बाँह (baanh)

noun A body-part noun meaning 'arm', used especially in warm, embracing, or protective contexts; distinct from the more clinical/general हाथ (haath, 'hand/arm').
Sense 1 : arm (the limb, especially upper arm/embrace context)
noun, feminine
Synonyms: भुजा (bhujaa, literary), हाथ (haath, broader term covering hand and arm)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: बाँह (baanh) carries a tender, embodied warmth that हाथ (haath) doesn't quite have -- think of a mother pulling a child into her बाँहें (baanhen, 'arms') or song lyrics about being held in someone's बाँहों में (baanhon men, 'in the arms of'). It shows up constantly in Bollywood song lyrics and poetry precisely for this affectionate, protective register.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for हाथ (haath) in every context involving the arm, but बाँह (baanh) is preferred in phrases about embracing, holding, or the sleeve area of the body, e.g. बाँहों में भरना (baanhon men bharnaa, 'to take in one's arms'). 2) Note the nasalized vowel in spelling and pronunciation -- it is बाँह (baanh), not बांह or बाह; both बाँह and बांह are seen in print, but the chandrabindu/anusvara version is standard.
Sample Sentences:
माँ ने बच्चे को अपनी बाँहों में भर लिया। The mother pulled the child into her arms.
(maan ne bachche ko apnii baanhon men bhar liyaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
वह मुझे अपनी बाँहों में लेकर सो गई। She took me in her arms and fell asleep.
(vah mujhe apnii baanhon men lekar so gaii।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
इस गाने में वह कहता है कि वह उसकी बाँहों में सुकून पाता है। In this song he says that he finds peace in her arms.
(is gaane men vah kahtaa hai ki vah uskii baanhon men sukoon paataa hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
काश मैं भी किसी की बाँहों में इतना सुरक्षित महसूस करती। I wish I too could feel this safe in someone's arms.
(kaash main bhii kisii kii baanhon men itnaa surakshit mahsoos kartii।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
अपनी बाँहें फैलाओ, मैं तुम्हें गले लगाना चाहती हूँ। Spread your arms, I want to hug you.
(apnii baanhen phailaao, main tumhen gale lagaanaa chaahtii hoon।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
बच्चा रोते हुए अपनी माँ की बाँहों की ओर दौड़ा। Crying, the child ran toward his mother's arms.
(bachchaa rote hue apnii maan kii baanhon kii or daudaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अगर वह मुझे अपनी बाँहों में ले लेता, तो मुझे इतना डर नहीं लगता। If he had taken me in his arms, I wouldn't have felt so scared.
(agar vah mujhe apnii baanhon men le letaa, to mujhe itnaa dar nahiin lagtaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Perfective -- Voice: Active
उसकी बाँहों में उसे ऐसी शांति मिलती थी जो कहीं और नहीं मिलती थी। In his arms she found a peace she found nowhere else.
(uskii baanhon men use aisii shaanti miltii thii jo kahiin aur nahiin miltii thii।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
दादी ने पोते को बाँहों में उठाकर प्यार से चूमा। Grandmother lifted her grandson into her arms and kissed him lovingly.
(daadii ne pote ko baanhon men uthaakar pyaar se choomaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
जब भी वह उदास होती है, वह अपनी बहन की बाँहों में जाकर रोती है। Whenever she is sad, she goes and cries in her sister's arms.
(jab bhii vah udaas hotii hai, vah apnii bahan kii baanhon men jaakar rotii hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): बाँह (baanh)
(sg.f.oblique): बाँह (baanh)
(pl.f.direct): बाँहें (baanhen)
(pl.f.oblique): बाँहों (baanhon)