indriy) is reserved for the five (or more, in traditional lists) organs of perception, not body parts generally. 2) It sounds bookish in everyday speech; in casual conversation, people usually just name the sense directly (आँख (aankh, 'eye'), कान (kaan, 'ear')) rather than say इंद्रिय (indriy).
Sample Sentences:
मनुष्य के पाँच ज्ञानेंद्रियाँ होती हैं। A human has five sense organs.
(manushy ke paanch gyaanendriyaan hotii hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
आँख, कान, नाक, जीभ और त्वचा -- ये सभी इंद्रियाँ हैं। Eye, ear, nose, tongue, and skin -- all of these are sense organs.
(aankh, kaan, naak, jiibh aur tvachaa -- ye sabhii indriyaan hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
योग का अभ्यास करने से इंद्रियों पर काबू पाया जा सकता है। Through the practice of yoga, one can gain control over the senses.
(yog kaa abhyaas karne se indriyon par kaaboo paayaa jaa saktaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
गुरुजी कहते थे कि साधक को अपनी इंद्रियों पर काबू रखना चाहिए। The guru used to say that a seeker must keep control over his senses.
(gurujii kahte the ki saadhak ko apnii indriyon par kaaboo rakhnaa chaahie।)
Register: Devotional -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अगर इंद्रियाँ वश में न हों, तो मन भटकता रहता है। If the senses are not under control, the mind keeps wandering.
(agar indriyaan vash men n hon, to man bhataktaa rahtaa hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर उसकी इंद्रियाँ इतनी कमजोर न होतीं, तो वह हर आवाज़ इतनी दूर से सुन पाता। If his senses were not so weak, he would be able to hear every sound from so far away.
(agar uskii indriyaan itnii kamjor n hotiin, to vah har aavaaz itnii door se sun paataa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
जीव विज्ञान की किताब में इंद्रियों की संरचना समझाई गई है। The structure of the sense organs is explained in the biology textbook.
(jiiv vigyaan kii kitaab men indriyon kii sanrachnaa samjhaaii gaii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
अपनी इंद्रियों को संयम में रखो, तभी मन शांत रहेगा। Keep your senses restrained, only then will the mind remain peaceful.
(apnii indriyon ko sanyam men rakho, tabhii man shaant rahegaa।)
Register: Devotional -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
प्राचीन ग्रंथों में इंद्रियों को घोड़ों के समान बताया गया है, जिन्हें मन की लगाम से नियंत्रित करना पड़ता है। In ancient texts, the senses are described as being like horses, which must be controlled by the reins of the mind.
(praachiin granthon men indriyon ko ghodon ke samaan bataayaa gayaa hai, jinhen man kii lagaam se niyantrit karnaa padtaa hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): इंद्रिय (indriy)
(sg.f.oblique): इंद्रिय (indriy)
(pl.f.direct): इंद्रियें (indriyen)
(pl.f.oblique): इंद्रियों (indriyon)