रईस (raiis)
adjective/noun
A borrowed Arabic-origin word meaning 'rich, wealthy' or 'a wealthy/aristocratic person' -- one core sense used as both adjective and noun.
Sense
1
:
wealthy, rich, aristocratic
adjective
Synonyms: धनी (dhanii), दौलतमंद (daulatmand), अमीर (amiir)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: Think of रईस (raiis) as describing someone with 'rईसी' (raiisii, 'aristocratic style/manner') -- the word often points to how someone lives (grand houses, fine clothes, unhurried manners), not just their bank balance. It is common in older Bollywood dialogue and in descriptions of Old Delhi or Lucknow nawabi families.
Common Mistakes: 1) रईस (raiis) carries a flavor of old-money style, class, and manner, not just having cash -- अमीर (amiir) is the more neutral, general word for 'rich' and is used far more often in everyday speech. 2) Learners sometimes use रईस (raiis) for someone who simply earns a lot; native speakers reserve it more for a person who lives and carries themselves like the wealthy, with a certain lifestyle or attitude attached.
Sample Sentences:
उसका परिवार बहुत रईस है।
His family is very rich.
(uskaa parivaar bahut raiis hai।)
वह रईस घराने की लड़की है, उसका रहन-सहन ही अलग है।
She is a girl from a rich, aristocratic household -- her whole lifestyle is different.
(vah raiis gharaane kii ladkii hai, uskaa rahan-sahan hii alag hai।)
पुरानी दिल्ली में कई रईस खानदान रहते थे।
Many aristocratic families used to live in Old Delhi.
(puraanii dillii men kaii raiis khaandaan rahte the।)
वह इतना रईस बन गया है कि पुराने दोस्तों को पहचानता भी नहीं।
He has become so rich that he doesn't even recognize his old friends.
(vah itnaa raiis ban gayaa hai ki puraane doston ko pahchaantaa bhii nahiin।)
अगर वह उतना रईस होता, तो इतनी शान से न रहता।
If he were that rich, he wouldn't live with such grandeur (he's actually pretending).
(agar vah utnaa raiis hotaa, to itnii shaan se n rahtaa।)
नवाब साहब बड़े रईस आदमी थे, उनकी बातचीत का अंदाज़ ही अलग था।
Nawab Sahab was a very aristocratic man; his very manner of speaking was different.
(navaab saahab bade raiis aadmii the, unkii baatchiit kaa andaaz hii alag thaa।)
क्या तुम्हारे ससुराल वाले उतने ही रईस हैं जितना तुम बताती हो?
Are your in-laws really as rich as you make them out to be?
(kyaa tumhaare sasuraal vaale utne hii raiis hain jitnaa tum bataatii ho?)
काश हम भी उन रईस लोगों जैसे होते।
If only we too were like those rich people.
(kaash ham bhii un raiis logon jaise hote।)
उसकी रईस अदाओं से तो यही लगता है कि वह किसी बड़े घर से है।
From his aristocratic manner, it seems he comes from some grand family.
(uskii raiis adaaon se to yahii lagtaa hai ki vah kisii bade ghar se hai।)
लखनऊ के रईस नवाबों की कहानियाँ आज भी सुनाई जाती हैं।
Stories of Lucknow's aristocratic nawabs are still told today.
(lakhnaoo ke raiis navaabon kii kahaaniyaan aaj bhii sunaaii jaatii hain।)
Sense
2
:
a wealthy person, aristocrat, nobleman
noun, masculine
Synonyms: धनवान (dhanvaan), अमीर आदमी (amiir aadmii), नवाब (navaab, connotation of nobility/nawab)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will hear रईस (raiis) used almost affectionately or admiringly about a person who spends generously and lives with flair -- 'बड़ा रईस आदमी है' (badaa raiis aadmii hai, 'he is quite the wealthy/grand man') -- carrying a whiff of old aristocracy rather than a modern tech millionaire.
Common Mistakes: 1) As a noun, रईस (raiis) usually refers to a man of wealth and standing; for a general 'rich person' regardless of connotation, अमीर (amiir) is the safer everyday default.
Sample Sentences:
वो शहर का सबसे बड़ा रईस है।
He is the biggest rich man in the city.
(vo shahar kaa sabse badaa raiis hai।)
उसका दादा एक मशहूर रईस था, जिसकी हवेली आज भी शहर में खड़ी है।
His grandfather was a famous nobleman, whose mansion still stands in the city today.
(uskaa daadaa ek mashahoor raiis thaa, jiskii havelii aaj bhii shahar men khadii hai।)
बड़ा रईस आदमी है, पैसों की कोई कमी नहीं।
He's quite the wealthy man, there's no shortage of money for him.
(badaa raiis aadmii hai, paison kii koii kamii nahiin।)
वह रईसों की तरह जीता है, हर रोज़ नई गाड़ी में घूमता है।
He lives like an aristocrat, riding around in a new car every day.
(vah raiison kii tarah jiitaa hai, har roz naii gaadii men ghoomtaa hai।)
काश मैं भी किसी रईस के घर पैदा हुआ होता।
If only I had also been born into some rich man's house.
(kaash main bhii kisii raiis ke ghar paidaa huaa hotaa।)
अगर वह रईस होता, तो इतनी शान से न रहता।
If he were a nobleman, he wouldn't live with such grandeur -- wait, he wouldn't need to.
(agar vah raiis hotaa, to itnii shaan se n rahtaa।)
उस रईस ने पूरे मोहल्ले के लिए खाने का इंतज़ाम करवाया।
That rich man arranged food for the whole neighborhood.
(us raiis ne poore mohalle ke lie khaane kaa intzaam karvaayaa।)
क्या तुम सच में सोचते हो कि वह इतना बड़ा रईस बन जाएगा?
Do you really think he will become such a great rich man?
(kyaa tum sach men sochte ho ki vah itnaa badaa raiis ban jaaegaa?)
रईसों की महफ़िलों में शायरी और संगीत की खास जगह होती थी।
In the gatherings of noblemen, poetry and music used to have a special place.
(raiison kii mahfilon men shaayrii aur sangiit kii khaas jagah hotii thii।)
इतना रईस बनने का दिखावा मत करो, हम जानते हैं तुम्हारी हालत।
Don't put on such an act of being a rich man, we know your real situation.
(itnaa raiis banne kaa dikhaavaa mat karo, ham jaante hain tumhaarii haalat।)
Morphology
Adjective (invariant)
invariant:
रईस
(raiis)
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
रईस
(raiis)
(sg.m.oblique):
रईस
(raiis)
(pl.m.direct):
रईस
(raiis)
(pl.m.oblique):
रईसों
(raiison)