निवास (nivaas)

noun A formal/written word for 'residence' or 'dwelling'; it also appears in the common verb phrase निवास करना (nivaas karnaa, 'to reside') and in the postal/administrative term निवास स्थान (nivaas sthaan, 'place of residence').
Sense 1 : residence, dwelling place
noun, masculine
Synonyms: घर (ghar), मकान (makaan), आवास (aavaas, formal), वास (vaas, literary)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will see this word most on government forms and ID documents next to fields like स्थायी निवास (sthaayii nivaas, 'permanent residence'), which is why it feels bureaucratic rather than warm -- for the cozy, everyday sense of 'home,' घर (ghar) is what people actually say at the dinner table.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for निवास (nivaas) in casual speech where घर (ghar) is what a native speaker would actually say; निवास (nivaas) shows up mainly on forms, addresses, and in formal writing/speech. 2) The verb pairing is निवास करना (nivaas karnaa), not निवास होना (nivaas honaa), when you mean 'to reside' as an action.
Sample Sentences:
कृपया फॉर्म में अपने स्थायी निवास का पता लिखें। Please write the address of your permanent residence in the form.
(kripyaa phorm men apne sthaayii nivaas kaa pataa likhen।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
यह भवन राज्यपाल का आधिकारिक निवास है। This building is the governor's official residence.
(yah bhavan raajypaal kaa aadhikaarik nivaas hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
आवेदन के साथ निवास प्रमाण पत्र संलग्न करना अनिवार्य है। It is mandatory to attach a residence proof certificate with the application।
(aavedan ke saath nivaas pramaan patr sanlagn karnaa anivaary hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उन्होंने पिछले साल अपना निवास दिल्ली से बदलकर मुंबई कर लिया था। He had changed his residence from Delhi to Mumbai last year.
(unhonne pichhle saal apnaa nivaas dillii se badalkar mumbaii kar liyaa thaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
यदि आपका निवास इस क्षेत्र में नहीं है, तो आप इस योजना के लिए पात्र नहीं होंगे। If your residence is not in this area, you will not be eligible for this scheme.
(yadi aapkaa nivaas is kshetr men nahiin hai, to aap is yojnaa ke lie paatr nahiin honge।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
निवास स्थान बदलने पर मतदाता सूची में नाम अपडेट करवाना पड़ता है। When one's place of residence changes, one has to get the name updated in the voter list.
(nivaas sthaan badalne par matdaataa soochii men naam apdet karvaanaa padtaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
क्या आपके पास निवास का कोई वैध प्रमाण है? Do you have any valid proof of residence?
(kyaa aapke paas nivaas kaa koii vaidh pramaan hai?)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
इस दस्तावेज़ में उनका वर्तमान निवास दर्ज नहीं किया गया है। Their current residence has not been recorded in this document.
(is dastaavez men unkaa vartmaan nivaas darj nahiin kiyaa gayaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
अगर मुझे नौकरी के लिए दूसरे शहर में निवास बनाना पड़ता, तो मैं अपने माता-पिता को भी साथ ले जाता। If I had to make my residence in another city for the job, I would have taken my parents along too.
(agar mujhe naukrii ke lie doosre shahar men nivaas banaanaa padtaa, to main apne maataa-pitaa ko bhii saath le jaataa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): निवास (nivaas)
(sg.m.oblique): निवास (nivaas)
(pl.m.direct): निवास (nivaas)
(pl.m.oblique): निवासों (nivaason)