साहित्य (saahity)

noun A single-sense literary term meaning 'literature' -- the body of written creative and intellectual work in a language.
Sense 1 : literature (novels, poetry, essays, etc. as a body of work)
noun, masculine
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will see this word everywhere in Indian academic and cultural life: हिंदी साहित्य (hindii saahity, 'Hindi literature') is a standard school and college subject, and साहित्य अकादमी (saahity akaadmii) is India's national academy of letters, which gives out prestigious literary awards. The word carries a slightly formal, respectful weight -- it is what you call the serious stuff (novels, poetry, essays), not casual reading material.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes use साहित्य (saahity) for a single book or piece of writing -- it refers to the whole body/field of literary work, not one text; for 'a piece of writing' or 'a work' use रचना (rachnaa) or कृति (kriti) instead. 2) Do not confuse with साक्षरता (saakshartaa, 'literacy'), which sounds similar but means the ability to read and write, not the art form itself.
Sample Sentences:
मुझे हिंदी साहित्य पढ़ना बहुत पसंद है। I really like reading Hindi literature.
(mujhe hindii saahity padhnaa bahut pasand hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उसने कॉलेज में अंग्रेज़ी साहित्य पढ़ा था। She studied English literature in college.
(usne kolej men angrezii saahity padhaa thaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
इस उपन्यास को साहित्य अकादमी पुरस्कार मिला है। This novel has received the Sahitya Akademi award.
(is upanyaas ko saahity akaadmii puraskaar milaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
प्रेमचंद का साहित्य आज भी उतना ही प्रासंगिक है जितना पहले था। Premchand's literature is as relevant today as it was before.
(premchand kaa saahity aaj bhii utnaa hii praasangik hai jitnaa pahle thaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
क्या तुम भविष्य में साहित्य में शोध करोगे? Will you do research in literature in the future?
(kyaa tum bhavishy men saahity men shodh karoge?)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
अगर उसे मौका मिलता तो वह साहित्य में करियर बनाता। If he had gotten the chance, he would have made a career in literature.
(agar use maukaa miltaa to vah saahity men kariyar banaataa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
साहित्य पढ़ो, इससे तुम्हारी सोच का दायरा बढ़ेगा। Read literature, it will broaden the way you think.
(saahity padho, isse tumhaarii soch kaa daayraa badhegaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
यह उपन्यास हिंदी साहित्य की एक महत्वपूर्ण कृति मानी जाती है। This novel is considered an important work of Hindi literature.
(yah upanyaas hindii saahity kii ek mahatvpoorn kriti maanii jaatii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
शायद वह साहित्य में एम.ए. करना चाहती हो। Perhaps she wants to do an M.A. in literature.
(shaayad vah saahity men em.e. karnaa chaahtii ho।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
साहित्य समाज का दर्पण होता है। Literature is the mirror of society.
(saahity samaaj kaa darpan hotaa hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): साहित्य (saahity)
(sg.m.oblique): साहित्य (saahity)
(pl.m.direct): साहित्य (saahity)
(pl.m.oblique): साहित्यों (saahityon)