बसेरा (baseraa)

noun A cozy, somewhat poetic word for a place to roost or settle for the night -- most often heard in the fixed phrase बसेरा करना (baseraa karnaa) 'to make a nest/lodging.'
Sense 1 : a night's lodging or resting place; a roost/nest
noun, masculine
Synonyms: ठिकाना (thikaanaa), आश्रय (aashray, formal), घर (ghar, meaning scope: home in general)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This word conjures the image of birds returning to their nests at dusk -- शाम को पंछी अपने बसेरे को लौट आते हैं (shaam ko panchhii apne basere ko laut aate hain, 'in the evening the birds return to their roost') is a classic sentence type. It gets extended metaphorically to people finding a temporary or humble place to stay, often with a gentle, wistful tone -- think of a migrant worker or traveler settling down for the night.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes use घर (ghar) where बसेरा (baseraa) is meant -- बसेरा (baseraa) carries a temporary or settling-in nuance (like birds nesting for the night), not a permanent home. 2) The common verb pairing is बसेरा करना (baseraa karnaa, 'to make one's roost/lodging') -- learners may reach for रहना (rahnaa) instead, which sounds flatter and misses the poetic image.
Sample Sentences:
शाम को पंछी अपने बसेरे को लौट आते हैं। In the evening the birds return to their roost.
(shaam ko panchhii apne basere ko laut aate hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
रात होते ही चिड़िया अपना बसेरा ढूँढने लगी। As soon as night fell, the bird began looking for her roost.
(raat hote hii chidiyaa apnaa baseraa dhoondhne lagii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
मजदूर ने पुल के नीचे रात का बसेरा बनाया था। The laborer had made a night shelter under the bridge.
(majdoor ne pul ke niiche raat kaa baseraa banaayaa thaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
इस पेड़ पर कई सालों से कबूतरों का बसेरा है। This tree has been the roost of pigeons for many years.
(is ped par kaii saalon se kabootron kaa baseraa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
काश हमें भी कोई सुरक्षित बसेरा मिल जाता। If only we too could find some safe resting place.
(kaash hamen bhii koii surakshit baseraa mil jaataa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Perfective -- Voice: Active
थके हुए यात्री ने गाँव की धर्मशाला में बसेरा लिया। The weary traveler took shelter for the night at the village rest house.
(thake hue yaatrii ne gaanv kii dharmshaalaa men baseraa liyaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अगर बारिश तेज़ हुई तो हमें यहीं बसेरा करना पड़ेगा। If the rain gets heavy, we will have to take shelter for the night right here.
(agar baarish tez huii to hamen yahiin baseraa karnaa padegaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
बेघरों के लिए शहर में एक अस्थायी बसेरा बनाया गया है। A temporary night shelter has been built in the city for the homeless.
(beghron ke lie shahar men ek asthaayii baseraa banaayaa gayaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
अपना बसेरा छोड़कर कहीं दूर मत जाओ। Do not leave your roost and go far away somewhere.
(apnaa baseraa chhodkar kahiin door mat jaao।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
इस भटकती जान को कब कोई अपना बसेरा मिलेगा? When will this wandering soul finally find a resting place of its own?
(is bhataktii jaan ko kab koii apnaa baseraa milegaa?)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): बसेरा (baseraa)
(sg.m.oblique): बसेरे (basere)
(pl.m.direct): बसेरे (basere)
(pl.m.oblique): बसेरों (baseron)