श्रम (shram)

noun A formal/literary word for 'labor' or 'toil' -- physical or mental exertion; also the base of common compounds like श्रमिक (shramik, laborer) and परिश्रम (parishram, hard work).
Sense 1 : labor, toil, physical/mental effort
noun, masculine
Synonyms: मेहनत (mehnat), परिश्रम (parishram), कोशिश (koshish, effort, narrower sense)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You'll meet this word constantly in official contexts -- news about labor rights, worker's day (श्रमिक दिवस shramik divas), or government ministries -- rather than in a kitchen or classroom conversation. For daily talk about working hard, मेहनत (mehnat) is the word people actually reach for; think of श्रम (shram) as its formal, almost bureaucratic cousin.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for श्रम (shram) in everyday speech where मेहनत (mehnat) is what people actually say; श्रम (shram) shows up more in formal writing, labor law, government schemes, and set phrases like श्रम मंत्रालय (shram mantraalay, 'Ministry of Labor') rather than casual conversation about a hard day's work.
Sample Sentences:
श्रम ही सफलता की कुंजी है। Labor is the key to success.
(shram hii saphaltaa kii kunjii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
सरकार ने श्रम कानूनों में बदलाव किया है। The government has made changes to the labor laws.
(sarkaar ne shram kaanoonon men badlaav kiyaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
हर वर्ष एक मई को श्रमिक दिवस मनाया जाता है, जो श्रम के महत्व को दर्शाता है। Every year on the first of May, Labor Day is celebrated, which reflects the importance of labor.
(har varsh ek maii ko shramik divas manaayaa jaataa hai, jo shram ke mahatv ko darshaataa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
इस परियोजना को पूरा करने में अत्यधिक श्रम की आवश्यकता होगी। Completing this project will require immense labor.
(is pariyojnaa ko pooraa karne men atydhik shram kii aavashyaktaa hogii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
श्रम मंत्रालय ने नई नीति की घोषणा की। The Ministry of Labor announced a new policy.
(shram mantraalay ne naii niiti kii ghoshnaa kii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
यदि उचित श्रम विभाजन होता, तो उत्पादन बेहतर होता। If there had been a proper division of labor, production would have been better.
(yadi uchit shram vibhaajan hotaa, to utpaadan behtar hotaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
उद्योगों में श्रम की गरिमा को बनाए रखा जाना चाहिए। The dignity of labor should be maintained in industries.
(udyogon men shram kii garimaa ko banaae rakhaa jaanaa chaahie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
प्राचीन काल में शारीरिक श्रम को समाज में उच्च सम्मान प्राप्त था। In ancient times, physical labor was held in high esteem in society.
(praachiin kaal men shaariirik shram ko samaaj men uchch sammaan praapt thaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
यह रिपोर्ट श्रम शक्ति के आँकड़ों पर आधारित है। This report is based on labor force statistics.
(yah riport shram shakti ke aankdon par aadhaarit hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
मानसिक श्रम भी शारीरिक श्रम जितना ही थका देने वाला हो सकता है। Mental labor can be just as exhausting as physical labor.
(maansik shram bhii shaariirik shram jitnaa hii thakaa dene vaalaa ho saktaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): श्रम (shram)
(sg.m.oblique): श्रम (shram)
(pl.m.direct): श्रम (shram)
(pl.m.oblique): श्रमों (shramon)