हल (hal)
noun
Two unrelated words share this spelling: हल (hal) meaning 'solution' (to a problem) and हल (hal) meaning 'plow' (the farming tool).
Sense
1
:
solution, answer (to a problem)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: समाधान (samaadhaan), उपाय (upaay, can also mean 'remedy/measure')
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This is the word you will hear constantly around exams and homework -- सवाल का हल (savaal kaa hal, 'the answer to the question') is classic classroom language in India. Paired with करना (karnaa) it becomes the everyday verb for 'to solve' any problem, mathematical or otherwise.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often confuse हल (hal, solution) with हल करना (hal karnaa, to solve) -- हल alone is the noun, and करना (karnaa) must be added to make it a verb phrase meaning 'to solve.' 2) Do not confuse with हल (hal, plow), an unrelated homonym with a completely different meaning.
Sample Sentences:
इस सवाल का हल क्या है?
What is the solution to this question?
(is savaal kaa hal kyaa hai?)
मैंने आखिरकार इस गणित के सवाल का हल निकाल लिया।
I finally found the solution to this math problem.
(mainne aakhirkaar is ganit ke savaal kaa hal nikaal liyaa।)
कृपया इस समस्या का हल कीजिए।
Please solve this problem.
(kripyaa is samasyaa kaa hal kiijie।)
अगर तुम मन लगाकर सोचो, तो हर सवाल का हल मिल जाएगा।
If you think carefully, you'll find the solution to every question.
(agar tum man lagaakar socho, to har savaal kaa hal mil jaaegaa।)
काश इस झगड़े का कोई हल होता।
If only there were some solution to this quarrel.
(kaash is jhagde kaa koii hal hotaa।)
यह सवाल शिक्षक द्वारा हल किया गया।
This question was solved by the teacher.
(yah savaal shikshak dvaaraa hal kiyaa gayaa।)
बच्चे रोज़ाना गणित के सवालों का हल करते हैं।
The children solve math problems every day.
(bachche rozaanaa ganit ke savaalon kaa hal karte hain।)
वह अभी भी इस पहेली का हल सोच रहा है।
He is still thinking of a solution to this puzzle.
(vah abhii bhii is pahelii kaa hal soch rahaa hai।)
शायद इस मसले का कोई हल निकल आए।
Perhaps some solution to this matter will come up.
(shaayad is masle kaa koii hal nikal aae।)
सरकार ने इस आर्थिक संकट का स्थायी हल पेश किया है।
The government has presented a permanent solution to this economic crisis.
(sarkaar ne is aarthik sankat kaa sthaayii hal pesh kiyaa hai।)
किताब के अंत में सभी सवालों का हल दिया गया है।
The solutions to all the questions are given at the end of the book.
(kitaab ke ant men sabhii savaalon kaa hal diyaa gayaa hai।)
Sense
2
:
plow (farming implement)
noun, masculine
Frequency: low
Cultural Note: हल (hal) is the traditional ox-drawn plow still seen in rural India, and it carries strong symbolic weight in farmer iconography and in words like हलवाहा (halvaahaa, 'ploughman'). It is far less common in everyday urban conversation than the 'solution' sense.
Common Mistakes: 1) This is a separate word from हल (hal, solution) despite identical spelling -- context (farming vs. problem-solving) is the only way to tell them apart, since they are never confused by native speakers but can trip up learners relying on rote vocabulary lists.
Sample Sentences:
किसान सुबह-सुबह हल लेकर खेत में चला जाता है।
The farmer goes to the field with the plow early in the morning.
(kisaan subah-subah hal lekar khet men chalaa jaataa hai।)
उसने बैलों को हल से जोत दिया।
He yoked the oxen to the plow.
(usne bailon ko hal se jot diyaa।)
पुराने ज़माने में हल लकड़ी का बना होता था।
In olden times, the plow used to be made of wood.
(puraane zamaane men hal lakdii kaa banaa hotaa thaa।)
हल चलाना कोई आसान काम नहीं है।
Plowing (running the plow) is no easy task.
(hal chalaanaa koii aasaan kaam nahiin hai।)
बेटा, हल को खेत के कोने में रख दो।
Son, put the plow in the corner of the field.
(betaa, hal ko khet ke kone men rakh do।)
अगर हल टूट जाए तो हलवाहा क्या करेगा?
If the plow breaks, what will the ploughman do?
(agar hal toot jaae to halvaahaa kyaa karegaa?)
अगर हमारे पास ट्रैक्टर होता, तो हल की ज़रूरत ही न पड़ती।
If we had a tractor, there would have been no need for a plow at all.
(agar hamaare paas traiktar hotaa, to hal kii zaroorat hii n padtii।)
हल कवि की कल्पना में किसान की मेहनत और धरती के मिलन का प्रतीक है।
In the poet's imagination, the plow is a symbol of the union of the farmer's toil and the earth.
(hal kavi kii kalpnaa men kisaan kii mehnat aur dhartii ke milan kaa pratiik hai।)
गाँव में एक संग्रहालय बनाया गया है जहाँ पुराने हल रखे गए हैं।
A museum has been built in the village where old plows have been kept.
(gaanv men ek sangrahaalay banaayaa gayaa hai jahaan puraane hal rakhe gae hain।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
हल
(hal)
(sg.m.oblique):
हल
(hal)
(pl.m.direct):
हल
(hal)
(pl.m.oblique):
हलों
(halon)