प्रेम (prem)
noun
A somewhat elevated word for love, used mainly as a noun; it sits a register above the everyday प्यार (pyaar) and is common in devotional, poetic, and formal romantic contexts.
Sense
1
:
love, affection (romantic or deep devotional)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: प्यार (pyaar), मोहब्बत (mohabbat), स्नेह (sneh, warmer/more familial), इश्क़ (ishq, intense romantic passion)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: प्रेम (prem) carries a slightly more classical, almost spiritual weight than प्यार (pyaar) -- you will hear it in the context of प्रेम विवाह (prem vivaah, love marriage), a phrase still loaded with social meaning in many Indian families where marriages are traditionally arranged. It also appears constantly in bhakti poetry and devotional songs describing a devotee's love for God, where प्यार (pyaar) would feel oddly casual.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for प्रेम (prem) in casual speech where प्यार (pyaar) is what people actually say; प्रेम (prem) tends to show up in songs, poetry, wedding invitations, and devotional or literary contexts rather than everyday chat. 2) प्रेम (prem) is grammatically masculine, so watch adjective and verb agreement, e.g. सच्चा प्रेम (sachchaa prem, true love), not सच्ची.
Sample Sentences:
राधा का कृष्ण के प्रति प्रेम अनंत है।
Radha's love for Krishna is infinite.
(raadhaa kaa krishn ke prati prem anant hai।)
उन दोनों ने प्रेम विवाह किया, जिसे परिवार ने बड़ी मुश्किल से स्वीकार किया।
The two of them had a love marriage, which the family accepted only with great difficulty.
(un donon ne prem vivaah kiyaa, jise parivaar ne badii mushkil se sviikaar kiyaa।)
भक्त के हृदय में ईश्वर के लिए जो प्रेम बसता है, वह शब्दों में वर्णित नहीं हो सकता।
The love that dwells in the devotee's heart for God cannot be described in words.
(bhakt ke hriday men iishvar ke lie jo prem bastaa hai, vah shabdon men varnit nahiin ho saktaa।)
काश वह मेरे प्रेम को समझ पाता।
If only he could have understood my love.
(kaash vah mere prem ko samajh paataa।)
मीरा का प्रेम कृष्ण के प्रति समर्पण की सबसे ऊँची मिसाल है।
Meera's love is the highest example of devotion to Krishna.
(miiraa kaa prem krishn ke prati samarpan kii sabse oonchii misaal hai।)
अपने माता-पिता को यह समझाना कि यह प्रेम विवाह सच्चे प्रेम पर आधारित है, आसान नहीं था।
Explaining to his parents that this love marriage was based on true love was not easy.
(apne maataa-pitaa ko yah samjhaanaa ki yah prem vivaah sachche prem par aadhaarit hai, aasaan nahiin thaa।)
प्रेम में डूबकर वह सब कुछ भूल गई थी।
Drowned in love, she had forgotten everything.
(prem men doobkar vah sab kuchh bhool gaii thii।)
हे प्रभु, मुझे अपने प्रेम से भर दो।
O Lord, fill me with your love.
(he prabhu, mujhe apne prem se bhar do।)
यदि उनके बीच सच्चा प्रेम न होता, तो यह रिश्ता इतने बरसों तक न टिकता।
If there hadn't been true love between them, this relationship wouldn't have lasted so many years.
(yadi unke biich sachchaa prem n hotaa, to yah rishtaa itne barson tak n tiktaa।)
संत कवियों ने प्रेम को ईश्वर तक पहुँचने का मार्ग बताया है।
The saint-poets have described love as the path to reaching God.
(sant kaviyon ne prem ko iishvar tak pahunchne kaa maarg bataayaa hai।)
शायद उसका प्रेम इतना गहरा हो कि वह सारी उम्र इंतज़ार कर ले।
Perhaps her love is so deep that she would wait a whole lifetime.
(shaayad uskaa prem itnaa gahraa ho ki vah saarii umr intzaar kar le।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
प्रेम
(prem)
(sg.m.oblique):
प्रेम
(prem)
(pl.m.direct):
प्रेम
(prem)
(pl.m.oblique):
प्रेमों
(premon)