विद्यालय (vidyaalay)

noun A formal word for 'school,' built from विद्या (vidyaa, knowledge) and आलय (aalay, abode/place). One clean sense, but see CulturalNote for how it sits alongside स्कूल (skool).
Sense 1 : school (educational institution)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: स्कूल (skool), पाठशाला (paathshaalaa, somewhat literary)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: विद्यालय (vidyaalay) is the word you will see painted on the gate of most Indian schools and used in official or written Hindi, while स्कूल (skool) dominates everyday spoken conversation -- so a learner who only knows स्कूल (skool) will still need विद्यालय (vidyaalay) to read signage and forms. It is a Sanskrit-style compound, and you will meet the same आलय (aalay) piece again in words like पुस्तकालय (pustkaalay, library) and देवालय (devaalay, temple).
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often default to स्कूल (skool) in every context out of habit; विद्यालय (vidyaalay) is the word you will actually see on signboards, in official documents, and in the names of institutions, so recognizing it in writing matters even if you speak with स्कूल (skool). 2) विद्यालय (vidyaalay) is masculine, so possessives and adjectives agreeing with it take the masculine form (e.g. यह विद्यालय (yah vidyaalay), not यह विद्यालय (yah vidyaalyaa) which does not exist).
Sample Sentences:
यह हमारा विद्यालय है। This is our school.
(yah hamaaraa vidyaalay hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
विद्यालय का नाम गेट पर लिखा है। The school's name is written on the gate.
(vidyaalay kaa naam get par likhaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
सभी विद्यार्थी प्रतिदिन विद्यालय जाते हैं। All the students go to school every day.
(sabhii vidyaarthii pratidin vidyaalay jaate hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
पिछले साल विद्यालय में एक नया भवन बनाया गया था। Last year, a new building was constructed at the school.
(pichhle saal vidyaalay men ek nayaa bhavan banaayaa gayaa thaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
कृपया आवेदन पत्र में विद्यालय का पूरा नाम लिखें। Please write the full name of the school on the application form.
(kripyaa aavedan patr men vidyaalay kaa pooraa naam likhen।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
अगले महीने से विद्यालय की छुट्टियाँ शुरू हो जाएँगी। Starting next month, the school holidays will begin.
(agle mahiine se vidyaalay kii chhuttiyaan shuroo ho jaaengii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
अगर विद्यालय समय पर खुलता, तो बच्चे देर से न पहुँचते। If the school opened on time, the children wouldn't arrive late.
(agar vidyaalay samay par khultaa, to bachche der se n pahunchte।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
प्रधानाचार्य चाहते हैं कि विद्यालय में पुस्तकालय भी हो। The principal wants the school to have a library as well.
(pradhaanaachaary chaahte hain ki vidyaalay men pustkaalay bhii ho।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
जिला शिक्षा अधिकारी द्वारा विद्यालय का निरीक्षण किया जा रहा है। The school is being inspected by the district education officer.
(jilaa shikshaa adhikaarii dvaaraa vidyaalay kaa niriikshan kiyaa jaa rahaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
सरकारी विद्यालयों में शिक्षा निःशुल्क प्रदान की जाती है। In government schools, education is provided free of charge.
(sarkaarii vidyaalyon men shikshaa nihshulk pradaan kii jaatii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): विद्यालय (vidyaalay)
(sg.m.oblique): विद्यालय (vidyaalay)
(pl.m.direct): विद्यालय (vidyaalay)
(pl.m.oblique): विद्यालयों (vidyaalyon)