ख़्वाब (khvaab)

noun A Persian-origin word for 'dream,' used both literally (sleep-dreams) and figuratively (aspirations, hopes) -- much like सपना (sapnaa), its everyday Hindi counterpart, but with a more poetic, Urdu-tinged flavor.

Sense 1 : dream (aspiration, hope)

noun, masculine

Synonyms: सपना (sapnaa)

Frequency: high

Cultural Note: You will hear this constantly in Hindi film songs and dialogues -- ख़्वाबों (khvaabon) का शहर (kaa shahar) style phrasing shows up often when talking about Mumbai or big-city ambitions. It sits comfortably in casual conversation too, so do not treat it as reserved for shayari alone.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach only for सपना (sapnaa) and forget ख़्वाब (khvaab) exists as a completely natural, everyday alternative -- it is not obscure or purely poetic, especially in Delhi-NCR speech influenced by Urdu. 2) The verb pairing is ख़्वाब देखना (khvaab dekhnaa, 'to see a dream') for both literal dreaming and having aspirations -- learners sometimes try to use करना (karnaa) instead.

Sample Sentences:

मेरा एक ही ख़्वाब है कि मैं अपना घर खरीदूँ। I have just one dream -- to buy my own house.

(meraa ek hii khvaab hai ki main apnaa ghar khariidoon।)

वह बड़े ख़्वाब देखता है, पर मेहनत नहीं करता। He dreams big dreams, but he doesn't work hard.

(vah bade khvaab dekhtaa hai, par mehnat nahiin kartaa।)

मुंबई को यूँ ही ख़्वाबों का शहर नहीं कहते। Mumbai isn't called the city of dreams for nothing.

(mumbaii ko yoon hii khvaabon kaa shahar nahiin kahte।)

अगर मेहनत करता तो उसका ख़्वाब कब का पूरा हो जाता। If he had worked hard, his dream would have come true long ago.

(agar mehnat kartaa to uskaa khvaab kab kaa pooraa ho jaataa।)

अपने ख़्वाबों को कभी मरने मत दो। Never let your dreams die.

(apne khvaabon ko kabhii marne mat do।)

उसका ख़्वाब था कि एक दिन वह डॉक्टर बने। His dream was that one day he would become a doctor.

(uskaa khvaab thaa ki ek din vah doktar bane।)

बचपन से ही उसका ख़्वाब अभिनेता बनने का था। Ever since childhood, his dream had been to become an actor.

(bachpan se hii uskaa khvaab abhinetaa banne kaa thaa।)

यार, तेरा ख़्वाब क्या है, कभी सोचा है? Dude, what's your dream, have you ever thought about it?

(yaar, teraa khvaab kyaa hai, kabhii sochaa hai?)

उसके ख़्वाब पूरे किए जाएँगे, चाहे कुछ भी हो जाए। His dreams will be fulfilled, whatever happens.

(uske khvaab poore kie jaaenge, chaahe kuchh bhii ho jaae।)

काश मेरा ख़्वाब पूरा हो जाए। I wish my dream would come true.

(kaash meraa khvaab pooraa ho jaae।)

ये शहर लाखों लोगों के ख़्वाब लेकर आगे बढ़ता है। This city moves forward carrying the dreams of millions of people.

(ye shahar laakhon logon ke khvaab lekar aage badhtaa hai।)

उसके सारे ख़्वाब चकनाचूर हो गए। All his dreams were shattered.

(uske saare khvaab chaknaachoor ho gae।)

Sense 2 : dream (literal, during sleep)

noun, masculine

Synonyms: सपना (sapnaa)

Frequency: medium

Cultural Note: Same word as the aspirational sense above -- Hindi/Urdu, like English, does not distinguish night-dreams from life-dreams with separate words, so context alone tells you which is meant.

Sample Sentences:

कल रात मुझे एक अजीब ख़्वाब आया। Last night I had a strange dream.

(kal raat mujhe ek ajiib khvaab aayaa।)

मैं रोज़ अजीब ख़्वाब देखता हूँ। I have strange dreams every day.

(main roz ajiib khvaab dekhtaa hoon।)

वह अभी भी सो रहा है और शायद कोई ख़्वाब देख रहा है। He's still asleep and maybe dreaming something right now.

(vah abhii bhii so rahaa hai aur shaayad koii khvaab dekh rahaa hai।)

ऐसा ख़्वाब दोबारा मत देखना। Don't have a dream like that again.

(aisaa khvaab dobaaraa mat dekhnaa।)

अगर तुम्हें डरावना ख़्वाब आए, तो मुझे जगा देना। If you have a scary dream, wake me up.

(agar tumhen daraavnaa khvaab aae, to mujhe jagaa denaa।)

अगर मुझे इतनी नींद न आती, तो शायद ऐसा ख़्वाब न आता। If I hadn't been so sleepy, maybe I wouldn't have had such a dream.

(agar mujhe itnii niind n aatii, to shaayad aisaa khvaab n aataa।)

बच्चे को नींद में डर लगा, शायद कोई ख़्वाब देख रहा था। The child got scared in his sleep, maybe he was having some dream.

(bachche ko niind men dar lagaa, shaayad koii khvaab dekh rahaa thaa।)

नींद में इंसान जो ख़्वाब देखता है, उसे पूरी तरह याद रखना मुश्किल होता है। The dreams a person has in sleep are difficult to remember fully.

(niind men insaan jo khvaab dekhtaa hai, use poorii tarah yaad rakhnaa mushkil hotaa hai।)

नींद में देखे गए ख़्वाब अक्सर सुबह तक भुला दिए जाते हैं। Dreams seen in sleep are often forgotten by morning.

(niind men dekhe gae khvaab aksar subah tak bhulaa die jaate hain।)

उस रात आया ख़्वाब आज भी उसके ज़ेहन में ताज़ा है। The dream that came that night is still fresh in her mind today.

(us raat aayaa khvaab aaj bhii uske zehan men taazaa hai।)

Morphology

Noun

(sg.m.direct): ख़्वाब (khvaab)

(sg.m.oblique): ख़्वाब (khvaab)

(pl.m.direct): ख़्वाब (khvaab)

(pl.m.oblique): ख़्वाबों (khvaabon)