मनुष्य (manushy)

noun A somewhat formal/literary word for 'human being, man (as a species)' -- used when speaking of humanity or human nature in general, distinct from the everyday word आदमी (aadmii) for 'man/person' in daily conversation.
Sense 1 : human being, man (as a species)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: इंसान (insaan), आदमी (aadmii), मानव (maanav, formal/literary)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You'll meet मनुष्य (manushy) most often in school essays, proverbs, and moral or philosophical statements -- lines like मनुष्य एक सामाजिक प्राणी है (manushy ek saamaajik praanii hai, 'man is a social animal') have that classroom-essay ring to them. For daily talk about people, reach for आदमी (aadmii) or इंसान (insaan) instead; save मनुष्य (manushy) for when you want to sound reflective or formal.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for मनुष्य (manushy) in everyday conversation where a native speaker would say आदमी (aadmii) or इंसान (insaan) instead; मनुष्य (manushy) sounds bookish or philosophical in casual speech, more at home in essays, moral science class, or a discussion about human nature than in chit-chat about a person on the street. 2) Unlike आदमी (aadmii), which strongly implies 'male,' मनुष्य (manushy) is gender-neutral and refers to any human being, man or woman -- a subtlety learners miss because they map it directly onto 'man.'
Sample Sentences:
मनुष्य एक सामाजिक प्राणी है। Man is a social animal.
(manushy ek saamaajik praanii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
मनुष्य का स्वभाव सुख की खोज करना है। It is human nature to seek happiness.
(manushy kaa svabhaav sukh kii khoj karnaa hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
प्राचीन काल में मनुष्य जंगलों में रहता था। In ancient times, human beings lived in forests.
(praachiin kaal men manushy janglon men rahtaa thaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
यदि मनुष्य प्रकृति का सम्मान करे, तो पृथ्वी सुरक्षित रहेगी। If human beings respect nature, the earth will remain safe.
(yadi manushy prakriti kaa sammaan kare, to prithvii surakshit rahegii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
मनुष्य को अपने कर्मों के लिए जिम्मेदार होना चाहिए। Human beings should be responsible for their actions.
(manushy ko apne karmon ke lie jimmedaar honaa chaahie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
मनुष्य जाति का इतिहास संघर्षों से भरा हुआ है। The history of the human race is full of struggles.
(manushy jaati kaa itihaas sangharshon se bharaa huaa hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
क्या मनुष्य कभी पूर्ण रूप से तर्कसंगत हो सकता है? Can a human being ever be fully rational?
(kyaa manushy kabhii poorn roop se tarksangat ho saktaa hai?)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
यदि मनुष्य होता, तो शायद देवता भी उसकी गलतियों को समझते। If he had been human, perhaps even the gods would have understood his mistakes.
(yadi manushy hotaa, to shaayad devtaa bhii uskii galtiyon ko samajhte।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
इस निबंध में मनुष्य के अस्तित्व पर गहराई से विचार किया गया है। In this essay, the existence of human beings has been considered in depth.
(is nibandh men manushy ke astitv par gahraaii se vichaar kiyaa gayaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
मनुष्य बनो, केवल शरीर से नहीं, आत्मा से भी। Be human, not just in body, but in spirit too.
(manushy bano, keval shariir se nahiin, aatmaa se bhii।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): मनुष्य (manushy)
(sg.m.oblique): मनुष्य (manushy)
(pl.m.direct): मनुष्य (manushy)
(pl.m.oblique): मनुष्यों (manushyon)