सौंदर्य (saundary)

noun A single-sense literary/formal noun meaning 'beauty' -- the abstract quality, not a beautiful person or object. Related to the more everyday adjective सुंदर (sundar, 'beautiful').
Sense 1 : beauty (abstract quality)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: सुंदरता (sundartaa), खूबसूरती (khoobsoortii)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will meet सौंदर्य (saundary) constantly in compound words like सौंदर्य प्रसाधन (saundary prasaadhan, 'cosmetics') on shampoo bottles and beauty parlor signboards (ब्यूटी पार्लर), which shows its formal register sitting comfortably in commercial and technical contexts even though it feels bookish in conversation. It shares its root with सुंदर (sundar, 'beautiful'), so recognizing that connection helps you guess related vocabulary.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for सौंदर्य (saundary) in casual speech where सुंदरता (sundartaa) or खूबसूरती (khoobsoortii) would sound more natural; सौंदर्य (saundary) leans formal/literary, showing up in essays, art criticism, and set phrases rather than everyday chat about how someone looks. 2) It refers only to the abstract quality of beauty, not to a beautiful person or thing itself -- you cannot call a person सौंदर्य (saundary) the way you might call them सुंदर (sundar).
Sample Sentences:
हिमालय का सौंदर्य अद्वितीय है। The beauty of the Himalayas is unmatched.
(himaalay kaa saundary advitiiy hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
इस मंदिर की वास्तुकला में एक अलग तरह का सौंदर्य छिपा है। A different kind of beauty is hidden in this temple's architecture.
(is mandir kii vaastuklaa men ek alag tarah kaa saundary chhipaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
प्राकृतिक सौंदर्य को बनाए रखना हम सबकी जिम्मेदारी है। Preserving natural beauty is the responsibility of all of us.
(praakritik saundary ko banaae rakhnaa ham sabkii jimmedaarii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
कविता में उसने प्रकृति के सौंदर्य का वर्णन बहुत सुंदर ढंग से किया। In the poem, he described the beauty of nature in a very lovely way.
(kavitaa men usne prakriti ke saundary kaa varnan bahut sundar dhang se kiyaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
काश हम इस झरने का सौंदर्य कभी न भूलते। I wish we would never forget the beauty of this waterfall.
(kaash ham is jharne kaa saundary kabhii n bhoolte।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
यदि प्रदूषण न होता, तो शहर का सौंदर्य कहीं ज़्यादा बढ़ जाता। If there were no pollution, the city's beauty would have increased much more.
(yadi pradooshan n hotaa, to shahar kaa saundary kahiin zyaadaa badh jaataa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
इस पेंटिंग का सौंदर्य शब्दों में बयान नहीं किया जा सकता। The beauty of this painting cannot be described in words.
(is penting kaa saundary shabdon men bayaan nahiin kiyaa jaa saktaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
उसके चेहरे का सौंदर्य देखकर सब लोग ठहर गए। Seeing the beauty of her face, everyone stopped in their tracks.
(uske chehre kaa saundary dekhkar sab log thahar gae।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
यह क्रीम आपकी त्वचा के सौंदर्य को निखारेगी। This cream will enhance the beauty of your skin.
(yah kriim aapkii tvachaa ke saundary ko nikhaaregii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
बगीचे का सौंदर्य बढ़ाने के लिए माली फूल लगा रहा है। To enhance the garden's beauty, the gardener is planting flowers.
(bagiiche kaa saundary badhaane ke lie maalii phool lagaa rahaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): सौंदर्य (saundary)
(sg.m.oblique): सौंदर्य (saundary)
(pl.m.direct): सौंदर्य (saundary)
(pl.m.oblique): सौंदर्यों (saundaryon)