राय (raay)

noun A single core sense: an opinion or viewpoint, most often met in the everyday phrase राय देना (raay denaa) 'to give an opinion' and राय लेना (raay lenaa) 'to take/seek an opinion'.
Sense 1 : opinion, view, judgment
noun, feminine
Synonyms: विचार (vichaar), मत (mat, formal), नज़रिया (nazriyaa, viewpoint)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You'll hear राय (raay) constantly in everyday Delhi conversation -- from friends debating politics over chai to a shopkeeper asking आपकी क्या राय है? (aapkii kyaa raay hai?, 'what is your opinion?'). It pairs naturally with देना (denaa), लेना (lenaa), and बनाना (banaanaa, 'to form an opinion'), and sits comfortably in both casual and formal registers, unlike its more formal cousin मत (mat) which shows up in things like referendums (जनमत, janmat, 'public opinion/referendum').
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often say मेरा राय (meraa raay) instead of मेरी राय (merii raay) -- राय (raay) is feminine, so possessives and adjectives agreeing with it must take feminine forms. 2) राय देना (raay denaa) takes the person advised in the को (ko) form: उसे राय दी (use raay dii, 'gave him/her advice'), not पर (par) or से (se).
Sample Sentences:
मुझे इस बारे में तुम्हारी राय जानना है। I want to know your opinion about this.
(mujhe is baare men tumhaarii raay jaannaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
आपकी क्या राय है इस फ़िल्म के बारे में? What is your opinion about this movie?
(aapkii kyaa raay hai is film ke baare men?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उसने बिना सोचे-समझे अपनी राय दे दी। He gave his opinion without thinking it through.
(usne binaa soche-samjhe apnii raay de dii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
कृपया इस प्रस्ताव पर अपनी राय दें। Please give your opinion on this proposal.
(kripyaa is prastaav par apnii raay den।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
मैं हमेशा फैसला लेने से पहले सबकी राय लेता हूँ। I always take everyone's opinion before making a decision.
(main hameshaa phaislaa lene se pahle sabkii raay letaa hoon।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
वह अभी तक इस मुद्दे पर अपनी राय बना रही है। She is still forming her opinion on this issue.
(vah abhii tak is mudde par apnii raay banaa rahii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
काश मैं भी अपनी राय खुलकर दे पाता। I wish I could also give my opinion openly.
(kaash main bhii apnii raay khulkar de paataa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
अगर तुम मुझसे पहले पूछते, तो मैं अपनी राय ज़रूर बताता। If you had asked me earlier, I would surely have told you my opinion.
(agar tum mujhse pahle poochhte, to main apnii raay zaroor bataataa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
समिति की राय है कि योजना में बदलाव ज़रूरी है। The committee's opinion is that changes to the plan are necessary.
(samiti kii raay hai ki yojnaa men badlaav zaroorii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
हो सकता है कि उसकी राय बदल जाए अगर उसे पूरी बात पता चले। It's possible that his opinion might change if he learns the whole story.
(ho saktaa hai ki uskii raay badal jaae agar use poorii baat pataa chale।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
यह राय जनता के बीच खुलकर व्यक्त की गई। This opinion was openly expressed among the public.
(yah raay jantaa ke biich khulkar vyakt kii gaii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): राय (raay)
(sg.f.oblique): राय (raay)
(pl.f.direct): रायें (raayen)
(pl.f.oblique): रायों (raayon)