मिसाल (misaal)

noun A single-sense noun meaning 'example' or 'instance' in the sense of a precedent or illustration used to prove a point -- not the classroom sense of 'example' like an exercise problem.
Sense 1 : example, instance (used to illustrate or prove a point)
noun, feminine
Synonyms: उदाहरण (udaahran), नज़ीर (naziir, literary/formal)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You will hear मिसाल (misaal) constantly in speeches, news reports, and moral pep talks -- someone's courage or sacrifice is called एक मिसाल (ek misaal, 'an example/model') for others to follow. The common taunt अपनी मिसाल आप हैं (apnii misaal aap hain, 'is an example unto themselves') is used both sincerely (praise) and sarcastically (mock-praise for someone's unique foolishness) -- tone alone tells you which.
Common Mistakes: 1) मिसाल (misaal) is not used for a worked-out textbook 'example' (a math problem, a grammar illustration) -- उदाहरण (udaahran) is the safer default there, while मिसाल (misaal) leans toward a real-life instance held up as proof or a model to follow. 2) The common phrase is मिसाल देना (misaal denaa, 'to give an example') or मिसाल कायम करना (misaal kaayam karnaa, 'to set a precedent/example') -- learners sometimes reach for बनाना (banaanaa) instead of कायम करना (kaayam karnaa) or क़ायम करना (qaayam karnaa) in the second phrase, which sounds off.
Sample Sentences:
गांधी जी हमारे लिए एक मिसाल हैं। Gandhi ji is an example for us.
(gaandhii jii hamaare lie ek misaal hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
वह अपनी मिसाल आप है। He is an example unto himself.
(vah apnii misaal aap hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
भाई, तुम तो अपनी मिसाल आप हो -- कोई और ऐसी गलती नहीं कर सकता। Bro, you really are an example unto yourself -- no one else could make such a mistake.
(bhaaii, tum to apnii misaal aap ho -- koii aur aisii galtii nahiin kar saktaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उसने अपनी मेहनत से एक मिसाल कायम की। He set an example through his hard work.
(usne apnii mehnat se ek misaal kaayam kii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
क्या तुम मुझे कोई मिसाल दे सकते हो? Can you give me an example?
(kyaa tum mujhe koii misaal de sakte ho?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
इतिहास में ऐसी मिसालें कम ही मिलती हैं। Examples like this are rarely found in history.
(itihaas men aisii misaalen kam hii miltii hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
काश मैं भी अपने काम से ऐसी मिसाल कायम कर पाता। If only I could also set such an example through my work.
(kaash main bhii apne kaam se aisii misaal kaayam kar paataa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
आने वाली पीढ़ियों के लिए एक अच्छी मिसाल छोड़ो। Leave behind a good example for the coming generations.
(aane vaalii piidhiyon ke lie ek achchhii misaal chhodo।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
उनकी बहादुरी की मिसाल पूरे शहर में दी जाती है। His bravery is cited as an example throughout the city.
(unkii bahaadurii kii misaal poore shahar men dii jaatii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
शायद यह घटना भविष्य के लिए एक मिसाल बने। Perhaps this incident will become an example for the future.
(shaayad yah ghatnaa bhavishy ke lie ek misaal bane।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
उसकी ईमानदारी की मिसाल आज भी लोग देते हैं। People still cite his honesty as an example even today.
(uskii iimaandaarii kii misaal aaj bhii log dete hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): मिसाल (misaal)
(sg.f.oblique): मिसाल (misaal)
(pl.f.direct): मिसालें (misaalen)
(pl.f.oblique): मिसालों (misaalon)