बालू (baaloo)

noun A common word for sand, used especially for coarse river or construction sand; closely related to रेत (ret), the more general everyday word for sand.
Sense 1 : sand
noun, feminine
Synonyms: रेत (ret)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: If you have ever watched a mason in North India mix cement, you have heard him shout for बालू (baaloo) rather than रेत (ret) -- it is the word of the construction site and the riverbank, carrying a slightly earthier, more workaday feel than its more literary-sounding cousin रेत (ret).
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes treat बालू (baaloo) as interchangeable in every context with रेत (ret); in practice बालू (baaloo) is heard more around construction sites and riverbanks (building sand, masonry sand), while रेत (ret) is the more general, everyday word (e.g. sand on a beach, sand in an hourglass). 2) The gender is feminine throughout the Delhi-NCR region -- learners coming from Bihar/UP dialects where usage can vary should default to feminine agreement here.
Sample Sentences:
मिस्त्री ने कहा, "बालू और सीमेंट ले आओ।" The mason said, "Bring some sand and cement."
(mistrii ne kahaa, "baaloo aur siiment le aao।")
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
ट्रक में बालू भरी हुई थी। The truck was loaded with sand.
(trak men baaloo bharii huii thii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
नदी के किनारे बच्चे बालू में खेल रहे हैं। The children are playing in the sand by the riverbank.
(nadii ke kinaare bachche baaloo men khel rahe hain।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
मजदूर रोज़ नदी से बालू निकालते हैं। The laborers dig sand out of the river every day.
(majdoor roz nadii se baaloo nikaalte hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर बालू गीली न होती, तो दीवार इतनी मज़बूत न बनती। If the sand hadn't been wet, the wall wouldn't have turned out this strong.
(agar baaloo giilii n hotii, to diivaar itnii mazboot n bantii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
पहले ट्रॉली से बालू उतारो, फिर सीमेंट मिलाना। First unload the sand from the cart, then mix in the cement.
(pahle trolii se baaloo utaaro, phir siiment milaanaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
इस साइट पर बालू अवैध खनन से लाई जाती है। The sand for this site is brought from illegal mining.
(is saait par baaloo avaidh khanan se laaii jaatii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
शायद बालू में थोड़ी मिट्टी मिली हुई हो। The sand might have a bit of soil mixed into it.
(shaayad baaloo men thodii mittii milii huii ho।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
गर्मी में बालू इतनी तप जाती है कि नंगे पैर चलना मुश्किल हो जाता है। In summer the sand gets so scorching hot that walking barefoot becomes hard.
(garmii men baaloo itnii tap jaatii hai ki nange pair chalnaa mushkil ho jaataa hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
ठेकेदार ने पूरी बालू नदी से मंगवाई थी। The contractor had gotten all the sand brought from the river.
(thekedaar ne poorii baaloo nadii se mangvaaii thii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): बालू (baaloo)
(sg.f.oblique): बालू (baaloo)
(pl.f.direct): बालूएँ (baalooen)
(pl.f.oblique): बालूओं (baalooon)