सुबह (subah)
noun/adverb
A single core meaning -- 'morning' -- functioning as both a noun and a time adverb ('in the morning'); the two uses share the same word without any change in form.
Sense
1
:
morning (the time of day)
noun, feminine
Synonyms: प्रातः (praatah, literary), भोर (bhor, early dawn)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: सुबह (subah) is one of the first time-words every learner picks up, right alongside शाम (shaam, evening) and रात (raat, night). In Delhi households you will constantly hear सुबह की चाय (subah kii chaay, 'morning tea') as its own little ritual, almost a fixed phrase -- the morning cup that starts the day before anything else happens.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often add a postposition where none is needed: सुबह को (subah ko) is heard but plain सुबह (subah) alone already means 'in the morning' when used adverbially, so की (kii)/को (ko) is optional and often dropped in casual speech. 2) Don't confuse with सवेरा (saveraa), which is a near-synonym but leans slightly more toward 'the early part of the day' as an event/moment rather than the general noun.
Sample Sentences:
मुझे सुबह जल्दी उठना पसंद है।
I like getting up early in the morning.
(mujhe subah jaldii uthnaa pasand hai।)
आज सुबह बहुत ठंडी थी।
This morning was very cold.
(aaj subah bahut thandii thii।)
सुबह की चाय के बिना उसका दिन शुरू ही नहीं होता।
Without his morning tea, his day just doesn't start.
(subah kii chaay ke binaa uskaa din shuroo hii nahiin hotaa।)
अगर सुबह न होती, तो पंछी कभी न गाते।
If morning did not exist, the birds would never sing.
(agar subah n hotii, to panchhii kabhii n gaate।)
सुबह देखते ही मन खिल उठा।
The moment I saw the morning, my heart brightened.
(subah dekhte hii man khil uthaa।)
कृपया सुबह होने से पहले रिपोर्ट भेज दीजिए।
Please send the report before morning arrives.
(kripyaa subah hone se pahle riport bhej diijie।)
सुबह अभी शुरू ही हुई है और वह पहले से थका हुआ लग रहा है।
The morning has only just begun, and he already looks tired.
(subah abhii shuroo hii huii hai aur vah pahle se thakaa huaa lag rahaa hai।)
सुबह होते ही मंदिर की घंटियाँ बज उठती हैं।
As soon as morning arrives, the temple bells start ringing.
(subah hote hii mandir kii ghantiyaan baj uthtii hain।)
काश ऐसी सुबह हर दिन आए।
I wish such a morning came every day.
(kaash aisii subah har din aae।)
सुबह का सारा कामकाज नौकर द्वारा निपटा दिया जाता है।
All the morning chores are taken care of by the servant.
(subah kaa saaraa kaamkaaj naukar dvaaraa niptaa diyaa jaataa hai।)
सुबह देखेंगे, अभी सो जाओ।
We'll see in the morning, go to sleep now.
(subah dekhenge, abhii so jaao।)
Sense
2
:
in the morning
adverb Used adverbially without any postposition: सुबह मिलते हैं (subah milte hain, 'let's meet in the morning') -- the bare noun form does the adverbial job directly.
Synonyms: सवेरे (savere), प्रातः (praatah, literary)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This adverbial use is everywhere in daily planning talk: सुबह जल्दी उठना (subah jaldii uthnaa, 'to get up early in the morning') is practically a national conversation topic, especially among parents urging kids (or themselves) to be more disciplined.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes insert में (men) as if 'in the morning' needs a locative marker the way English does, producing सुबह में (subah men); this is understood but sounds slightly off compared to the natural bare सुबह (subah).
Sample Sentences:
मैं सुबह जल्दी उठता हूँ।
I get up early in the morning.
(main subah jaldii uthtaa hoon।)
कल सुबह मुझे स्टेशन जाना है।
Tomorrow morning I have to go to the station.
(kal subah mujhe steshan jaanaa hai।)
सुबह जल्दी उठा करो, बेटा।
Get up early in the morning, son.
(subah jaldii uthaa karo, betaa।)
अगर वह सुबह जल्दी उठता, तो ट्रेन नहीं छूटती।
If he had gotten up early in the morning, he wouldn't have missed the train.
(agar vah subah jaldii uthtaa, to tren nahiin chhoottii।)
सुबह मैं टहलने जा रहा था कि बारिश शुरू हो गई।
I was going for a walk in the morning when it started raining.
(subah main tahalne jaa rahaa thaa ki baarish shuroo ho gaii।)
उसने सुबह ही सारा काम खत्म कर लिया।
She finished all the work in the morning itself.
(usne subah hii saaraa kaam khatm kar liyaa।)
मैं चाहता हूँ कि तुम सुबह जल्दी उठा करो।
I want you to get up early in the morning.
(main chaahtaa hoon ki tum subah jaldii uthaa karo।)
सुबह की सभी मिठाइयाँ ग्राहकों को बेच दी गईं।
All of the morning's sweets were sold to customers.
(subah kii sabhii mithaaiyaan graahkon ko bech dii gaiin।)
सुबह उठकर सबसे पहले वह पूजा करती है।
Getting up in the morning, she does prayers first thing.
(subah uthkar sabse pahle vah poojaa kartii hai।)
कृपया सुबह दस बजे तक रिपोर्ट जमा कर दें।
Please submit the report by ten in the morning.
(kripyaa subah das baje tak riport jamaa kar den।)
शायद वह सुबह ही निकल जाए।
Maybe he'll leave in the morning itself.
(shaayad vah subah hii nikal jaae।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
सुबह
(subah)
(sg.f.oblique):
सुबह
(subah)
(pl.f.direct):
सुबहें
(subahen)
(pl.f.oblique):
सुबहों
(subahon)