प्रशंसा (prashansaa)

noun A single-sense feminine noun meaning 'praise' or 'admiration' -- used in both everyday compliments and formal appreciation.
Sense 1 : praise, admiration
noun, feminine Commonly used with करना (karnaa) 'to praise' (transitive: प्रशंसा करना, prashansaa karnaa) and होना (honaa) 'to be praised/receive praise'.
Synonyms: तारीफ़ (taariif), सराहना (saraahnaa, slightly more formal/written)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You will hear this word a lot in school report cards, official speeches, and news reports -- 'सरकार की प्रशंसा की' (sarkaar kii prashansaa kii, 'praised the government') is classic newspaper Hindi. In daily life among friends and family, तारीफ़ (taariif) is the word that actually comes out of people's mouths more often.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often say तारीफ़ (taariif) in casual speech and reach for प्रशंसा (prashansaa) in writing or formal contexts; both are correct, but प्रशंसा (prashansaa) can sound a touch stiff in a casual chat about, say, a friend's cooking. 2) The verb pairing is प्रशंसा करना (prashansaa karnaa, 'to praise someone') -- learners sometimes try to use प्रशंसा as if it were the verb itself.
Sample Sentences:
अध्यापिका ने उसके काम की बहुत प्रशंसा की। The teacher praised his work a lot.
(adhyaapikaa ne uske kaam kii bahut prashansaa kii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
मुख्यमंत्री ने सैनिकों के साहस की प्रशंसा की। The chief minister praised the soldiers' courage.
(mukhymantrii ne sainikon ke saahas kii prashansaa kii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अखबार सरकार की नई योजना की प्रशंसा कर रहे हैं। The newspapers are praising the government's new scheme.
(akhbaar sarkaar kii naii yojnaa kii prashansaa kar rahe hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अच्छा काम हमेशा प्रशंसा पाता है। Good work always receives praise.
(achchhaa kaam hameshaa prashansaa paataa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
क्या तुम्हें सचमुच दूसरों की प्रशंसा सुनना पसंद है? Do you really like hearing others' praise?
(kyaa tumhen sachmuch doosron kii prashansaa sunnaa pasand hai?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उसकी कविता की चारों ओर प्रशंसा हो रही है। Her poem is being praised all around.
(uskii kavitaa kii chaaron or prashansaa ho rahii hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
यदि तुम मेहनत करते तो तुम्हारी भी प्रशंसा होती। If you had worked hard, you too would have received praise.
(yadi tum mehnat karte to tumhaarii bhii prashansaa hotii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Passive
काश मुझे भी इतनी प्रशंसा मिलती। I wish I too got so much praise.
(kaash mujhe bhii itnii prashansaa miltii।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
रिपोर्ट में उनकी नेतृत्व क्षमता की प्रशंसा की गई है। In the report, their leadership ability has been praised.
(riport men unkii netritv kshamtaa kii prashansaa kii gaii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
आलोचक भी इस फ़िल्म की प्रशंसा किए बिना नहीं रह सके। Even the critics could not help praising this film.
(aalochak bhii is film kii prashansaa kie binaa nahiin rah sake।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
वह ऐसा काम करेगा कि सब उसकी प्रशंसा करेंगे। He will do such work that everyone will praise him.
(vah aisaa kaam karegaa ki sab uskii prashansaa karenge।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): प्रशंसा (prashansaa)
(sg.f.oblique): प्रशंसा (prashansaa)
(pl.f.direct): प्रशंसाएँ (prashansaaen)
(pl.f.oblique): प्रशंसाओं (prashansaaon)