अनाथालय (anaathaalay)

noun A compound noun meaning 'orphanage', built from अनाथ (anaath, 'orphan') plus आलय (aalay, 'abode/dwelling'). Single-sense word.
Sense 1 : orphanage
noun, masculine
Synonyms: यतीमखाना (yatiimkhaanaa, colloquial)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You'll see this word on signboards outside charitable institutions and hear it in news reports about child welfare; it's a formal, slightly bookish term. In everyday speech, especially among older Delhi residents, यतीमखाना (yatiimkhaanaa) (from Persian/Urdu यतीम (yatiim, 'orphan') plus खाना (khaanaa, 'house/place')) is common too, though it can sound a touch old-fashioned or informal next to अनाथालय (anaathaalay).
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes try to use अनाथालय (anaathaalay) as an adjective meaning 'orphaned' -- it is only the noun for the institution itself; the person is अनाथ (anaath) or अनाथ बच्चा (anaath bachchaa, 'orphan child').
Sample Sentences:
यह इमारत एक अनाथालय है। This building is an orphanage.
(yah imaarat ek anaathaalay hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
वह हर महीने अनाथालय में दान देती है। She donates to the orphanage every month.
(vah har mahiine anaathaalay men daan detii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उसका बचपन एक अनाथालय में बीता। His childhood passed in an orphanage.
(uskaa bachpan ek anaathaalay men biitaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
शहर के बाहर एक नया अनाथालय बनाया जा रहा है। A new orphanage is being built outside the city.
(shahar ke baahar ek nayaa anaathaalay banaayaa jaa rahaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
अगर सरकार मदद न करती, तो यह अनाथालय बंद हो जाता। If the government hadn't helped, this orphanage would have shut down.
(agar sarkaar madad n kartii, to yah anaathaalay band ho jaataa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Perfective -- Voice: Active
कृपया अनाथालय के बच्चों के लिए कुछ किताबें भेजिए। Please send some books for the orphanage children.
(kripyaa anaathaalay ke bachchon ke lie kuchh kitaaben bhejie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
स्थानीय अनाथालय को हर साल सरकारी अनुदान मिलता है। The local orphanage receives a government grant every year.
(sthaaniiy anaathaalay ko har saal sarkaarii anudaan miltaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
समिति ने प्रस्ताव रखा कि अनाथालय में एक पुस्तकालय भी हो। The committee proposed that there also be a library in the orphanage.
(samiti ne prastaav rakhaa ki anaathaalay men ek pustkaalay bhii ho।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
अनाथालय के निदेशक ने बच्चों की शिक्षा पर विशेष ध्यान दिया। The orphanage's director paid special attention to the children's education.
(anaathaalay ke nideshak ne bachchon kii shikshaa par vishesh dhyaan diyaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): अनाथालय (anaathaalay)
(sg.m.oblique): अनाथालय (anaathaalay)
(pl.m.direct): अनाथालय (anaathaalay)
(pl.m.oblique): अनाथालयों (anaathaalyon)