वेतन (vetan)

noun A formal, single-sense word meaning 'salary/wages' -- the term you see on payslips and in official/HR contexts rather than casual chat.
Sense 1 : salary, wages
noun, masculine
Synonyms: तनख्वाह (tanakhvaah, everyday word), सैलरी (sailrii, colloquial), मेहनताना (mehantaanaa, wages for labor/effort)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will meet वेतन (vetan) constantly on payslips, in HR emails, and in news about government pay scales (वेतन आयोग vetan aayog, 'Pay Commission'), but around the chai stall or at home, people almost always say तनख्वाह (tanakhvaah) instead. Knowing both lets you read official documents while still sounding natural when talking to friends.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for वेतन (vetan) in casual speech, but everyday conversation about pay almost always uses तनख्वाह (tanakhvaah) or सैलरी (sailrii); वेतन (vetan) sounds like it belongs on an office notice or a government form. 2) वेतन (vetan) is used with मिलना (milnaa, 'to be received') or देना (denaa, 'to give/pay'), not with कमाना (kamaanaa) in the sense of 'draw a salary' -- कमाना is used more for earning money in general.
Sample Sentences:
इस कंपनी में वेतन हर महीने की पहली तारीख को मिलता है। In this company, the salary is given on the first date of every month.
(is kampnii men vetan har mahiine kii pahlii taariikh ko miltaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
सरकार ने नए वेतन आयोग की सिफारिशें लागू कर दी हैं। The government has implemented the new Pay Commission's recommendations.
(sarkaar ne nae vetan aayog kii siphaarishen laagoo kar dii hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
क्या आपका वेतन समय पर जमा हो जाता है? Does your salary get deposited on time?
(kyaa aapkaa vetan samay par jamaa ho jaataa hai?)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
कृपया अपने वेतन प्रमाण पत्र की एक प्रति संलग्न करें। Please attach a copy of your salary certificate.
(kripyaa apne vetan pramaan patr kii ek prati sanlagn karen।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
अगर वेतन समय पर मिलता तो मैं यह नौकरी नहीं छोड़ता। If the salary had come on time, I would not have left this job.
(agar vetan samay par miltaa to main yah naukrii nahiin chhodtaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
मानव संसाधन विभाग वेतन संबंधी सभी शिकायतों का समाधान करेगा। The HR department will resolve all salary-related complaints.
(maanav sansaadhan vibhaag vetan sambandhii sabhii shikaayton kaa samaadhaan karegaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
पिछले साल कर्मचारियों का वेतन बढ़ाया गया था। Last year, the employees' salary was increased.
(pichhle saal karmchaariyon kaa vetan badhaayaa gayaa thaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
मुझे उम्मीद है कि इस बार वेतन में अच्छी बढ़ोतरी हो। I hope that there is a good increase in salary this time.
(mujhe ummiid hai ki is baar vetan men achchhii badhotrii ho।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
बैंक कर्मचारियों का वार्षिक वेतन पुनरीक्षण अगले महीने होने वाला है। The annual salary revision for bank employees is about to happen next month.
(baink karmchaariyon kaa vaarshik vetan punriikshan agle mahiine hone vaalaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): वेतन (vetan)
(sg.m.oblique): वेतन (vetan)
(pl.m.direct): वेतन (vetan)
(pl.m.oblique): वेतनों (vetnon)