वाहन (vaahan)

noun A single-sense formal/technical word meaning 'vehicle' -- the general term used in official, written, and traffic-related contexts.
Sense 1 : vehicle, conveyance
noun, masculine
Synonyms: गाड़ी (gaadii, everyday word for car/vehicle)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You'll see वाहन (vaahan) everywhere on Indian roads and paperwork: signs reading वाहन चालक (vaahan chaalak, 'vehicle driver'), or forms asking for your वाहन पंजीकरण (vaahan panjiikran, 'vehicle registration'). It's the Sanskritic, formal register word, while गाड़ी (gaadii) is what you'd actually say to a friend about your car, bike, or auto.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for वाहन (vaahan) in casual speech where a native speaker would simply say गाड़ी (gaadii); वाहन (vaahan) sounds bookish or official in ordinary conversation, more like something you'd read on a road sign or hear from a traffic policeman than say about your own car at home.
Sample Sentences:
कृपया अपना वाहन यहाँ पार्क न करें। Please do not park your vehicle here.
(kripyaa apnaa vaahan yahaan paark n karen।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
इस सड़क पर भारी वाहनों का प्रवेश वर्जित है। Entry of heavy vehicles is prohibited on this road.
(is sadak par bhaarii vaahnon kaa pravesh varjit hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
सरकार ने वाहन पंजीकरण की प्रक्रिया ऑनलाइन कर दी है। The government has made the vehicle registration process online.
(sarkaar ne vaahan panjiikran kii prakriyaa onlaain kar dii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
हर वाहन चालक को यातायात नियमों का पालन करना चाहिए। Every vehicle driver should follow the traffic rules.
(har vaahan chaalak ko yaataayaat niymon kaa paalan karnaa chaahie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
दुर्घटना में कई वाहन क्षतिग्रस्त हो गए। Several vehicles were damaged in the accident.
(durghatnaa men kaii vaahan kshatigrast ho gae।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
आने वाले वर्षों में इलेक्ट्रिक वाहनों की माँग बढ़ती रहेगी। The demand for electric vehicles will keep growing in the coming years.
(aane vaale varshon men ilektrik vaahnon kii maang badhtii rahegii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
यदि वाहन का बीमा न हो, तो चालान कट सकता है। If the vehicle is not insured, a fine can be issued.
(yadi vaahan kaa biimaa n ho, to chaalaan kat saktaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Passive
अगर उसके पास वाहन होता, तो वह समय पर पहुँच जाता। If he had a vehicle, he would have reached on time.
(agar uske paas vaahan hotaa, to vah samay par pahunch jaataa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
परिवहन विभाग सभी वाहनों की जाँच कर रहा है। The transport department is inspecting all the vehicles.
(parivahan vibhaag sabhii vaahnon kii jaanch kar rahaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
टोल नाके पर हर वाहन से शुल्क लिया जाता है। A toll is collected from every vehicle at the toll booth.
(tol naake par har vaahan se shulk liyaa jaataa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): वाहन (vaahan)
(sg.m.oblique): वाहन (vaahan)
(pl.m.direct): वाहन (vaahan)
(pl.m.oblique): वाहनों (vaahnon)