पुल (pul)
noun
A concrete noun meaning 'bridge,' used both for physical structures and, less commonly, in figurative extensions like connecting people or ideas.
Sense
1
:
bridge (physical structure)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: सेतु (setu, formal/literary)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: In Delhi-NCR, पुल (pul) shows up constantly in traffic talk -- रेलवे पुल (relve pul, 'railway bridge/overpass') and पुल के नीचे (pul ke niiche, 'under the bridge') are common landmarks people use when giving directions, much like Americans might say 'past the overpass.'
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes reach for सेतु (setu) in everyday speech because it looks textbook-familiar, but पुल (pul) is what you will actually hear when someone gives directions or talks about traffic, like पुल पार करना (pul paar karnaa, 'to cross the bridge').
Sample Sentences:
यह पुल यमुना के ऊपर बना है।
This bridge is built over the Yamuna.
(yah pul yamunaa ke oopar banaa hai।)
पुल के नीचे बहुत सारे रिक्शे खड़े रहते हैं।
Lots of rickshaws are usually parked under the bridge.
(pul ke niiche bahut saare rikshe khade rahte hain।)
सीधे जाकर रेलवे पुल के नीचे से मुड़ जाना।
Go straight and turn from under the railway bridge.
(siidhe jaakar relve pul ke niiche se mud jaanaa।)
बारिश में पुल का एक हिस्सा टूट गया।
A part of the bridge broke during the rain.
(baarish men pul kaa ek hissaa toot gayaa।)
नया पुल अगले साल तक बन जाएगा।
The new bridge will be completed by next year.
(nayaa pul agle saal tak ban jaaegaa।)
पुल इतना पुराना है कि उसकी मरम्मत होनी चाहिए।
The bridge is so old that it should be repaired.
(pul itnaa puraanaa hai ki uskii marammat honii chaahie।)
अगर सरकार पहले ध्यान देती, तो पुल इतना जल्दी न गिरता।
If the government had paid attention earlier, the bridge would not have collapsed so soon.
(agar sarkaar pahle dhyaan detii, to pul itnaa jaldii n girtaa।)
इस समय पुल पर बहुत ट्रैफिक जमा हो रहा है।
Right now a lot of traffic is building up on the bridge.
(is samay pul par bahut traiphik jamaa ho rahaa hai।)
पुल का उद्घाटन मुख्यमंत्री द्वारा किया गया।
The bridge was inaugurated by the Chief Minister.
(pul kaa udghaatan mukhymantrii dvaaraa kiyaa gayaa।)
पुल पर एक आदमी अकेला खड़ा है।
A man is standing alone on the bridge.
(pul par ek aadmii akelaa khadaa hai।)
काश यहाँ भी नदी पर एक पुल होता।
I wish there were a bridge over the river here too.
(kaash yahaan bhii nadii par ek pul hotaa।)
Sense
2
:
bridge (figurative: connection between people, ideas, or groups)
noun, masculine Used in phrases like पुल बनना (pul bannaa, 'to become a bridge/link') or पुल का काम करना (pul kaa kaam karnaa, 'to serve as a link'), describing a person or thing that connects two sides.
Synonyms: कड़ी (kadii, connecting link)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will hear this in speeches or news commentary -- someone might be called दोनों देशों के बीच पुल (donon deshon ke biich pul, 'a bridge between the two countries'), the same metaphor English uses, so it transfers easily for learners.
Sample Sentences:
यह संगठन दोनों समुदायों के बीच पुल का काम करता है।
This organization works as a bridge between the two communities.
(yah sangthan donon samudaayon ke biich pul kaa kaam kartaa hai।)
वह अपने आप को दोनों पीढ़ियों के बीच पुल मानती है।
She considers herself a bridge between the two generations.
(vah apne aap ko donon piidhiyon ke biich pul maantii hai।)
प्रधानमंत्री ने इस समझौते को दोनों देशों के बीच पुल बताया।
The prime minister called this agreement a bridge between the two countries.
(pradhaanmantrii ne is samjhaute ko donon deshon ke biich pul bataayaa।)
हमें भाषा और संस्कृति के बीच एक पुल बनाना चाहिए।
We should build a bridge between language and culture.
(hamen bhaashaa aur sanskriti ke biich ek pul banaanaa chaahie।)
अगर बातचीत होती, तो शायद कोई पुल बन पाता।
If there had been dialogue, perhaps some bridge could have been built.
(agar baatchiit hotii, to shaayad koii pul ban paataa।)
कला और विज्ञान के बीच एक अनोखा पुल बनाया जा रहा है।
A unique bridge is being built between art and science.
(kalaa aur vigyaan ke biich ek anokhaa pul banaayaa jaa rahaa hai।)
इस किताब को दोनों सभ्यताओं के बीच पुल कहा जाता है।
This book is called a bridge between the two civilizations.
(is kitaab ko donon sabhytaaon ke biich pul kahaa jaataa hai।)
बनो एक पुल, न कि दीवार, अपने पड़ोसियों के लिए।
Be a bridge, not a wall, for your neighbors.
(bano ek pul, n ki diivaar, apne padosiyon ke lie।)
उम्मीद है कि यह नई नीति दोनों वर्गों के बीच पुल बनेगी।
It is hoped that this new policy will become a bridge between the two classes.
(ummiid hai ki yah naii niiti donon vargon ke biich pul banegii।)
उसकी कविताएँ पुरानी और नई पीढ़ी के बीच पुल का काम करती रही हैं।
His poems have been serving as a bridge between the old and new generations.
(uskii kavitaaen puraanii aur naii piidhii ke biich pul kaa kaam kartii rahii hain।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
पुल
(pul)
(sg.m.oblique):
पुल
(pul)
(pl.m.direct):
पुल
(pul)
(pl.m.oblique):
पुलों
(pulon)