स्तंभ (stambh)
noun
Primarily a physical 'pillar/column,' extended figuratively to a written 'column' (in a newspaper) and to a 'pillar' figure who supports or upholds something (also spelled स्तम्भ (stambh) with the anusvaar written as the full nasal consonant).
Sense
1
:
pillar, column (physical structure)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: खंभा (khambhaa), खंभा (khambhaa), सतून (satoon, literary)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: Think of the great stone pillars at Qutub Minar or in old temple halls -- स्तंभ (stambh) carries that weight of grandeur and antiquity, unlike the humble खंभा (khambhaa) you'd use for a bus-stop pole or a clothesline post.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for खंभा (khambhaa) in everyday speech about a physical pillar or pole (like a lamppost or electric pole) and save स्तंभ (stambh) for more formal or grand contexts -- a temple pillar, a monument, an ancient column -- rather than an ordinary street pole.
Sample Sentences:
इस मंदिर में बारह स्तंभ हैं।
There are twelve pillars in this temple.
(is mandir men baarah stambh hain।)
कुतुब मीनार के पास वह लोहे का स्तंभ सदियों से खड़ा है।
That iron pillar near Qutub Minar has been standing for centuries.
(kutub miinaar ke paas vah lohe kaa stambh sadiyon se khadaa hai।)
पुराने महल के स्तंभों पर बारीक नक्काशी की गई थी।
Fine carvings had been done on the pillars of the old palace.
(puraane mahal ke stambhon par baariik nakkaashii kii gaii thii।)
भूकंप के बाद इमारत का मुख्य स्तंभ टूट गया।
After the earthquake, the building's main pillar broke.
(bhookamp ke baad imaarat kaa mukhy stambh toot gayaa।)
मज़दूर हर सुबह स्तंभों की मरम्मत करते हैं।
The workers repair the pillars every morning.
(mazdoor har subah stambhon kii marammat karte hain।)
अगर यह स्तंभ इतना मोटा न होता, तो छत कब की गिर गई होती।
If this pillar were not so thick, the roof would have collapsed long ago.
(agar yah stambh itnaa motaa n hotaa, to chhat kab kii gir gaii hotii।)
पुरातत्वविद इन स्तंभों की उम्र का अध्ययन कर रहे हैं।
Archaeologists are studying the age of these pillars.
(puraatatvvid in stambhon kii umr kaa adhyyan kar rahe hain।)
कृपया स्तंभ के पास मत खड़े हों, प्लास्टर गिर सकता है।
Please do not stand near the pillar, the plaster might fall.
(kripyaa stambh ke paas mat khade hon, plaastar gir saktaa hai।)
शायद यह स्तंभ मुगल काल में बनवाया गया हो।
Perhaps this pillar was built during the Mughal era.
(shaayad yah stambh mugal kaal men banvaayaa gayaa ho।)
इस मंडप के स्तंभ संगमरमर से बनाए जाएंगे।
The pillars of this pavilion will be made of marble.
(is mandap ke stambh sangmarmar se banaae jaaenge।)
Sense
2
:
column (in a newspaper or publication)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: कॉलम (kolam, common in casual speech)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: Open any Hindi newspaper and you'll see headings like 'संपादकीय स्तंभ' (sampaadkiiy stambh, 'editorial column') -- this is the standard formal word in print journalism, even though people chatting about the newspaper will often just say कॉलम (kolam).
Sample Sentences:
इस अखबार का संपादकीय स्तंभ बहुत लोकप्रिय है।
This newspaper's editorial column is very popular.
(is akhbaar kaa sampaadkiiy stambh bahut lokapriy hai।)
वे पिछले दस सालों से इस पत्रिका में साप्ताहिक स्तंभ लिखते हैं।
He has been writing a weekly column in this magazine for the past ten years.
(ve pichhle das saalon se is patrikaa men saaptaahik stambh likhte hain।)
आज के अखबार में खेल स्तंभ में क्रिकेट मैच की पूरी रिपोर्ट छपी है।
In today's newspaper, the full report of the cricket match has been printed in the sports column.
(aaj ke akhbaar men khel stambh men kriket maich kii poorii riport chhapii hai।)
संपादक ने उनसे कहा कि वे हर हफ्ते एक नया स्तंभ लिखें।
The editor told him to write a new column every week.
