घोंसला (ghonslaa)
noun
A concrete noun meaning 'nest' (of a bird or, by extension, small animal), with a natural figurative extension to a cozy or sheltered home. One core sense, used both literally and metaphorically.
Sense
1
:
bird's nest
noun, masculine
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will hear this word constantly in children's rhymes and school textbooks -- चिड़िया का घोंसला (chidiyaa kaa ghonslaa, 'the bird's nest') is a classic phrase kids learn early, often paired with a lesson about the bird flying off in the morning and returning at dusk, a common motif for teaching daily routine vocabulary.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes try to use घर (ghar) for 'nest' since it also means 'home' -- but घर (ghar) is reserved for human dwellings, while घोंसला (ghonslaa) is specifically the structure a bird (or small creature) builds to live and lay eggs in.
Sample Sentences:
चिड़िया ने पेड़ पर घोंसला बनाया।
The bird built a nest on the tree.
(chidiyaa ne ped par ghonslaa banaayaa।)
घोंसले में तीन छोटे-छोटे अंडे थे।
There were three little eggs in the nest.
(ghonsle men tiin chhote-chhote ande the।)
सुबह चिड़िया घोंसले से उड़ जाती है और शाम को लौट आती है।
In the morning the bird flies away from the nest, and in the evening it comes back.
(subah chidiyaa ghonsle se ud jaatii hai aur shaam ko laut aatii hai।)
देखो, वह चिड़िया घोंसला बना रही है।
Look, that bird is building a nest.
(dekho, vah chidiyaa ghonslaa banaa rahii hai।)
बच्चों, इस चित्र में चिड़िया का घोंसला ढूँढो।
Children, find the bird's nest in this picture.
(bachchon, is chitr men chidiyaa kaa ghonslaa dhoondho।)
अगर तूफान न आता तो घोंसला नहीं टूटता।
If the storm hadn't come, the nest wouldn't have broken.
(agar toophaan n aataa to ghonslaa nahiin toottaa।)
पेड़ काटते समय मज़दूरों को एक घोंसला मिला।
While cutting the tree, the workers found a nest.
(ped kaatte samay mazdooron ko ek ghonslaa milaa।)
घोंसला ऊँची शाखा पर बना हुआ है, ताकि बिल्ली न पहुँच सके।
The nest is built on a high branch, so that the cat can't reach it.
(ghonslaa oonchii shaakhaa par banaa huaa hai, taaki billii n pahunch sake।)
स्कूल की किताब में लिखा है कि गौरैया छोटी टहनियों से घोंसला बनाती है।
It's written in the school textbook that the sparrow builds its nest from small twigs.
(skool kii kitaab men likhaa hai ki gauraiyaa chhotii tahniyon se ghonslaa banaatii hai।)
अगले साल इस बगीचे में और घोंसले बनाए जाएंगे, ऐसी उम्मीद है।
It is hoped that more nests will be built in this garden next year.
(agle saal is bagiiche men aur ghonsle banaae jaaenge, aisii ummiid hai।)
Sense
2
:
cozy/sheltered home (figurative)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: आशियाना (aashiyaanaa, literary), घर (ghar)
Frequency: low
Cultural Note: Just like in English 'nest egg' or 'empty nest,' Hindi speakers extend घोंसला (ghonslaa) to a warm, protected home base -- you might hear a parent describe raising children as बनाना अपना घोंसला (apnaa ghonslaa banaanaa, 'building one's own nest'), carrying the same tender, protective feeling as the English idiom.
Sample Sentences:
उन्होंने बरसों की मेहनत से यह छोटा-सा घोंसला बनाया है।
They have built this little nest of a home through years of hard work.
(unhonne barson kii mehnat se yah chhotaa-saa ghonslaa banaayaa hai।)
शादी के बाद दोनों ने मिलकर अपना घोंसला बसाया।
After marriage, the two of them together set up their own nest.
(shaadii ke baad donon ne milkar apnaa ghonslaa basaayaa।)
बच्चे बड़े होकर अपना घोंसला बनाने चले जाते हैं, और घर सूना पड़ जाता है।
The children grow up and go off to build their own nests, and the house becomes empty.
(bachche bade hokar apnaa ghonslaa banaane chale jaate hain, aur ghar soonaa pad jaataa hai।)
अगर उसे थोड़ा और वक्त मिलता, तो वह अपने सपनों का घोंसला जरूर सजाता।
If he had gotten a little more time, he would surely have decorated the nest of his dreams.
(agar use thodaa aur vakt miltaa, to vah apne sapnon kaa ghonslaa jaroor sajaataa।)
यह अपार्टमेंट छोटा जरूर है, पर हमारे लिए एक आरामदायक घोंसला है।
This apartment is small, sure, but for us it's a cozy little nest.
(yah apaartment chhotaa jaroor hai, par hamaare lie ek aaraamdaayak ghonslaa hai।)
काश हम भी कहीं अपना घोंसला बना पाते।
I wish we too could build our own nest somewhere.
(kaash ham bhii kahiin apnaa ghonslaa banaa paate।)
रिटायरमेंट के बाद वे एक शांत पहाड़ी शहर में अपना घोंसला बनाएंगे।
After retirement, they will build their nest in a quiet hill town.
(ritaayarment ke baad ve ek shaant pahaadii shahar men apnaa ghonslaa banaaenge।)
इस घर की हर दीवार में उनके प्रेम से बुना हुआ घोंसला बसता है।
In every wall of this house dwells a nest woven from their love.
(is ghar kii har diivaar men unke prem se bunaa huaa ghonslaa bastaa hai।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
घोंसला
(ghonslaa)
(sg.m.oblique):
घोंसले
(ghonsle)
(pl.m.direct):
घोंसले
(ghonsle)
(pl.m.oblique):
घोंसलों
(ghonslon)