उपन्यास (upanyaas)

noun A straightforward single-sense word meaning 'novel' (the literary form).
Sense 1 : novel (literary work)
noun, masculine
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: उपन्यास (upanyaas) is the standard word you will see on the cover of any Hindi novel, from Premchand's classics to today's bestsellers -- book fairs and school reading lists all use this term without hesitation. It pairs naturally with लेखक (lekhak, 'author') and उपन्यासकार (upanyaaskaar, 'novelist') in everyday literary conversation.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes confuse उपन्यास (upanyaas) with कहानी (kahaanii, 'story/short story') -- उपन्यास (upanyaas) specifically means a full-length novel, not any narrative. 2) It does not mean 'novel' in the English sense of 'new/novel idea' -- that would be नया (nayaa) or नवीन (naviin).
Sample Sentences:
मैंने पिछले महीने एक बहुत अच्छा उपन्यास पढ़ा। I read a very good novel last month.
(mainne pichhle mahiine ek bahut achchhaa upanyaas padhaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
प्रेमचंद का यह उपन्यास आज भी बहुत लोकप्रिय है। This novel by Premchand is still very popular today.
(premchand kaa yah upanyaas aaj bhii bahut lokapriy hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
वह हर साल एक नया उपन्यास लिखता है। He writes a new novel every year.
(vah har saal ek nayaa upanyaas likhtaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
मैं आजकल एक जासूसी उपन्यास पढ़ रहा हूँ। These days I am reading a detective novel.
(main aajkal ek jaasoosii upanyaas padh rahaa hoon।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
यह उपन्यास मुझे किताबों की दुकान वाले ने सुझाया था। The bookshop owner had suggested this novel to me.
(yah upanyaas mujhe kitaabon kii dukaan vaale ne sujhaayaa thaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
कृपया मुझे कोई अच्छा हिंदी उपन्यास सुझाइए। Please suggest me a good Hindi novel.
(kripyaa mujhe koii achchhaa hindii upanyaas sujhaaie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
अगर मुझे समय मिलता, तो मैं यह उपन्यास ज़रूर पूरा पढ़ता। If I had time, I would definitely finish reading this novel.
(agar mujhe samay miltaa, to main yah upanyaas zaroor pooraa padhtaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
इस उपन्यास पर आधारित फ़िल्म अगले साल रिलीज़ होगी। The film based on this novel will release next year.
(is upanyaas par aadhaarit film agle saal riliiz hogii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
यह उपन्यास एक प्रसिद्ध उपन्यासकार द्वारा लिखा गया है। This novel has been written by a famous novelist.
(yah upanyaas ek prasiddh upanyaaskaar dvaaraa likhaa gayaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
हो सकता है कि यह उपन्यास किसी सच्ची घटना पर आधारित हो। It may be that this novel is based on a true event.
(ho saktaa hai ki yah upanyaas kisii sachchii ghatnaa par aadhaarit ho।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
लेखक ने अपने पहले उपन्यास में गाँव के जीवन का गहरा चित्रण किया है। In his first novel, the author has drawn a deep portrayal of village life.
(lekhak ne apne pahle upanyaas men gaanv ke jiivan kaa gahraa chitran kiyaa hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): उपन्यास (upanyaas)
(sg.m.oblique): उपन्यास (upanyaas)
(pl.m.direct): उपन्यास (upanyaas)
(pl.m.oblique): उपन्यासों (upanyaason)