वर्ष (varsh)

noun A formal word for 'year', used mainly in writing, news, and official speech rather than everyday conversation.
Sense 1 : year (unit of time)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: साल (saal)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will hear वर्ष (varsh) constantly on the news -- नए वर्ष की शुभकामनाएँ (nae varsh kii shubhkaamnaaen, 'New Year wishes') is the standard formal greeting printed on cards and banners, whereas friends and family will just say नया साल मुबारक हो (nayaa saal mubaarak ho, 'Happy New Year') to each other. Think of वर्ष (varsh) as साल's (saal) more formal, Sanskritic twin -- same meaning, different social register.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often default to साल (saal) in speech and वर्ष (varsh) in writing; using वर्ष (varsh) constantly in casual conversation can sound stiff or bookish. 2) Age is still expressed with साल (saal) in ordinary speech (मेरी उम्र बीस साल है (merii umr biis saal hai, 'I am twenty years old')), even though वर्ष (varsh) also appears in formal contexts like official documents or news reports.
Sample Sentences:
इस वर्ष बारिश बहुत अच्छी हुई है। This year the rain has been very good.
(is varsh baarish bahut achchhii huii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
नए वर्ष की शुभकामनाएँ! Wishes for the New Year!
(nae varsh kii shubhkaamnaaen!)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Voice: Active
यह विश्वविद्यालय सन् उन्नीस सौ बीस वर्ष में स्थापित हुआ था। This university was established in the year 1920.
(yah vishvvidyaalay san unniis sau biis varsh men sthaapit huaa thaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
प्रधानमंत्री ने अगले वर्ष की योजनाओं की घोषणा की। The Prime Minister announced next year's plans.
(pradhaanmantrii ne agle varsh kii yojnaaon kii ghoshnaa kii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
हर वर्ष सर्दियों में दिल्ली की हवा ख़राब हो जाती है। Every year in winter, Delhi's air becomes bad.
(har varsh sardiyon men dillii kii havaa kharaab ho jaatii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
यदि यह परियोजना समय पर पूरी होती, तो एक वर्ष की बचत होती। If this project had been completed on time, a year would have been saved.
(yadi yah pariyojnaa samay par poorii hotii, to ek varsh kii bachat hotii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
आइए, इस वर्ष के अंत में सभी उपलब्धियों की समीक्षा करें। Let us review all the achievements at the end of this year.
(aaie, is varsh ke ant men sabhii uplabdhiyon kii samiikshaa karen।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
रिपोर्ट में कहा गया है कि आर्थिक विकास दर पिछले वर्ष से बढ़ी है। The report states that the economic growth rate has increased from last year.
(riport men kahaa gayaa hai ki aarthik vikaas dar pichhle varsh se badhii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
संभव है कि इस वर्ष मानसून देर से आए। It is possible that the monsoon may arrive late this year.
(sambhav hai ki is varsh maansoon der se aae।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
आने वाले वर्षों में तकनीक और भी तेज़ी से बदलेगी। In the coming years, technology will change even faster.
(aane vaale varshon men takniik aur bhii tezii se badlegii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): वर्ष (varsh)
(sg.m.oblique): वर्ष (varsh)
(pl.m.direct): वर्ष (varsh)
(pl.m.oblique): वर्षों (varshon)