धूप (dhoop)

noun Mainly means sunshine/sunlight as experienced outdoors; also has a distinct sense of fragrant incense burned in worship, spelled and pronounced the same way.

Sense 1 : sunshine, sunlight

noun, feminine

Synonyms: सूरज की रोशनी (sooraj kii roshnii)

Frequency: high

Cultural Note: In Delhi's winter, धूप (dhoop) is treasured -- people drag chairs onto rooftops or verandas specifically to sit in it, and you'll hear धूप में बैठो (dhoop men baitho, 'sit in the sun') as caring advice from elders. In summer, the same word turns harsh: तेज़ धूप (tez dhoop, 'strong sun') is something to avoid, paired with warnings like धूप में मत निकलो (dhoop men mat niklo, 'don't go out in the sun').

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often say सूरज (sooraj, 'sun') when they mean the light/warmth itself -- धूप (dhoop) is the sunlight you feel and sit in, not the sun as an object. 2) Sentences about weather with धूप (dhoop) typically use होना (honaa) or निकलना (nikalnaa) (धूप निकली है, dhoop niklii hai, 'the sun has come out') rather than a verb meaning 'to shine' directly on धूप (dhoop).

Sample Sentences:

सर्दियों में छत पर धूप बहुत अच्छी लगती है। In winter, the sunshine on the roof feels really nice.

(sardiyon men chhat par dhoop bahut achchhii lagtii hai।)

दादी ने कहा, थोड़ी देर धूप में बैठो, ठंड कम लगेगी। Grandma said, sit in the sun for a while, you'll feel less cold.

(daadii ne kahaa, thodii der dhoop men baitho, thand kam lagegii।)

दोपहर में तेज़ धूप निकल आई है, बाहर मत जाना। The harsh sun has come out at noon, don't go outside.

(dopahar men tez dhoop nikal aaii hai, baahar mat jaanaa।)

गर्मियों में धूप में मत निकलो, वरना लू लग जाएगी। Don't go out in the sun in summer, or you'll get heatstroke.

(garmiyon men dhoop men mat niklo, varnaa loo lag jaaegii।)

अगर आज धूप निकलती तो हम पिकनिक पर जाते। If the sun had come out today, we would have gone for a picnic.

(agar aaj dhoop nikaltii to ham piknik par jaate।)

कपड़े धूप में सूख रहे हैं। The clothes are drying in the sunshine.

(kapde dhoop men sookh rahe hain।)

मुझे उम्मीद है कि कल थोड़ी धूप निकले, कपड़े सूखने हैं। I hope some sunshine comes out tomorrow, the clothes need to dry.

(mujhe ummiid hai ki kal thodii dhoop nikle, kapde sookhne hain।)

बादलों की वजह से आज धूप कम रही। Because of the clouds, there was less sunshine today.

(baadlon kii vajah se aaj dhoop kam rahii।)

पहाड़ों की सुबह की धूप में एक अलग ही ताज़गी होती है। There is a distinct freshness in the morning sunshine of the mountains.

(pahaadon kii subah kii dhoop men ek alag hii taazgii hotii hai।)

इस कमरे में धूप बिल्कुल नहीं आती। Sunshine doesn't come into this room at all.

(is kamre men dhoop bilkul nahiin aatii।)

पौधों को रोज़ थोड़ी धूप दी जाती है। The plants are given a little sunshine every day.

(paudhon ko roz thodii dhoop dii jaatii hai।)

Sense 2 : incense, aromatic resin/smoke burned in worship

noun, feminine Refers to resinous incense burned on coals or embers, distinct from अगरबत्ती (agarbattii) which is stick incense; often used in the phrase धूप-दीप (dhoop-diip, 'incense and lamp') describing ritual worship items.

Synonyms: अगरबत्ती (agarbattii, stick incense, distinct item)

Frequency: medium

Cultural Note: The smell of धूप (dhoop) burning during the evening आरती (aartii) is one of the most familiar sensory memories of an Indian household -- it's the same word as sunshine because both fill a space with warmth, one felt and one smelled.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes confuse this with अगरबत्ती (agarbattii); धूप (dhoop) in this sense usually refers to loose resin or a dhoop-cone/stick burned during पूजा (poojaa), not the common incense stick sold everywhere.

Sample Sentences:

शाम को माँ धूप जलाती है। In the evening, mother lights incense.

(shaam ko maan dhoop jalaatii hai।)

पूरा घर धूप की खुशबू से भर गया। The whole house filled with the fragrance of incense.

(pooraa ghar dhoop kii khushboo se bhar gayaa।)

आरती के वक़्त धूप जलाओ। Light the incense at the time of the aarti.

(aartii ke vaqt dhoop jalaao।)

मंदिर में धूप और अगरबत्ती दोनों जलाई जा रही थीं। Both incense and incense sticks were being lit in the temple.

(mandir men dhoop aur agarbattii donon jalaaii jaa rahii thiin।)

अगर घर में धूप जलाई जाए तो माहौल पवित्र लगता है। If incense is lit in the house, the atmosphere feels sacred.

(agar ghar men dhoop jalaaii jaae to maahaul pavitr lagtaa hai।)

पुजारी जी धूप की धुनी से पूरे कमरे को शुद्ध कर रहे थे। The priest was purifying the whole room with the smoke of incense.

(pujaarii jii dhoop kii dhunii se poore kamre ko shuddh kar rahe the।)

दादी हर पूजा से पहले धूप-दीप जलाती थीं। Grandmother used to light incense and a lamp before every puja.

(daadii har poojaa se pahle dhoop-diip jalaatii thiin।)

काश हमारे पास भी वैसी असली चंदन की धूप होती। If only we too had that kind of real sandalwood incense.

(kaash hamaare paas bhii vaisii aslii chandan kii dhoop hotii।)

धूप की सुगंध से यह जगह पवित्र और शांत हो जाती है। The fragrance of incense makes this place sacred and peaceful.

(dhoop kii sugandh se yah jagah pavitr aur shaant ho jaatii hai।)

हे प्रभु, यह धूप स्वीकार करो। O Lord, accept this incense offering.

(he prabhu, yah dhoop sviikaar karo।)

Morphology

Noun

(sg.f.direct): धूप (dhoop)

(sg.f.oblique): धूप (dhoop)

(pl.f.direct): धूपें (dhoopen)

(pl.f.oblique): धूपों (dhoopon)