वकील (vakiil)

noun A single, straightforward sense: a lawyer or advocate. Grammatically masculine but used for lawyers of any gender.
Sense 1 : lawyer, advocate
noun, masculine
Synonyms: अधिवक्ता (adhivaktaa, formal), अटॉर्नी (atornii, less common)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: वकील (vakiil) comes from Arabic/Persian via Urdu, where it originally meant 'agent' or 'representative' -- someone who speaks on your behalf, which is exactly the flavor it retains in Hindi. You'll hear families say things like अपना वकील कर लो (apnaa vakiil kar lo, 'get yourself a lawyer') when trouble is brewing, often with a mix of anxiety and resignation, since going to court is culturally seen as a long, tiring process in India.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes assume the word changes form for a female lawyer since it looks like it could take feminine agreement -- it does not; महिला वकील (mahilaa vakiil, 'female lawyer') is how gender is specified when needed, while the word वकील (vakiil) itself stays fixed. 2) Don't confuse with जज (jaj, 'judge') -- a common mix-up for beginners describing courtroom roles.
Sample Sentences:
मेरे पापा वकील हैं। My father is a lawyer.
(mere paapaa vakiil hain।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर झगड़ा बढ़ गया तो अपना वकील कर लो। If the dispute escalates, get yourself a lawyer.
(agar jhagdaa badh gayaa to apnaa vakiil kar lo।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
उसने एक अच्छा वकील किया था। He had hired a good lawyer.
(usne ek achchhaa vakiil kiyaa thaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
वकील अदालत में मेरी तरफ से बोल रहा था। The lawyer was speaking on my behalf in the court.
(vakiil adaalat men merii taraph se bol rahaa thaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
यह मामला बिना वकील के नहीं सुलझेगा। This matter will not be resolved without a lawyer.
(yah maamlaa binaa vakiil ke nahiin suljhegaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
काश हमारे पास इतने पैसे होते कि हम कोई बड़ा वकील रख सकते। If only we had enough money to hire a big-name lawyer.
(kaash hamaare paas itne paise hote ki ham koii badaa vakiil rakh sakte।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
अभियुक्त को अपने वकील से सलाह लेनी चाहिए। The accused should take advice from his lawyer.
(abhiyukt ko apne vakiil se salaah lenii chaahie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
मामले की सुनवाई के दौरान वकील द्वारा सारे सबूत पेश किए गए। During the hearing, all the evidence was presented by the lawyer.
(maamle kii sunvaaii ke dauraan vakiil dvaaraa saare saboot pesh kie gae।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
श्रीमान वकील साहब, कृपया अपनी दलील शुरू करें। Mr. Advocate, please begin your argument.
(shriimaan vakiil saahab, kripyaa apnii daliil shuroo karen।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
क्या तुम्हें कोई भरोसेमंद वकील पता है? Do you know a trustworthy lawyer?
(kyaa tumhen koii bharosemand vakiil pataa hai?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
वकील साहब ने कहा कि केस जीतने में वक्त लगेगा। The lawyer said that it would take time to win the case.
(vakiil saahab ne kahaa ki kes jiitne men vakt lagegaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): वकील (vakiil)
(sg.m.oblique): वकील (vakiil)
(pl.m.direct): वकील (vakiil)
(pl.m.oblique): वकीलों (vakiilon)