(sampaadak ne unse kahaa ki ve har haphte ek nayaa stambh likhen।)
अगर मुझे मौका मिलता, तो मैं भी इस पत्रिका में अपना स्तंभ शुरू करता।
If I got the chance, I would also start my own column in this magazine.
(agar mujhe maukaa miltaa, to main bhii is patrikaa men apnaa stambh shuroo kartaa।)
इस स्तंभ में हर रविवार को फिल्म समीक्षाएँ छापी जाती हैं।
Film reviews are published in this column every Sunday.
(is stambh men har ravivaar ko philm samiikshaaen chhaapii jaatii hain।)
कृपया अपने विचार पाठकों के स्तंभ में भेजें।
Please send your thoughts to the readers' column.
(kripyaa apne vichaar paathkon ke stambh men bhejen।)
पिछले महीने उनका एक स्तंभ राजनीतिक विवाद का कारण बन गया था।
Last month, one of her columns became the cause of political controversy.
(pichhle mahiine unkaa ek stambh raajniitik vivaad kaa kaaran ban gayaa thaa।)
अखबार के संपादक ने घोषणा की है कि अगले महीने से एक नया स्तंभ शुरू होगा।
The newspaper's editor has announced that a new column will start from next month.
(akhbaar ke sampaadak ne ghoshnaa kii hai ki agle mahiine se ek nayaa stambh shuroo hogaa।)
Sense
3
:
pillar (figurative: a person or thing that supports/upholds)
noun, masculine Used in fixed phrases like देश का स्तंभ (desh kaa stambh, 'pillar of the nation') to praise someone as a foundational support of a family, institution, or country.
Synonyms: आधार (aadhaar, broader sense of 'foundation/basis')
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You'll hear this in speeches and tributes -- calling someone समाज का स्तंभ (samaaj kaa stambh, 'a pillar of society') is a classic bit of Hindi rhetorical praise, putting a person on the same solid footing as the pillars holding up a building.
Sample Sentences:
वे समाज के स्तंभ माने जाते हैं।
He is considered a pillar of society.
(ve samaaj ke stambh maane jaate hain।)
मेरे पिता हमारे परिवार के स्तंभ हैं।
My father is the pillar of our family.
(mere pitaa hamaare parivaar ke stambh hain।)
उनके जाने से पार्टी का एक बड़ा स्तंभ ढह गया।
With his departure, a major pillar of the party collapsed.
(unke jaane se paartii kaa ek badaa stambh dhah gayaa।)
अगर वे इस्तीफा दे दें, तो संगठन अपना सबसे मजबूत स्तंभ खो देगा।
If he resigns, the organization will lose its strongest pillar.
(agar ve istiiphaa de den, to sangthan apnaa sabse majboot stambh kho degaa।)
यह विश्वविद्यालय शिक्षा जगत का एक स्तंभ रहा है।
This university has been a pillar of the world of education.
(yah vishvvidyaalay shikshaa jagat kaa ek stambh rahaa hai।)
काश वे आज हमारे बीच होते, वे इस आंदोलन के स्तंभ थे।
If only he were among us today -- he was a pillar of this movement.
(kaash ve aaj hamaare biich hote, ve is aandolan ke stambh the।)
आप हमेशा इस मंदिर समिति के स्तंभ बने रहें।
May you always remain a pillar of this temple committee.
(aap hameshaa is mandir samiti ke stambh bane rahen।)
उन्हें राष्ट्र का स्तंभ कहा जाता है।
He is called a pillar of the nation.
(unhen raashtr kaa stambh kahaa jaataa hai।)
श्रद्धांजलि सभा में उन्हें समाज का स्तंभ बताया गया।
At the tribute gathering, he was described as a pillar of society.
(shraddhaanjli sabhaa men unhen samaaj kaa stambh bataayaa gayaa।)
बुजुर्गों का सम्मान करो, वे ही घर के असली स्तंभ होते हैं।
Respect your elders -- they are the real pillars of the household.
(bujurgon kaa sammaan karo, ve hii ghar ke aslii stambh hote hain।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
स्तंभ
(stambh)
(sg.m.oblique):
स्तंभ
(stambh)
(pl.m.direct):
स्तंभ
(stambh)
(pl.m.oblique):
स्तंभों
(stambhon)