संदेश (sandesh)

noun A formal-leaning noun meaning 'message,' used for anything from a spoken word passed along to a text/SMS or a symbolic message in a speech; also names a Bengali-style milk sweet, a completely separate sense sharing only the spelling.
Sense 1 : message, communication
noun, masculine
Synonyms: पैगाम (paigaam), खबर (khabar, everyday, more like 'news/word'), सूचना (soochnaa, more like 'information/notice')
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You will hear संदेश (sandesh) in phrases like राष्ट्र के नाम संदेश (raashtr ke naam sandesh, 'address to the nation') for a president's or PM's speech, or फिल्म का संदेश (philm kaa sandesh, 'the film's message') when discussing what a movie is trying to say -- it carries a whiff of gravity that मैसेज (maisej) doesn't.
Common Mistakes: 1) संदेश (sandesh) leans slightly formal or written -- for a casual 'did you get my text?' most Delhi speakers say मैसेज (maisej) (from English 'message'), reserving संदेश (sandesh) for something more considered: a note passed on, a message from an elder, or the 'message' of a speech or film. 2) Learners sometimes use it for a phone call itself; it means the content conveyed, not the act of calling.
Sample Sentences:
राष्ट्रपति ने आज रात राष्ट्र के नाम संदेश दिया। The president gave an address to the nation tonight.
(raashtrapti ne aaj raat raashtr ke naam sandesh diyaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
इस फिल्म का संदेश बहुत गहरा है। This film's message is very profound.
(is philm kaa sandesh bahut gahraa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
मुझे उसका संदेश अभी तक नहीं मिला। I still haven't received his message.
(mujhe uskaa sandesh abhii tak nahiin milaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
कृपया यह संदेश सभी कर्मचारियों तक पहुँचा दें। Please make sure this message reaches all the employees.
(kripyaa yah sandesh sabhii karmchaariyon tak pahunchaa den।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
अगर वह समय पर संदेश भेज देता तो हमें इतनी परेशानी न होती। If he had sent the message on time, we wouldn't have had so much trouble.
(agar vah samay par sandesh bhej detaa to hamen itnii pareshaanii n hotii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Perfective -- Voice: Active
यह कहानी बच्चों को एक अच्छा संदेश देती है। This story gives children a good message.
(yah kahaanii bachchon ko ek achchhaa sandesh detii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
मंत्री का संदेश सभी अखबारों में छापा गया। The minister's message was printed in all the newspapers.
(mantrii kaa sandesh sabhii akhbaaron men chhaapaa gayaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
शायद वह अपना संदेश किसी और के ज़रिए भिजवाए। Perhaps he will send his message through someone else.
(shaayad vah apnaa sandesh kisii aur ke zarie bhijvaae।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
गुरुजी का संदेश आज भी लोगों को प्रेरणा देता है। The guru's message still inspires people even today.
(gurujii kaa sandesh aaj bhii logon ko prernaa detaa hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
जब मैंने फोन खोला, तो उसका संदेश आ रहा था। When I opened my phone, his message was coming in.
(jab mainne phon kholaa, to uskaa sandesh aa rahaa thaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
कल प्रधानमंत्री देश को एक ज़रूरी संदेश देंगे। Tomorrow the prime minister will give an important message to the country.
(kal pradhaanmantrii desh ko ek zaroorii sandesh denge।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
Sense 2 : a Bengali milk-based sweet
noun, masculine
Frequency: low
Cultural Note: संदेश (sandesh) the sweet is a Kolkata classic made from fresh paneer-like chhena and sugar, distinct from the syrup-soaked रसगुल्ला (rasgullaa); in Delhi you mostly meet it at Bengali sweet shops like the ones near CR Park, a neighborhood with a large Bengali community.
Common Mistakes: 1) This is an unrelated sense from the 'message' meaning despite identical spelling and pronunciation -- context (a sweet shop, a mention of Bengal or Kolkata) is the only clue, there's no morphological difference.
Sample Sentences:
सीआर पार्क की दुकान का संदेश बहुत मशहूर है। The sandesh from the CR Park shop is very famous.
(siiaar paark kii dukaan kaa sandesh bahut mashahoor hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
क्या तुमने कभी असली बंगाली संदेश खाया है? Have you ever eaten real Bengali sandesh?
(kyaa tumne kabhii aslii bangaalii sandesh khaayaa hai?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
मेरी दादी छेने से घर पर संदेश बनाती थीं। My grandmother used to make sandesh at home from chhena.
(merii daadii chhene se ghar par sandesh banaatii thiin।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
रसगुल्ला रस से भरा होता है, जबकि संदेश सूखा और नरम होता है। Rasgulla is soaked in syrup, whereas sandesh is dry and soft.
(rasgullaa ras se bharaa hotaa hai, jabki sandesh sookhaa aur naram hotaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
कृपया मेरे लिए आधा किलो संदेश पैक कर दीजिए। Please pack half a kilo of sandesh for me.
(kripyaa mere lie aadhaa kilo sandesh paik kar diijie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
अगर दुकान में ताज़ा छेना होता, तो वे और भी बढ़िया संदेश बनाते। If the shop had fresh chhena, they would make even better sandesh.
(agar dukaan men taazaa chhenaa hotaa, to ve aur bhii badhiyaa sandesh banaate।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
त्योहार पर मिठाई की दुकान में तरह-तरह के संदेश सजे हुए थे। On the festival, various kinds of sandesh were arranged in the sweet shop.
(tyohaar par mithaaii kii dukaan men tarah-tarah ke sandesh saje hue the।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
उस दुकान में संदेश केसर डालकर बनाया जाता है। In that shop, the sandesh is made by adding saffron.
(us dukaan men sandesh kesar daalkar banaayaa jaataa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): संदेश (sandesh)
(sg.m.oblique): संदेश (sandesh)
(pl.m.direct): संदेश (sandesh)
(pl.m.oblique): संदेशों (sandeshon)