बालक (baalak)

noun A somewhat formal/literary word for 'boy' or 'child'; in everyday speech लड़का (ladkaa) is far more common.
Sense 1 : boy, male child
noun, masculine
Synonyms: लड़का (ladkaa), बच्चा (bachchaa, covers 'child' generally, not just male), शिशु (shishu, literary, more like 'infant')
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will meet बालक (baalak) on school signboards ('बाल विद्यालय' baal vidyaalay), in moral science lessons, or in a priest's or teacher's address to children, where it carries a gently formal, almost old-fashioned warmth. In daily family life, a mother calling her son will say लड़का (ladkaa) or बेटा (betaa), never बालक (baalak) -- that word belongs to the page or the podium, not the kitchen.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often use बालक (baalak) in casual conversation where लड़का (ladkaa) would sound far more natural; बालक (baalak) leans toward written, formal, or moralizing/storytelling registers (school textbooks, sermons, notices about children). 2) Its feminine counterpart is बालिका (baalikaa), not a form of बालक (baalak) itself -- the two are separate words, unlike the m/f flexibility seen with some other nouns.
Sample Sentences:
यह बालक बहुत होनहार है। This boy is very promising.
(yah baalak bahut honahaar hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
गुरुजी ने बालकों को सत्य बोलने की शिक्षा दी। The teacher taught the boys to speak the truth.
(gurujii ne baalkon ko saty bolne kii shikshaa dii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
हे बालकों, अपने बड़ों का सम्मान करो। O children, respect your elders.
(he baalkon, apne badon kaa sammaan karo।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
बालक विद्यालय में प्रतिदिन प्रार्थना करते हैं। The boys pray at school every day.
(baalak vidyaalay men pratidin praarthnaa karte hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
यदि बालक अनुशासन में रहे, तो वह जीवन में सफल होगा। If the boy stays disciplined, he will succeed in life.
(yadi baalak anushaasan men rahe, to vah jiivan men saphal hogaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
उस बालक को पुरस्कार दिया जाएगा जिसने सबसे अच्छा निबंध लिखा। That boy will be given a prize who wrote the best essay.
(us baalak ko puraskaar diyaa jaaegaa jisne sabse achchhaa nibandh likhaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Passive
काश वह बालक अपने पिता की बात मान लेता। If only that boy had listened to his father.
(kaash vah baalak apne pitaa kii baat maan letaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
पुजारी जी ने मंदिर में आए बालकों को आशीर्वाद दिया। The priest blessed the boys who had come to the temple.
(pujaarii jii ne mandir men aae baalkon ko aashiirvaad diyaa।)
Register: Devotional -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
बाल विद्यालय में सैकड़ों बालक शिक्षा प्राप्त करते हैं। Hundreds of boys receive education at the boys' school.
(baal vidyaalay men saikdon baalak shikshaa praapt karte hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
बालक अपने माता-पिता से बहुत कुछ सीखता है। A boy learns a great deal from his parents.
(baalak apne maataa-pitaa se bahut kuchh siikhtaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): बालक (baalak)
(sg.m.oblique): बालक (baalak)
(pl.m.direct): बालक (baalak)
(pl.m.oblique): बालकों (baalkon)