वाणी (vaanii)
noun
A somewhat literary/formal word for 'voice' or 'speech' in the sense of one's manner of speaking or power of expression -- not the everyday word for the physical voice/sound (that is आवाज़ (aavaaz)).
Sense
1
:
voice, speech, manner of speaking
noun, feminine
Synonyms: आवाज़ (aavaaz), वचन (vachan, literary), बोली (bolii, dialect/manner of speech)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will meet वाणी (vaanii) most often in set phrases praising how someone speaks -- मधुर वाणी (madhur vaanii, 'sweet-toned speech') or कर्ण-प्रिय वाणी (karn-priy vaanii, 'speech pleasant to the ear') -- and in formal or devotional contexts describing a person's gift of expression, such as a teacher's or leader's eloquence. It has a slightly elevated, almost reverent feel compared to the plain, physical आवाज़ (aavaaz).
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for वाणी (vaanii) when they just mean the physical sound of someone's voice (e.g. 'speak in a low voice') -- in everyday speech आवाज़ (aavaaz) is the natural choice there, while वाणी (vaanii) is reserved for describing the quality or character of someone's speech, like मधुर वाणी (madhur vaanii, 'sweet speech').
Sample Sentences:
उनकी वाणी में बड़ा माधुर्य है।
There is great sweetness in his manner of speaking.
(unkii vaanii men badaa maadhury hai।)
गुरुजी की मधुर वाणी सुनकर सभी शिष्य मंत्रमुग्ध हो गए।
Hearing the teacher's sweet-toned speech, all the students were spellbound.
(gurujii kii madhur vaanii sunkar sabhii shishy mantrmugdh ho gae।)
नेताजी की वाणी में इतना ओज था कि पूरी सभा जोश से भर गई।
There was such fervor in the leader's voice that the whole assembly filled with enthusiasm.
(netaajii kii vaanii men itnaa oj thaa ki poorii sabhaa josh se bhar gaii।)
काश मेरी वाणी में भी वैसी मिठास होती।
If only my speech also had that kind of sweetness.
(kaash merii vaanii men bhii vaisii mithaas hotii।)
कर्ण-प्रिय वाणी वाले वक्ता को सुनना सबको अच्छा लगता है।
Everyone likes to listen to a speaker with speech pleasant to the ear.
(karn-priy vaanii vaale vaktaa ko sunnaa sabko achchhaa lagtaa hai।)
अपनी वाणी पर संयम रखो, क्रोध में कुछ भी मत कहो।
Keep control over your speech; don't say anything in anger.
(apnii vaanii par sanyam rakho, krodh men kuchh bhii mat kaho।)
संत की वाणी में एक अद्भुत शांति झलकती थी।
A wondrous peace used to shine through the saint's voice.
(sant kii vaanii men ek adbhut shaanti jhalaktii thii।)
प्रधानाचार्य चाहते हैं कि हर छात्र की वाणी विनम्र और स्पष्ट हो।
The principal wants every student's manner of speaking to be polite and clear.
(pradhaanaachaary chaahte hain ki har chhaatr kii vaanii vinamr aur spasht ho।)
उसकी वाणी से यह ज़ाहिर होता है कि वह कितना पढ़ा-लिखा है।
From his manner of speaking, it becomes evident how well-educated he is.
(uskii vaanii se yah zaahir hotaa hai ki vah kitnaa padhaa-likhaa hai।)
उस विद्वान की वाणी से ज्ञान की गंगा बहती रही।
A river of knowledge kept flowing from that scholar's speech.
(us vidvaan kii vaanii se gyaan kii gangaa bahtii rahii।)
Sense
2
:
goddess of speech/learning (Saraswati), personified speech
noun, feminine Used as an epithet or metonym for the goddess Saraswati, who presides over speech, learning, and the arts.
Synonyms: सरस्वती (sarasvtii, name of the goddess), शारदा (shaardaa, literary/devotional)
Frequency: devotional
Cultural Note: In devotional and literary contexts, वाणी (vaanii) can stand in for the goddess Saraswati herself, since she is considered the source and patron of speech and eloquence -- you will encounter this in hymns, school assembly prayers, or references to Vaani (vaanii) as a girl's name carrying this same blessing of eloquence.
Sample Sentences:
माँ वाणी सबकी जिह्वा पर विराजें।
May Mother Vani reside on everyone's tongue.
(maan vaanii sabkii jihvaa par viraajen।)
हे वाणी, हमें ज्ञान और वाक्शक्ति प्रदान करो।
O Vani, grant us knowledge and the power of speech.
(he vaanii, hamen gyaan aur vaakshakti pradaan karo।)
विद्यालय की प्रार्थना सभा में बच्चे वाणी की वंदना गाते हैं।
In the school's morning assembly, the children sing a hymn to the goddess Vani.
(vidyaalay kii praarthnaa sabhaa men bachche vaanii kii vandnaa gaate hain।)
कहा जाता है कि वाणी की कृपा से ही कवियों को शब्द मिलते हैं।
It is said that it is only by the grace of the goddess Vani that poets find their words.
(kahaa jaataa hai ki vaanii kii kripaa se hii kaviyon ko shabd milte hain।)
बसंत पंचमी के दिन वाणी की विशेष पूजा की जाती है।
On the day of Basant Panchami, a special worship of the goddess Vani is performed.
(basant panchmii ke din vaanii kii vishesh poojaa kii jaatii hai।)
यदि वाणी प्रसन्न हों, तो मूर्ख भी विद्वान बन जाए।
If the goddess Vani were pleased, even a fool would become a scholar.
(yadi vaanii prasann hon, to moorkh bhii vidvaan ban jaae।)
प्राचीन कवियों ने वाणी को अपनी माता के समान पूजा।
The ancient poets worshipped Vani as their own mother.
(praachiin kaviyon ne vaanii ko apnii maataa ke samaan poojaa।)
उनके माता-पिता ने बेटी का नाम वाणी रखा, ताकि उसे वाग्देवी का आशीर्वाद मिले।
Her parents named their daughter Vani, so that she would receive the blessing of the goddess of speech.
(unke maataa-pitaa ne betii kaa naam vaanii rakhaa, taaki use vaagdevii kaa aashiirvaad mile।)
श्वेतवसना वाणी वीणा लिए विराजमान हैं।
The white-robed goddess Vani sits enthroned, holding her veena.
(shvetvasnaa vaanii viinaa lie viraajmaan hain।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
वाणी
(vaanii)
(sg.f.oblique):
वाणी
(vaanii)
(pl.f.direct):
वाणियाँ
(vaaniyaan)
(pl.f.oblique):
वाणियों
(vaaniyon)