भाषा (bhaashaa)
noun
A single-sense everyday noun meaning 'language' -- the words and grammar a community speaks, or a named language like Hindi or English.
Sense
1
:
language (a system of speech/writing, or a named tongue)
noun, feminine
Synonyms: ज़बान (zabaan, everyday, especially in speech), बोली (bolii, usually 'dialect/spoken tongue' rather than a full standardized language)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You'll see भाषा (bhaashaa) everywhere official -- राजभाषा (raajbhaashaa, 'official language') and मातृभाषा (maatribhaashaa, 'mother tongue') are both built on this root, and India's own multilingual identity makes phrases like कौन सी भाषा बोलते हैं? (kaun sii bhaashaa bolte hain?, 'which language do you speak?') a very natural icebreaker between strangers on a train.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes reach for बोली (bolii) as a plain synonym, but it usually implies a spoken dialect or mother tongue rather than an official/written language -- हिंदी भाषा (hindii bhaashaa, 'the Hindi language') sounds more standard than हिंदी बोली (hindii bolii) in a formal context. 2) भाषा (bhaashaa) is feminine, so adjectives and verbs agreeing with it take feminine forms: यह भाषा कठिन है (yah bhaashaa kathin hai, 'this language is difficult'), not the masculine form.
Sample Sentences:
आप कौन सी भाषा बोलते हैं?
Which language do you speak?
(aap kaun sii bhaashaa bolte hain?)
मेरी मातृभाषा हिंदी है, लेकिन मैं अंग्रेज़ी भी बोल लेता हूँ।
My mother tongue is Hindi, but I can also speak English.
(merii maatribhaashaa hindii hai, lekin main angrezii bhii bol letaa hoon।)
भारत की राजभाषा हिंदी है।
India's official language is Hindi.
(bhaarat kii raajbhaashaa hindii hai।)
इस देश में सैकड़ों भाषाएँ बोली जाती हैं।
Hundreds of languages are spoken in this country.
(is desh men saikdon bhaashaaen bolii jaatii hain।)
पिछले साल उसने एक नई भाषा सीखी।
Last year he learned a new language.
(pichhle saal usne ek naii bhaashaa siikhii।)
काश मुझे और भाषाएँ आतीं।
I wish I knew more languages.
(kaash mujhe aur bhaashaaen aatiin।)
अगर तुम्हें यह भाषा आती होती, तो नौकरी मिल जाती।
If you had known this language, you would have gotten the job.
(agar tumhen yah bhaashaa aatii hotii, to naukrii mil jaatii।)
कृपया सरल भाषा में समझाइए।
Please explain in simple language.
(kripyaa saral bhaashaa men samjhaaie।)
स्कूल में हमें तीन भाषाएँ पढ़ाई जाती थीं।
In school, we were taught three languages.
(skool men hamen tiin bhaashaaen padhaaii jaatii thiin।)
वह इस समय एक विदेशी भाषा सीख रही है।
She is currently learning a foreign language.
(vah is samay ek videshii bhaashaa siikh rahii hai।)
यह ज़रूरी है कि हर बच्चा अपनी भाषा पर गर्व करे।
It is necessary that every child take pride in their own language.
(yah zaroorii hai ki har bachchaa apnii bhaashaa par garv kare।)
भाषा केवल शब्दों का समूह नहीं, बल्कि संस्कृति की आत्मा होती है।
Language is not merely a collection of words, but the soul of culture.
(bhaashaa keval shabdon kaa samooh nahiin, balki sanskriti kii aatmaa hotii hai।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
भाषा
(bhaashaa)
(sg.f.oblique):
भाषा
(bhaashaa)
(pl.f.direct):
भाषाएँ
(bhaashaaen)
(pl.f.oblique):
भाषाओं
(bhaashaaon)