व्यंग्य (vyangy)
noun
A literary/rhetorical noun meaning sarcasm, satire, or an ironic taunt -- used both for the literary genre (satire writing) and for a barbed remark in everyday speech.
Sense
1
:
sarcasm / taunt in speech
noun, masculine Often used with कसना (kasnaa, 'to aim/direct') as व्यंग्य कसना (vyangy kasnaa, 'to make a sarcastic remark') or with मारना (maarnaa) in casual speech.
Synonyms: ताना (taanaa), फब्ती (phabtii, less common), चुटकी (chutkii, lighter, playful jab)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Delhi families and friend circles love a good व्यंग्य (vyangy) -- someone says something dripping with irony at the dinner table, and everyone appreciates the wit even as they wince a little. It carries a flavor of 'I'm too clever/polite to say this directly, so I'll say it sideways.'
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for सारकैज़्म (saarkaizm) borrowed from English, but व्यंग्य (vyangy) is the natural word educated Hindi speakers use -- it doesn't feel bookish in speech the way it might look on paper. 2) व्यंग्य (vyangy) implies a somewhat clever, pointed barb, not casual teasing -- for light-hearted banter, मज़ाक (mazaak) fits better.
Sample Sentences:
उसने ऐसे व्यंग्य से कहा कि सब हँस पड़े।
He said it with such sarcasm that everyone burst out laughing.
(usne aise vyangy se kahaa ki sab hans pade।)
मम्मी अक्सर पापा के देर से आने पर व्यंग्य करती हैं।
Mom often makes sarcastic remarks about dad coming home late.
(mammii aksar paapaa ke der se aane par vyangy kartii hain।)
वह मेरी नौकरी पर व्यंग्य कस रहा था।
He was taking a sarcastic jab at my job.
(vah merii naukrii par vyangy kas rahaa thaa।)
कृपया मुझ पर व्यंग्य मत कसिए, मैं गंभीर हूँ।
Please don't take sarcastic jabs at me, I'm being serious.
(kripyaa mujh par vyangy mat kasie, main gambhiir hoon।)
अगर वह इतना व्यंग्य न करता, तो लोग उसकी बात ज़्यादा गंभीरता से लेते।
If he didn't make so many sarcastic remarks, people would take him more seriously.
(agar vah itnaa vyangy n kartaa, to log uskii baat zyaadaa gambhiirtaa se lete।)
उसकी हर बात में हल्का सा व्यंग्य छिपा होता है।
There's a light touch of sarcasm hidden in everything he says.
(uskii har baat men halkaa saa vyangy chhipaa hotaa hai।)
डिनर टेबल पर उसका व्यंग्य सुनकर सब मुस्कुरा दिए, पर अंदर से थोड़ा चुभ भी गया।
Hearing his sarcastic remark at the dinner table, everyone smiled, but it stung a little too.
(dinar tebal par uskaa vyangy sunkar sab muskuraa die, par andar se thodaa chubh bhii gayaa।)
शायद वह जानबूझकर व्यंग्य कर रही हो, ताकि बात घुमा-फिराकर कह सके।
Maybe she's being sarcastic on purpose, so she can say the thing without saying it directly.
(shaayad vah jaanboojhkar vyangy kar rahii ho, taaki baat ghumaa-phiraakar kah sake।)
बॉस की मीटिंग में उसका व्यंग्य सबको समझ में आ गया, पर किसी ने कुछ नहीं कहा।
Everyone caught his sarcasm in the boss's meeting, but no one said anything.
(bos kii miiting men uskaa vyangy sabko samajh men aa gayaa, par kisii ne kuchh nahiin kahaa।)
उसके बयान में व्यंग्य साफ महसूस किया जा सकता था।
The sarcasm in his statement could clearly be felt.
(uske bayaan men vyangy saaph mahsoos kiyaa jaa saktaa thaa।)
उसकी आँखों में व्यंग्य की चमक थी, जैसे कह रही हो, "बहुत खूब!"
There was a glint of sarcasm in her eyes, as if she were saying, "Well done!"
(uskii aankhon men vyangy kii chamak thii, jaise kah rahii ho, "bahut khoob!")
Sense
2
:
satire (literary genre)
noun, masculine Used for the genre in writing/journalism, as in व्यंग्य लेखक (vyangy lekhak, 'satirist/satire writer') or व्यंग्य लिखना (vyangy likhnaa, 'to write satire').
Synonyms: व्यंग्य-रचना (vyangy-rachnaa, specifically 'a satirical piece')
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: Hindi has a strong tradition of व्यंग्य (vyangy) as a newspaper column genre -- witty, socially critical short pieces that comment on politics and daily life, a bit like an op-ed with a smirk. Writers like Harishankar Parsai are closely associated with this form.
Sample Sentences:
हरिशंकर परसाई हिंदी व्यंग्य के सबसे बड़े लेखकों में गिने जाते हैं।
Harishankar Parsai is counted among the greatest writers of Hindi satire.
(harishankar parsaaii hindii vyangy ke sabse bade lekhkon men gine jaate hain।)
अखबार में हर रविवार एक व्यंग्य छपता है जिसे लोग बड़े चाव से पढ़ते हैं।
A satire column is published in the newspaper every Sunday, which people read with great relish.
(akhbaar men har ravivaar ek vyangy chhaptaa hai jise log bade chaav se padhte hain।)
उस व्यंग्य में नेताओं के खोखले वादों पर करारा प्रहार किया गया था।
In that satire, a sharp attack was made on the politicians' hollow promises.
(us vyangy men netaaon ke khokhle vaadon par karaaraa prahaar kiyaa gayaa thaa।)
क्या तुमने उसका नया व्यंग्य पढ़ा जो कल छपा था?
Did you read his new satire piece that was published yesterday?
(kyaa tumne uskaa nayaa vyangy padhaa jo kal chhapaa thaa?)
यह व्यंग्य समाज की पाखंडी नैतिकता पर लिखा गया है।
This satire has been written on society's hypocritical morality.
(yah vyangy samaaj kii paakhandii naitiktaa par likhaa gayaa hai।)
काश मैं भी उनकी तरह इतना पैना व्यंग्य लिख पाता।
If only I could also write such incisive satire like him.
(kaash main bhii unkii tarah itnaa painaa vyangy likh paataa।)
अगर वह व्यंग्य लिखता तो शायद ज्यादा असरदार होता।
If he had written it as satire, it would perhaps have been more effective.
(agar vah vyangy likhtaa to shaayad jyaadaa asardaar hotaa।)
इस व्यंग्य को पढ़कर लगता है मानो लेखक ने पूरे तंत्र की पोल खोल दी हो।
Reading this satire, it feels as if the writer has exposed the entire system.
(is vyangy ko padhkar lagtaa hai maano lekhak ne poore tantr kii pol khol dii ho।)
उसका व्यंग्य पढ़ते-पढ़ते मुझे हँसी भी आ रही थी और सोच भी लगी थी।
While reading his satire, I was both laughing and getting lost in thought.
(uskaa vyangy padhte-padhte mujhe hansii bhii aa rahii thii aur soch bhii lagii thii।)
व्यंग्य लिखते समय भाषा की धार पर विशेष ध्यान दीजिए।
While writing satire, pay special attention to the sharpness of the language.
(vyangy likhte samay bhaashaa kii dhaar par vishesh dhyaan diijie।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
व्यंग्य
(vyangy)
(sg.m.oblique):
व्यंग्य
(vyangy)
(pl.m.direct):
व्यंग्य
(vyangy)
(pl.m.oblique):
व्यंग्यों
(vyangyon)