विवाह (vivaah)

noun A formal/literary word for marriage, used mainly as a noun; the everyday equivalent शादी (shaadii) is far more common in speech.
Sense 1 : marriage, wedding
noun, masculine
Synonyms: शादी (shaadii), ब्याह (byaah, colloquial), परिणय (parinay, literary)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You'll see विवाह (vivaah) on wedding invitation cards (विवाह निमंत्रण, vivaah nimantran, 'wedding invitation'), in matrimonial ads, and in the phrase विवाह समारोह (vivaah samaaroh, wedding ceremony) -- it carries the formality of an official or ceremonial register. In everyday conversation among family and friends, शादी (shaadii) is what people actually say almost all the time.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often default to विवाह (vivaah) in casual speech because it's the word taught first in textbooks, but native speakers overwhelmingly say शादी (shaadii) when chatting; विवाह (vivaah) sounds like the word you'd see on an invitation card or hear in a news report, not something you'd casually ask a friend about. 2) विवाह करना (vivaah karnaa) and शादी करना (shaadii karnaa) both mean 'to get married,' but mixing register -- e.g. using विवाह (vivaah) in a joke or gossip -- can sound stiff or oddly formal.
Sample Sentences:
उनका विवाह अगले महीने होगा। Their marriage will take place next month.
(unkaa vivaah agle mahiine hogaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
कृपया हमारे विवाह समारोह में सम्मिलित हों। Please join us at our wedding ceremony.
(kripyaa hamaare vivaah samaaroh men sammilit hon।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
यह कार्ड आपको विवाह निमंत्रण देने के लिए भेजा गया है। This card has been sent to give you a wedding invitation.
(yah kaard aapko vivaah nimantran dene ke lie bhejaa gayaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
हिंदू परंपरा में विवाह को एक पवित्र संस्कार माना जाता है। In Hindu tradition, marriage is considered a sacred rite.
(hindoo parampraa men vivaah ko ek pavitr sanskaar maanaa jaataa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
यदि उनका विवाह समय पर हो जाता तो परिवार निश्चिंत होता। If their marriage had taken place on time, the family would have been at ease.
(yadi unkaa vivaah samay par ho jaataa to parivaar nishchint hotaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Perfective -- Voice: Active
विवाह के बंधन में बंधने से पहले दोनों परिवारों की सहमति आवश्यक है। Before being bound in the ties of marriage, the consent of both families is necessary.
(vivaah ke bandhan men bandhne se pahle donon parivaaron kii sahamti aavashyak hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
मंत्री ने बाल विवाह के विरुद्ध एक नया कानून पेश किया। The minister introduced a new law against child marriage.
(mantrii ne baal vivaah ke viruddh ek nayaa kaanoon pesh kiyaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
समाज सुधारक चाहते थे कि विवाह की प्रथा अधिक न्यायपूर्ण बने। Social reformers wanted the custom of marriage to become more just.
(samaaj sudhaarak chaahte the ki vivaah kii prathaa adhik nyaaypoorn bane।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
अदालत में यह प्रमाणित करना पड़ा कि उनका विवाह वैध था। It had to be proven in court that their marriage was valid.
(adaalat men yah pramaanit karnaa padaa ki unkaa vivaah vaidh thaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
विवाह पंजीकरण के बिना यह प्रमाण पत्र मान्य नहीं होगा। Without marriage registration, this certificate will not be valid.
(vivaah panjiikran ke binaa yah pramaan patr maany nahiin hogaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): विवाह (vivaah)
(sg.m.oblique): विवाह (vivaah)
(pl.m.direct): विवाह (vivaah)
(pl.m.oblique): विवाहों (vivaahon)