सबूत (saboot)

noun A single-sense everyday noun meaning 'proof' or 'evidence' -- common in both legal/police contexts and ordinary arguments.
Sense 1 : proof, evidence
noun, masculine
Synonyms: प्रमाण (pramaan, formal), गवाही (gavaahii, testimony/witness-based evidence)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You'll hear सबूत (saboot) constantly in Hindi crime dramas and news reports -- 'सबूत पेश करो' (saboot pesh karo, 'present the evidence') is a courtroom staple. In daily life, it's just as common in domestic arguments: a parent might say 'सबूत है क्या तेरे पास?' (saboot hai kyaa tere paas, 'do you have proof?') when a kid makes an excuse.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for गवाही (gavaahii) when they mean सबूत (saboot) -- गवाही (gavaahii) is specifically testimony or witness statement, while सबूत (saboot) is the broader term for any evidence (documents, fingerprints, CCTV footage, etc.). 2) The common verb pairing is सबूत देना (saboot denaa, 'to give/provide proof') or सबूत मिलना (saboot milnaa, 'proof to be found/obtained') -- मिलना (milnaa) is used because evidence is treated as something that 'is found' or 'comes to hand' rather than something you actively 'get.'
Sample Sentences:
पुलिस के पास कोई सबूत नहीं है। The police have no proof.
(pulis ke paas koii saboot nahiin hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
वकील ने अदालत में सबूत पेश किए। The lawyer presented the evidence in court.
(vakiil ne adaalat men saboot pesh kie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
सबूत पेश करो, वरना मैं कुछ नहीं मानूँगी। Present the evidence, or I won't believe anything.
(saboot pesh karo, varnaa main kuchh nahiin maanoongii।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
सबूत है क्या तेरे पास? Do you have any proof?
(saboot hai kyaa tere paas?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर सबूत मिल जाता तो मुजरिम पहले ही पकड़ा जाता। If the evidence had been found, the culprit would have been caught already.
(agar saboot mil jaataa to mujrim pahle hii pakdaa jaataa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Perfective -- Voice: Passive
जब तक ठोस सबूत नहीं मिलता, केस बंद नहीं होगा। Until solid evidence is found, the case won't be closed.
(jab tak thos saboot nahiin miltaa, kes band nahiin hogaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
जांच अधिकारी सबूत इकट्ठा कर रहे थे जब खबर आई। The investigating officer was gathering evidence when the news came in.
(jaanch adhikaarii saboot ikatthaa kar rahe the jab khabar aaii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
शायद यही सबूत काफी हो उसे दोषी ठहराने के लिए। Perhaps this very evidence might be enough to convict him.
(shaayad yahii saboot kaaphii ho use doshii thahraane ke lie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
सारे सबूत मिटा दिए गए थे। All the evidence had been destroyed.
(saare saboot mitaa die gae the।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
बिना सबूत के तुम किसी पर इल्ज़ाम नहीं लगा सकते। You can't accuse anyone without proof.
(binaa saboot ke tum kisii par ilzaam nahiin lagaa sakte।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर तुम्हारे पास सबूत हो, तो अभी दिखा दो। If you have proof, show it right now.
(agar tumhaare paas saboot ho, to abhii dikhaa do।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): सबूत (saboot)
(sg.m.oblique): सबूत (saboot)
(pl.m.direct): सबूत (saboot)
(pl.m.oblique): सबूतों (sabooton)