आँगन (aangan)

noun A single-sense noun: the courtyard or open central space inside/in front of a traditional home.
Sense 1 : courtyard
noun, masculine
Synonyms: चौक (chauk, open square/courtyard)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: In older North Indian homes, especially in villages and old-city havelis, the आँगन (aangan) is the social heart of the house: women dry पापड़ (paapad , papad) and अचार (achaar, pickles) in the sun there, kids play, and relatives gather to chat in the evening. Newer flats rarely have one, so the word carries a slight nostalgia for a joint-family, small-town or rural way of living.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes reach for घर (ghar, 'house') to mean the whole living space, but आँगन (aangan) specifically names the open, uncovered part -- often shared for chores, sitting, or children's play -- not an enclosed room.
Sample Sentences:
हमारे गाँव के घर में एक बड़ा आँगन है। There is a big courtyard in our village house.
(hamaare gaanv ke ghar men ek badaa aangan hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
दादी सुबह-सुबह आँगन में झाड़ू लगाती थीं। Grandmother used to sweep the courtyard early in the morning.
(daadii subah-subah aangan men jhaadoo lagaatii thiin।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
माँ आँगन में पापड़ सुखा रही है। Mother is drying papad in the courtyard.
(maan aangan men paapad sukhaa rahii hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
बच्चे आँगन में खेल रहे थे जब बारिश शुरू हुई। The kids were playing in the courtyard when it started raining.
(bachche aangan men khel rahe the jab baarish shuroo huii।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
आँगन में झाड़ू लगा दो, मेहमान आने वाले हैं। Sweep the courtyard, the guests are about to arrive.
(aangan men jhaadoo lagaa do, mehmaan aane vaale hain।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
अगर हमारे घर में आँगन होता, तो बच्चे बाहर खेल पाते। If our house had a courtyard, the kids would be able to play outside.
(agar hamaare ghar men aangan hotaa, to bachche baahar khel paate।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
शाम को सारा परिवार आँगन में इकट्ठा होता है। In the evening, the whole family gathers in the courtyard.
(shaam ko saaraa parivaar aangan men ikatthaa hotaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
पुराने घर का आँगन आम के अचार की खुशबू से भरा रहता था। The old house's courtyard used to stay filled with the smell of mango pickle.
(puraane ghar kaa aangan aam ke achaar kii khushboo se bharaa rahtaa thaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
क्या तुम्हारे नए फ्लैट में भी कोई आँगन जैसी जगह है? Does your new flat have any space like a courtyard too?
(kyaa tumhaare nae phlait men bhii koii aangan jaisii jagah hai?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
हवेली का आँगन तुलसी के पौधे और रंगोली से सजाया गया था। The haveli's courtyard had been decorated with a tulsi plant and rangoli.
(havelii kaa aangan tulsii ke paudhe aur rangolii se sajaayaa gayaa thaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
काश हमारे शहर के मकानों में भी आँगन बचे होते। I wish courtyards had survived in our city's houses too.
(kaash hamaare shahar ke makaanon men bhii aangan bache hote।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Aspect: Perfective -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): आँगन (aangan)
(sg.m.oblique): आँगन (aangan)
(pl.m.direct): आँगन (aangan)
(pl.m.oblique): आँगनों (aangnon)