सफ़ाई (safaaii)
noun
Covers the literal sense of cleanliness/cleaning as well as the extended sense of 'clearing oneself' -- giving an explanation or defense. Both senses share the same root idea of 'making clean/clear.'
Sense
1
:
cleanliness, cleaning
noun, feminine
Synonyms: स्वच्छता (svachchhtaa, formal)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: In Delhi-NCR, सफ़ाई (safaaii) is a very everyday word -- you'll hear it from the सफ़ाई वाला (safaaii vaalaa, 'cleaning person/garbage collector') at your door, in society WhatsApp groups organizing सफ़ाई अभियान (safaaii abhiyaan, 'cleanliness drive'), and famously as part of the national सफ़ाई अभियान (safaaii abhiyaan) campaigns. It carries a slightly moral weight too -- cleanliness as a value, not just a chore.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often say घर की सफ़ाई करना (ghar kii safaaii karnaa, 'to clean the house') but forget सफ़ाई (safaaii) itself is the noun -- the verb needed alongside it is करना (karnaa), not होना (honaa), when someone is actively doing the cleaning; सफ़ाई होना (safaaii honaa) is used when describing the state/event of cleaning happening, e.g. by a service.
Sample Sentences:
मैं हर इतवार को घर की सफ़ाई करता हूँ।
I clean the house every Sunday.
(main har itvaar ko ghar kii safaaii kartaa hoon।)
सफ़ाई वाला सुबह-सुबह कूड़ा लेने आता है।
The cleaning person comes early in the morning to collect the garbage.
(safaaii vaalaa subah-subah koodaa lene aataa hai।)
सोसाइटी वालों ने अगले हफ़्ते सफ़ाई अभियान चलाने का फ़ैसला किया है।
The society members have decided to run a cleanliness drive next week.
(sosaaitii vaalon ne agle hafte safaaii abhiyaan chalaane kaa faislaa kiyaa hai।)
कमरे की सफ़ाई करो, मेहमान आने वाले हैं।
Clean the room, guests are about to come.
(kamre kii safaaii karo, mehmaan aane vaale hain।)
अगर हम सब मिलकर सफ़ाई रखें तो मोहल्ला कितना अच्छा दिखे।
If we all maintain cleanliness together, how good the neighborhood would look.
(agar ham sab milkar safaaii rakhen to mohallaa kitnaa achchhaa dikhe।)
अगर सरकार सफ़ाई पर ध्यान देती तो शहर इतना गंदा न होता।
If the government paid attention to cleanliness, the city wouldn't be so dirty.
(agar sarkaar safaaii par dhyaan detii to shahar itnaa gandaa n hotaa।)
पूरे मोहल्ले की सफ़ाई नगर निगम द्वारा की जाती है।
The cleaning of the whole neighborhood is done by the municipal corporation.
(poore mohalle kii safaaii nagar nigam dvaaraa kii jaatii hai।)
दिवाली से पहले पूरे घर की सफ़ाई हो रही है।
The cleaning of the whole house is happening before Diwali.
(divaalii se pahle poore ghar kii safaaii ho rahii hai।)
सफ़ाई सिर्फ़ शरीर की नहीं, मन की भी ज़रूरी है।
Cleanliness is necessary not just of the body, but of the mind too.
(safaaii sirf shariir kii nahiin, man kii bhii zaroorii hai।)
स्वच्छ भारत अभियान के तहत हर शहर में सफ़ाई पर ज़ोर दिया गया।
Under the Swachh Bharat campaign, emphasis was placed on cleanliness in every city.
(svachchh bhaarat abhiyaan ke tahat har shahar men safaaii par zor diyaa gayaa।)
क्या आप कल तक रसोई की सफ़ाई कर लेंगे?
Will you get the kitchen cleaning done by tomorrow?
(kyaa aap kal tak rasoii kii safaaii kar lenge?)
Sense
2
:
explanation, justification, defense (of oneself)
noun, feminine Common in the fixed expression सफ़ाई देना (safaaii denaa, 'to give an explanation/defend oneself').
Synonyms: स्पष्टीकरण (spashtiikran, formal)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This is the word you'd use when someone's caught red-handed or under suspicion and has to explain themselves -- a kid explaining why they're late, or a politician facing questions. उसने अपनी सफ़ाई दी (usne apnii safaaii dii, 'he gave his defense/explanation') has a slightly defensive, on-the-back-foot flavor that English 'explanation' doesn't always carry.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes translate 'explanation' with सफ़ाई (safaaii) in neutral contexts (like explaining a math problem), but this sense is specifically about defending or justifying oneself after being blamed or suspected -- for a neutral explanation, समझाना (samjhaanaa) or स्पष्टीकरण (spashtiikran) fits better.
Sample Sentences:
उसने अपनी सफ़ाई दी।
He gave his explanation (in his defense).
(usne apnii safaaii dii।)
देर से आने की सफ़ाई दो, वरना बॉस बहुत नाराज़ होगा।
Explain why you're late, or the boss will be very angry.
(der se aane kii safaaii do, varnaa bos bahut naaraaz hogaa।)
मंत्री जी संसद में अपनी सफ़ाई पेश कर रहे हैं।
The minister is presenting his defense in Parliament.
(mantrii jii sansad men apnii safaaii pesh kar rahe hain।)
अगर उसके पास कोई सफ़ाई होती, तो वह ज़रूर देता।
If he had had any explanation, he would surely have given it.
(agar uske paas koii safaaii hotii, to vah zaroor detaa।)
पुलिस ने पूछा तो उसकी सफ़ाई सुनकर सब हँस पड़े।
When the police asked, everyone burst out laughing on hearing his explanation.
(pulis ne poochhaa to uskii safaaii sunkar sab hans pade।)
क्या तुम्हारे पास इसकी कोई सफ़ाई है?
Do you have any explanation for this?
(kyaa tumhaare paas iskii koii safaaii hai?)
आरोपी को अदालत में अपनी सफ़ाई देने का मौका दिया जाएगा।
The accused will be given a chance to present his defense in court.
(aaropii ko adaalat men apnii safaaii dene kaa maukaa diyaa jaaegaa।)
बिना पूछे ही वह सफ़ाई देने लगा, जिससे शक और बढ़ गया।
He started giving explanations without even being asked, which only increased suspicion.
(binaa poochhe hii vah safaaii dene lagaa, jisse shak aur badh gayaa।)
शायद उसे कोई सफ़ाई देनी पड़े।
He might have to give some explanation.
(shaayad use koii safaaii denii pade।)
सफ़ाई देने की बजाय माफ़ी माँग लो, बात यहीं खत्म हो जाएगी।
Instead of giving excuses, just apologize -- the matter will end right there.
(safaaii dene kii bajaay maafii maang lo, baat yahiin khatm ho jaaegii।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
सफ़ाई
(safaaii)
(sg.f.oblique):
सफ़ाई
(safaaii)
(pl.f.direct):
सफ़ाईएँ
(safaaiien)
(pl.f.oblique):
सफ़ाईओं
(safaaiion)