मलबा (malbaa)

noun A single, concrete sense: the physical debris left after something collapses or is demolished, used both literally and as an emotional metaphor for what remains after a disaster.
Sense 1 : rubble, debris, wreckage
noun, masculine
Synonyms: कचरा (kachraa, garbage/rubbish, broader scope), खंडहर (khandahar, ruins, refers to the structure not the loose material), ढेर (dher, heap, only if physical mound is meant)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You'll hear मलबा (malbaa) constantly in news reports about building collapses, earthquakes, or demolitions in Delhi -- सारा मलबा हटा दिया गया (saaraa malbaa hataa diyaa gayaa, 'all the debris was removed') is a classic news-anchor line. It also works metaphorically: टूटे हुए रिश्ते का मलबा (toote hue rishte kaa malbaa, 'the wreckage of a broken relationship') -- Hindi speakers extend the image of physical rubble to emotional aftermath quite naturally.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes reach for कचरा (kachraa) when they mean मलबा (malbaa) -- कचरा (kachraa) is everyday trash/garbage, while मलबा (malbaa) specifically means the broken remains of a building, wall, or structure after collapse or demolition. 2) मलबा (malbaa) is used even for a single collapsed wall or small pile, not just large-scale disaster wreckage -- learners often reserve it mentally for earthquake-level scenes only.
Sample Sentences:
इमारत गिरने के बाद हर तरफ मलबा फैला था। After the building collapsed, debris was scattered everywhere.
(imaarat girne ke baad har taraph malbaa phailaa thaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
सारा मलबा हटा दिया गया है। All the debris has been removed.
(saaraa malbaa hataa diyaa gayaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
मजदूर कल से मलबा साफ कर रहे हैं। The workers have been clearing the debris since yesterday.
(majdoor kal se malbaa saaph kar rahe hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
भूकंप के बाद पूरा शहर मलबे के ढेर में बदल जाता है। After an earthquake, the whole city turns into a heap of rubble.
(bhookamp ke baad pooraa shahar malbe ke dher men badal jaataa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
मलबा हटाओ, वरना रास्ता बंद रहेगा। Clear the debris, or the road will stay blocked.
(malbaa hataao, varnaa raastaa band rahegaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
अगर समय पर मलबा हटाया जाता तो और लोग बच सकते थे। If the debris had been cleared in time, more people could have been saved.
(agar samay par malbaa hataayaa jaataa to aur log bach sakte the।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Passive
उम्मीद है कि जल्दी ही सारा मलबा साफ कर दिया जाएगा। It is hoped that all the debris will soon be cleared away.
(ummiid hai ki jaldii hii saaraa malbaa saaph kar diyaa jaaegaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Passive
टूटे हुए रिश्ते का मलबा वह सालों तक ढोता रहा। He kept carrying the wreckage of the broken relationship for years.
(toote hue rishte kaa malbaa vah saalon tak dhotaa rahaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
क्रेन से मलबा उठाया जा रहा है। The debris is being lifted with a crane.
(kren se malbaa uthaayaa jaa rahaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
क्या तुमने मलबे के नीचे कुछ देखा? Did you see anything under the debris?
(kyaa tumne malbe ke niiche kuchh dekhaa?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): मलबा (malbaa)
(sg.m.oblique): मलबे (malbe)
(pl.m.direct): मलबे (malbe)
(pl.m.oblique): मलबों (malbon)