संभावना (sambhaavnaa)
noun
A noun meaning 'possibility' or 'likelihood' -- covers both the abstract sense of something being possible and the sense of potential/promise in a person or situation.
Sense
1
:
possibility, likelihood (of something happening)
noun, feminine
Synonyms: इमकान (imkaan, formal), गुंजाइश (gunjaaish, leans toward 'room/scope for')
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You'll hear this constantly in weather and news reports -- बारिश की संभावना (baarish kii sambhaavnaa, 'possibility of rain') is practically a fixed phrase on the evening news. It's a slightly formal, Sanskritic-feeling word, so in casual chat people often reach for the simpler chance (chaans, a common English borrowing) instead.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often say संभावना है कि (sambhaavanaa hai ki) when they mean something is likely -- the कि (ki) clause is essential and cannot be dropped the way it sometimes can in English ('there's a chance...'). 2) Don't confuse with संभव (sambhav), the adjective 'possible' -- संभावना (sambhaavnaa) is the noun 'possibility,' so 'यह संभव है' (yah sambhav hai, 'this is possible') versus 'इसकी संभावना है' (iskii sambhaavnaa hai, 'there is a possibility of this').
Sample Sentences:
आज शाम बारिश की संभावना है।
There is a possibility of rain this evening.
(aaj shaam baarish kii sambhaavnaa hai।)
मौसम विभाग ने भारी बारिश की संभावना जताई है।
The weather department has expressed the possibility of heavy rain.
(mausam vibhaag ne bhaarii baarish kii sambhaavnaa jataaii hai।)
इस बात की कोई संभावना नहीं है कि वह समय पर आएगा।
There is no possibility that he will arrive on time.
(is baat kii koii sambhaavnaa nahiin hai ki vah samay par aaegaa।)
क्या इस बात की कोई संभावना है कि हमें छुट्टी मिल जाए?
Is there any possibility that we might get a holiday?
(kyaa is baat kii koii sambhaavnaa hai ki hamen chhuttii mil jaae?)
अगर बादल न होते तो बारिश की संभावना ही न होती।
If there were no clouds, there wouldn't even be a possibility of rain.
(agar baadal n hote to baarish kii sambhaavnaa hii n hotii।)
सरकार इस योजना की संभावनाओं पर विचार कर रही है।
The government is considering the possibilities of this scheme.
(sarkaar is yojnaa kii sambhaavnaaon par vichaar kar rahii hai।)
हर संभावना पर गौर किया जाना चाहिए।
Every possibility should be considered.
(har sambhaavnaa par gaur kiyaa jaanaa chaahie।)
पहले तो यह असंभव लगता था, पर अब सफलता की संभावना बढ़ गई है।
Earlier this seemed impossible, but now the possibility of success has increased.
(pahle to yah asambhav lagtaa thaa, par ab saphaltaa kii sambhaavnaa badh gaii hai।)
विशेषज्ञों के अनुसार, भूकंप की संभावना से इनकार नहीं किया जा सकता।
According to experts, the possibility of an earthquake cannot be denied.
(visheshgyon ke anusaar, bhookamp kii sambhaavnaa se inkaar nahiin kiyaa jaa saktaa।)
जब तक सारे विकल्प सामने न आ जाएं, हर संभावना खुली रहनी चाहिए।
Until all the options come to light, every possibility should remain open.
(jab tak saare vikalp saamne n aa jaaen, har sambhaavnaa khulii rahnii chaahie।)
युद्ध की संभावनाओं ने पूरे इलाके में डर फैला दिया।
The possibilities of war spread fear throughout the region.
(yuddh kii sambhaavnaaon ne poore ilaake men dar phailaa diyaa।)
Sense
2
:
potential, promise (in a person or talent)
noun, feminine Common in the phrase किसी में संभावना होना (kisii men sambhaavnaa honaa, 'to have potential in someone'), often used by teachers, coaches, or talent scouts describing a young person's promise.
Synonyms: क्षमता (kshamtaa, leans toward 'capacity/ability' rather than future promise)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: A cricket coach spotting a raw young player might say, इस लड़के में बहुत संभावना है (is ladke men bahut sambhaavnaa hai, 'this boy has a lot of potential') -- this sense is closely tied to the first, just shifted from events to people.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes reach for क्षमता (kshamtaa) when they mean untapped future promise -- क्षमता (kshamtaa) is more about present capability, while संभावना (sambhaavnaa) in this sense points to what someone could become.
Sample Sentences:
इस लड़के में बहुत संभावना है।
This boy has a lot of potential.
(is ladke men bahut sambhaavnaa hai।)
कोच ने कहा कि उस गेंदबाज़ में गज़ब की संभावना है।
The coach said that bowler has amazing potential.
(koch ne kahaa ki us gendbaaz men gazab kii sambhaavnaa hai।)
उसकी संभावना को पहचानना कोई मुश्किल काम नहीं था।
Recognizing her potential wasn't a difficult task.
(uskii sambhaavnaa ko pahchaannaa koii mushkil kaam nahiin thaa।)
अगर उसे सही मौका मिलता, तो उसकी संभावना और निखर कर सामने आती।
If she had gotten the right opportunity, her potential would have shone through even more.
(agar use sahii maukaa miltaa, to uskii sambhaavnaa aur nikhar kar saamne aatii।)
टीम को ऐसे खिलाड़ी चाहिए जिनमें लंबी रेस की संभावना हो।
The team needs players who have the potential to go the distance.
(tiim ko aise khilaadii chaahie jinmen lambii res kii sambhaavnaa ho।)
उसकी संभावना को यूँ ही बर्बाद मत होने दो।
Don't let her potential go to waste like this.
(uskii sambhaavnaa ko yoon hii barbaad mat hone do।)
हर बच्चे में कोई न कोई संभावना छिपी होती है, बस उसे तराशने वाला चाहिए।
Every child has some potential hidden inside them, they just need someone to shape it.
(har bachche men koii n koii sambhaavnaa chhipii hotii hai, bas use taraashne vaalaa chaahie।)
चयन समिति ने उसकी संभावना को देखते हुए उसे टीम में शामिल किया।
Considering his potential, the selection committee included him in the team.
(chayan samiti ne uskii sambhaavnaa ko dekhte hue use tiim men shaamil kiyaa।)
उसकी असली संभावना अभी सामने आनी बाकी है।
His true potential is yet to come out.
(uskii aslii sambhaavnaa abhii saamne aanii baakii hai।)
क्या तुम्हें लगता है इस लड़की में एक्ट्रेस बनने की संभावना है?
Do you think this girl has the potential to become an actress?
(kyaa tumhen lagtaa hai is ladkii men ektres banne kii sambhaavnaa hai?)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
संभावना
(sambhaavnaa)
(sg.f.oblique):
संभावना
(sambhaavnaa)
(pl.f.direct):
संभावनाएँ
(sambhaavnaaen)
(pl.f.oblique):
संभावनाओं
(sambhaavnaaon)