भालू (bhaaloo)

noun A common noun meaning 'bear' (the animal), used both literally and, occasionally, as an affectionate or teasing nickname for a big, hairy, or clumsy person.

Sense 1 : bear (the animal)

noun, masculine

Frequency: high

Cultural Note: Sloth bears (bhaaloo) were historically associated with madaari (bear-handler) street performances in India, a practice now banned; older folks may still reference 'भालू का नाच' (bhaaloo kaa naach, 'the bear's dance') when talking about old-time street entertainment.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes forget भालू (bhaaloo) is masculine even when referring to a female bear -- gender agreement stays masculine unless a specific feminine form like भालूनी (bhaaloonii) is used, which is rare in everyday speech.

Sample Sentences:

चिड़ियाघर में बच्चों ने भालू को देखा। The children saw a bear at the zoo.

(chidiyaaghar men bachchon ne bhaaloo ko dekhaa।)

भालू जंगल में शहद खोजता रहता है। The bear keeps searching for honey in the forest.

(bhaaloo jangal men shahad khojtaa rahtaa hai।)

पहाड़ों में इस मौसम में भालू दिखाई दे सकते हैं। Bears can be seen in the mountains this season.

(pahaadon men is mausam men bhaaloo dikhaaii de sakte hain।)

अगर जंगल कट न गए होते तो भालू शहरों में न आते। If the forests hadn't been cut down, bears wouldn't be coming into the cities.

(agar jangal kat n gae hote to bhaaloo shahron men n aate।)

दादाजी बताते थे कि गाँव में मदारी भालू का नाच दिखाया करते थे। Grandfather used to say that bear-handlers used to show the bear's dance in the village.

(daadaajii bataate the ki gaanv men madaarii bhaaloo kaa naach dikhaayaa karte the।)

भालू पेड़ के नीचे बैठा है। The bear is sitting under the tree.

(bhaaloo ped ke niiche baithaa hai।)

भालू का शिकार कई जगहों पर कानूनन मना है। Hunting bears is legally prohibited in many places.

(bhaaloo kaa shikaar kaii jagahon par kaanoonan manaa hai।)

अरे, वहाँ मत जाओ, भालू आ सकता है! Hey, don't go there, a bear might come!

(are, vahaan mat jaao, bhaaloo aa saktaa hai!)

जंगल में भालू का शिकार किया जा रहा था, जब वन विभाग पहुँचा। A bear was being hunted in the forest when the forest department arrived.

(jangal men bhaaloo kaa shikaar kiyaa jaa rahaa thaa, jab van vibhaag pahunchaa।)

काश हमें असली भालू पास से देखने को मिलता। I wish we could see a real bear up close.

(kaash hamen aslii bhaaloo paas se dekhne ko miltaa।)

अगली सुबह भालू फिर से गाँव के पास आएगा। The bear will come near the village again next morning.

(aglii subah bhaaloo phir se gaanv ke paas aaegaa।)

Sense 2 : big, hairy, or clumsy person (affectionate/teasing)

noun, masculine Used informally as a term of endearment or teasing, often toward a physically large, hairy, or lovably clumsy man.

Frequency: medium

Cultural Note: Calling someone भालू (bhaaloo) affectionately -- like calling a big cuddly guy a 'teddy bear' in English -- is common banter among friends or between couples in casual Hindi speech, especially in urban settings.

Sample Sentences:

तू तो बिल्कुल भालू लगता है इस स्वेटर में। You totally look like a big bear in this sweater.

(too to bilkul bhaaloo lagtaa hai is svetar men।)

अरे मेरे भालू, इतना उदास क्यों बैठा है? Hey my teddy bear, why are you sitting so sad?

(are mere bhaaloo, itnaa udaas kyon baithaa hai?)

वो इतना बड़ा और गोलमटोल है कि सब उसे भालू बुलाते हैं। He's so big and chubby that everyone calls him a teddy bear.

(vo itnaa badaa aur golamtol hai ki sab use bhaaloo bulaate hain।)

मत बनो इतना भालू, जरा फुर्ती से चलो। Don't act like such a big clumsy bear, move a bit quicker.

(mat bano itnaa bhaaloo, jaraa phurtii se chalo।)

अगर वो जिम जाना शुरू कर देता तो इतना भालू नहीं दिखता। If he had started going to the gym, he wouldn't look like such a big bear.

(agar vo jim jaanaa shuroo kar detaa to itnaa bhaaloo nahiin dikhtaa।)

उसका भालू जैसा हग बहुत प्यारा लगता है। His big bear hug feels really sweet.

(uskaa bhaaloo jaisaa hag bahut pyaaraa lagtaa hai।)

शादी में सब उसे उसके नए सूट में भालू कहकर चिढ़ा रहे थे। At the wedding, everyone was teasing him, calling him a teddy bear in his new suit.

(shaadii men sab use uske nae soot men bhaaloo kahkar chidhaa rahe the।)

क्या तुम मेरे भालू नहीं बन सकते सिर्फ एक दिन के लिए? Can't you be my teddy bear just for one day?

(kyaa tum mere bhaaloo nahiin ban sakte sirph ek din ke lie?)

उसे भालू बुलाया गया क्योंकि वो हमेशा भारी जैकेट पहनता था। He was called 'teddy bear' because he always wore a bulky jacket.

(use bhaaloo bulaayaa gayaa kyonki vo hameshaa bhaarii jaiket pahantaa thaa।)

Morphology

Noun

(sg.m.direct): भालू (bhaaloo)

(sg.m.oblique): भालू (bhaaloo)

(pl.m.direct): भालू (bhaaloo)

(pl.m.oblique): भालूों ([[भालूों]])