सभ्यता (sabhytaa)

noun A noun meaning 'civilization' -- either the abstract concept/process of being civilized, or a specific historical civilization (सिन्धु घाटी सभ्यता (sindhu ghaatii sabhytaa, 'the Indus Valley Civilization')). Related to सभ्य (sabhy, 'civilized, polite').

Sense 1 : civilization (a historical/cultural entity)

noun, feminine

Frequency: medium

Cultural Note: This is the word you'll see in school textbooks and museum plaques -- सिन्धु घाटी सभ्यता (sindhu ghaatii sabhytaa, 'Indus Valley Civilization') is probably the single most common phrase students encounter it in. It carries a slightly academic, historical weight, so it shows up more in writing and formal speech than in casual chat.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for संस्कृति (sanskriti) instead -- सभ्यता (sabhytaa) refers to a whole civilization (a people, era, or society viewed historically, like मिस्र की सभ्यता (misr kii sabhytaa, 'Egyptian civilization')), while संस्कृति (sanskriti) refers to culture -- customs, arts, values -- which can belong to a single family or region without being a 'civilization.'

Sample Sentences:

सिन्धु घाटी सभ्यता विश्व की सबसे पुरानी सभ्यताओं में से एक है। The Indus Valley Civilization is one of the oldest civilizations in the world.

(sindhu ghaatii sabhytaa vishv kii sabse puraanii sabhytaaon men se ek hai।)

मिस्र की सभ्यता नील नदी के किनारे विकसित हुई थी। The Egyptian civilization developed along the banks of the Nile river.

(misr kii sabhytaa niil nadii ke kinaare viksit huii thii।)

पुरानी सभ्यताओं के अवशेष आज भी खुदाई में मिलते रहते हैं। Remains of ancient civilizations are still being found in excavations even today.

(puraanii sabhytaaon ke avshesh aaj bhii khudaaii men milte rahte hain।)

इतिहासकार बता रहे हैं कि यह सभ्यता किसी बड़ी बाढ़ की वजह से नष्ट हुई थी। Historians are explaining that this civilization was destroyed because of a major flood.

(itihaaskaar bataa rahe hain ki yah sabhytaa kisii badii baadh kii vajah se nasht huii thii।)

अगर मौसम इतना अनुकूल न होता, तो शायद यह सभ्यता कभी विकसित ही न होती। If the climate had not been so favorable, this civilization might never have developed at all.

(agar mausam itnaa anukool n hotaa, to shaayad yah sabhytaa kabhii viksit hii n hotii।)

बच्चों, कल की कक्षा में हम मेसोपोटामिया की सभ्यता के बारे में पढ़ेंगे। Children, in tomorrow's class we will study about the Mesopotamian civilization.

(bachchon, kal kii kakshaa men ham mesopotaamiyaa kii sabhytaa ke baare men padhenge।)

क्या यह सम्भव है कि माया सभ्यता का पतन जलवायु परिवर्तन के कारण हुआ हो? Is it possible that the decline of the Maya civilization happened due to climate change?

(kyaa yah sambhav hai ki maayaa sabhytaa kaa patan jalvaayu parivartan ke kaaran huaa ho?)

संग्रहालय में प्राचीन सभ्यताओं की कलाकृतियाँ प्रदर्शित की गई हैं। Artifacts of ancient civilizations have been displayed in the museum.

(sangrahaalay men praachiin sabhytaaon kii kalaakritiyaan pradarshit kii gaii hain।)

हर सभ्यता का अपना एक स्वर्ण युग होता है, फिर उसका पतन शुरू हो जाता है। Every civilization has its own golden age, and then its decline begins.

(har sabhytaa kaa apnaa ek svarn yug hotaa hai, phir uskaa patan shuroo ho jaataa hai।)

इस स्मारक-लेख पर लिखा है कि यहाँ किसी प्राचीन सभ्यता का नगर बसा था। This plaque states that a city of some ancient civilization was once settled here.

(is smaarak-lekh par likhaa hai ki yahaan kisii praachiin sabhytaa kaa nagar basaa thaa।)

Sense 2 : civilization, being civilized (abstract quality/process)

noun, feminine

Synonyms: तहज़ीब (tahziib)

Frequency: medium

Cultural Note: You'll hear elders use this in scolding-mode: यह सभ्यता नहीं है (yah sabhytaa nahiin hai, 'this is not civilized behavior') when someone behaves rudely -- it frames good manners as a marker of being 'civilized' rather than just polite, which is a bigger, more moralized claim than English 'manners' usually carries.

Common Mistakes: 1) In this abstract sense सभ्यता (sabhytaa) overlaps with तहज़ीब (tahziib), which leans more toward personal manners and etiquette (especially in Urdu-influenced speech), while सभ्यता (sabhytaa) keeps a broader, almost sociological flavor even when talking about an individual's behavior.

Sample Sentences:

यह सभ्यता नहीं है कि कोई बड़ों के सामने चिल्लाए। It's not civilized behavior to shout in front of elders.

(yah sabhytaa nahiin hai ki koii badon ke saamne chillaae।)

थोड़ी सभ्यता सीखो, ऐसे मुँह पर दरवाज़ा नहीं बंद करते। Learn some manners, you don't slam the door in someone's face like that.

(thodii sabhytaa siikho, aise munh par darvaazaa nahiin band karte।)

उसमें सभ्यता नाम की कोई चीज़ नहीं है। There isn't a shred of civility in him.

(usmen sabhytaa naam kii koii chiiz nahiin hai।)

दादी हमेशा कहती थीं कि सभ्यता घर से सिखाई जाती है। Grandma always used to say that civility is taught at home.

(daadii hameshaa kahtii thiin ki sabhytaa ghar se sikhaaii jaatii hai।)

अगर उसमें ज़रा भी सभ्यता होती, तो वह माफ़ी माँग लेता। If he had had even a bit of civility, he would have apologized.

(agar usmen zaraa bhii sabhytaa hotii, to vah maafii maang letaa।)

समाज में सभ्यता बनाए रखना हर किसी की ज़िम्मेदारी है। Maintaining civility in society is everyone's responsibility.

(samaaj men sabhytaa banaae rakhnaa har kisii kii zimmedaarii hai।)

क्या इसी को तुम सभ्यता कहते हो? Is this what you call being civilized?

(kyaa isii ko tum sabhytaa kahte ho?)

उम्मीद है कि तुम्हें थोड़ी सभ्यता आ जाएगी जब बड़े हो जाओगे। Hopefully you'll pick up some manners once you grow up.

(ummiid hai ki tumhen thodii sabhytaa aa jaaegii jab bade ho jaaoge।)

शिक्षक ने कहा कि अनुशासन ही सभ्यता की पहली शर्त है। The teacher said that discipline is the first requirement of civility.

(shikshak ne kahaa ki anushaasan hii sabhytaa kii pahlii shart hai।)

Morphology

Noun

(sg.f.direct): सभ्यता (sabhytaa)

(sg.f.oblique): सभ्यता (sabhytaa)

(pl.f.direct): सभ्यताएँ (sabhytaaen)

(pl.f.oblique): सभ्यताओं (sabhytaaon)