ज़ेवर (zevar)

noun A single-sense everyday noun meaning jewelry or ornaments, usually thought of as a set or collection rather than one piece.
Sense 1 : jewelry, ornaments
noun, masculine
Synonyms: गहना (gahnaa), आभूषण (aabhooshan, formal)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: ज़ेवर (zevar) carries a strong association with weddings and dowry-adjacent gifting -- mothers and grandmothers speak of 'passing down' ज़ेवर (zevar) to daughters, and it's the word you'll hear in jewelry shops (ज़ेवर की दुकान, zevar kii dukaan, 'jewelry shop') across Delhi's markets like Karol Bagh. It's a Persian loanword, common in everyday Hindustani speech rather than feeling foreign or literary.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often use ज़ेवर (zevar) for a single ring or earring the way English says 'a jewel'; it more naturally refers to jewelry collectively (a woman's ज़ेवर (zevar) = her jewelry as a set), so गहने (gahne, plural) or a specific item name is often more natural for one piece. 2) The nuqta on ज़ (z) is often dropped in casual writing (जेवर jevar), which is acceptable but worth recognizing as the same word.
Sample Sentences:
शादी में दुल्हन ने बहुत सारे ज़ेवर पहने थे। The bride wore a lot of jewelry at the wedding.
(shaadii men dulhan ne bahut saare zevar pahne the।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
मेरी दादी अपने ज़ेवर मेरी माँ को देना चाहती हैं। My grandmother wants to give her jewelry to my mother.
(merii daadii apne zevar merii maan ko denaa chaahtii hain।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
हम करोल बाग़ में ज़ेवर की दुकान ढूँढ रहे हैं। We are looking for a jewelry shop in Karol Bagh.
(ham karol baagh men zevar kii dukaan dhoondh rahe hain।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
यह ज़ेवर मेरी नानी का दिया हुआ है। This jewelry was given by my maternal grandmother.
(yah zevar merii naanii kaa diyaa huaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर मेरे पास पैसे होते, तो मैं उसके लिए ज़ेवर खरीदता। If I had money, I would buy jewelry for her.
(agar mere paas paise hote, to main uske lie zevar khariidtaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
कृपया अपने ज़ेवर लॉकर में रख दीजिए। Please put your jewelry in the locker.
(kripyaa apne zevar lokar men rakh diijie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
शादी से पहले सारे ज़ेवर बैंक में गिने जाएँगे। All the jewelry will be counted at the bank before the wedding.
(shaadii se pahle saare zevar baink men gine jaaenge।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Passive
शायद वह अपनी बेटी को कुछ ज़ेवर दे। Perhaps she will give her daughter some jewelry.
(shaayad vah apnii betii ko kuchh zevar de।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
पीढ़ियों से यह ज़ेवर परिवार की बेटियों को सौंपा जाता रहा है। For generations, this jewelry has been handed down to the family's daughters.
(piidhiyon se yah zevar parivaar kii betiyon ko saumpaa jaataa rahaa hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
चोरों ने घर से सारे ज़ेवर चुरा लिए। The thieves stole all the jewelry from the house.
(choron ne ghar se saare zevar churaa lie।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
वह अलमारी में ज़ेवर सँभाल कर रखती है। She carefully keeps the jewelry in the cupboard.
(vah almaarii men zevar sambhaal kar rakhtii hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): ज़ेवर (zevar)
(sg.m.oblique): ज़ेवर (zevar)
(pl.m.direct): ज़ेवर (zevar)
(pl.m.oblique): ज़ेवरों (zevron)