सर्वनाम (sarvnaam)

noun A grammar term meaning 'pronoun' -- literally 'all-name' (सर्व (sarv, all) + नाम (naam, name)), i.e. a word that can stand in for any noun. This word has one main sense; you'll meet it mostly in grammar discussions rather than casual chat.
Sense 1 : pronoun (grammatical term)
noun, masculine
Frequency: low
Cultural Note: You will meet this word mainly in the classroom or in a grammar book, when a teacher explains that words like मैं (main, I), तुम (tum, you), or वह (vah, he/she/it) are सर्वनाम (sarvnaam) -- they stand in for a noun instead of naming it directly. It is a useful word to know if you ever discuss Hindi grammar with a teacher or tutor, but it will not come up in casual bazaar chat.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes confuse सर्वनाम (sarvnaam) with संज्ञा (sangyaa, 'noun') since both are basic grammar terms taught together -- remember सर्वनाम (sarvnaam) replaces a noun, it doesn't name a thing directly. 2) This word is not used in everyday conversation to mean 'name' or 'identity' -- it is strictly the grammatical term, unlike नाम (naam) alone which is used constantly in daily speech.
Sample Sentences:
मैं, तुम और वह -- ये सब सर्वनाम हैं। I, you, and he/she/it -- these are all pronouns.
(main, tum aur vah -- ye sab sarvnaam hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
शिक्षिका ने बताया कि सर्वनाम संज्ञा के स्थान पर आता है। The teacher explained that a pronoun takes the place of a noun.
(shikshikaa ne bataayaa ki sarvnaam sangyaa ke sthaan par aataa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
क्या तुम इस वाक्य में सर्वनाम पहचान सकते हो? Can you identify the pronoun in this sentence?
(kyaa tum is vaaky men sarvnaam pahchaan sakte ho?)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
इस वाक्य में सर्वनाम को रेखांकित करो। Underline the pronoun in this sentence.
(is vaaky men sarvnaam ko rekhaankit karo।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
व्याकरण की किताब में सर्वनाम के कई प्रकार बताए गए हैं। Several types of pronouns are described in the grammar book.
(vyaakran kii kitaab men sarvnaam ke kaii prakaar bataae gae hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
अगर तुम सर्वनाम और संज्ञा में फ़र्क़ समझ लेते, तो यह प्रश्न आसान लगता। If you had understood the difference between a pronoun and a noun, this question would have seemed easy.
(agar tum sarvnaam aur sangyaa men farq samajh lete, to yah prashn aasaan lagtaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Perfective -- Voice: Active
शायद अगली परीक्षा में सर्वनाम पर एक सवाल पूछा जाए। Perhaps a question on pronouns will be asked in the next exam.
(shaayad aglii pariikshaa men sarvnaam par ek savaal poochhaa jaae।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Passive
सर्वनाम का प्रयोग वाक्य को दोहराव से बचाता है। The use of a pronoun saves the sentence from repetition.
(sarvnaam kaa prayog vaaky ko dohraav se bachaataa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
ट्यूटर ने कहा, "पहले यह सीखो कि सर्वनाम किसे कहते हैं।" The tutor said, "First learn what a pronoun is called."
(tyootar ne kahaa, "pahle yah siikho ki sarvnaam kise kahte hain।")
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): सर्वनाम (sarvnaam)
(sg.m.oblique): सर्वनाम (sarvnaam)
(pl.m.direct): सर्वनाम (sarvnaam)
(pl.m.oblique): सर्वनामों (sarvnaamon)