बनियान (baniyaan)

noun A single everyday sense: the sleeveless undershirt/vest men (and sometimes women) wear as an inner garment.
Sense 1 : sleeveless undershirt / vest
noun, feminine
Synonyms: गंजी (ganjii, regional/colloquial), बनियन (baniyan, variant spelling)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: बनियान (baniyaan) is the classic sleeveless cotton undershirt seen everywhere in Indian households -- fathers lounging at home in a बनियान (baniyaan) and लुंगी (lungii) is a familiar domestic image, especially in the heat of Delhi summers. It's considered strictly indoor/informal wear; stepping out in just a बनियान (baniyaan) is seen as undressed or too casual for most public settings.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes confuse बनियान (baniyaan) with बनिया (baniyaa, 'shopkeeper/trader caste'), which is a completely unrelated word despite the similar sound. 2) In English, 'vest' can mean a waistcoat worn over a shirt, but बनियान (baniyaan) is specifically the inner sleeveless undergarment, not an outer garment.
Sample Sentences:
गरमी में पापा घर पर बनियान और लुंगी पहनते हैं। In summer, Papa wears just a vest and lungi at home.
(garmii men paapaa ghar par baniyaan aur lungii pahante hain।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
वह बनियान पहने हुए बालकनी में खड़ा था। He was standing on the balcony wearing just a vest.
(vah baniyaan pahne hue baalaknii men khadaa thaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
बनियान पहनकर बाहर मत जाओ, अच्छा नहीं लगता। Don't go outside just in a vest, it doesn't look right.
(baniyaan pahankar baahar mat jaao, achchhaa nahiin lagtaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
अगर तुम बनियान पहनकर बाजार जाते, तो लोग घूरते। If you had gone to the market just in a vest, people would have stared.
(agar tum baniyaan pahankar baajaar jaate, to log ghoorte।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
मुझे दो सफेद बनियान चाहिए, एक्स्ट्रा-लार्ज साइज़ में। I need two white vests, in extra-large size.
(mujhe do saphed baniyaan chaahie, ekstraa-laarj saaiz men।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उसकी बनियान पसीने से पूरी तरह भीग गई थी। His vest was completely soaked with sweat.
(uskii baniyaan pasiine se poorii tarah bhiig gaii thii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
क्या मेहमानों के सामने बनियान में आना ठीक है? Is it okay to come out in front of guests just in a vest?
(kyaa mehmaanon ke saamne baniyaan men aanaa thiik hai?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
दादाजी हमेशा एक पुरानी बनियान में सोते थे। Grandfather always used to sleep in an old vest.
(daadaajii hameshaa ek puraanii baniyaan men sote the।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
बनियान इतनी मैली हो चुकी थी कि माँ ने उसे फेंक दिया। The vest had become so dirty that Mother threw it away.
(baniyaan itnii mailii ho chukii thii ki maan ne use phenk diyaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
दुकानदार ने कहा कि सूती बनियान सर्दियों में भी पहनी जा सकती है। The shopkeeper said that a cotton vest can be worn even in winter.
(dukaandaar ne kahaa ki sootii baniyaan sardiyon men bhii pahnii jaa saktii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
इतनी गरमी में तो बनियान भी बोझ लगती है। In such heat, even a vest feels like a burden.
(itnii garmii men to baniyaan bhii bojh lagtii hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): बनियान (baniyaan)
(sg.f.oblique): बनियान (baniyaan)
(pl.f.direct): बनियानें (baniyaanen)
(pl.f.oblique): बनियानों (baniyaanon)