लोभ (lobh)

noun A single-sense noun meaning greed or covetousness -- the inner craving for wealth, possessions, or gain. Closely related to the adjective/noun लोभी (lobhii, greedy person).
Sense 1 : greed, covetousness
noun, masculine
Synonyms: लालच (laalach), तृष्णा (trishnaa, literary), स्वार्थ (svaarth, self-interest, meaning scope narrower)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: लोभ (lobh) has a moral-religious flavor in Hindi -- it is one of the classic human weaknesses named alongside क्रोध (krodh, anger) and मोह (moh, attachment) in everyday moralizing speech, sermons, and stories. You will often hear elders warn children लोभ मत करो (lobh mat karo, 'don't be greedy') when a kid reaches for one more sweet than they've been offered.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for लालच (laalach) by default since it is more common in casual speech -- लोभ (lobh) is not wrong in the same contexts, but it carries a slightly more moral or philosophical weight, as in discussions of greed as a character flaw or vice rather than just wanting more of something. 2) लोभ (lobh) pairs naturally with करना (karnaa) as लोभ करना (lobh karnaa, to be greedy/covet), and also commonly appears with the postposition में (men) as लोभ में (lobh men, out of greed) -- learners sometimes try को (ko) instead.
Sample Sentences:
लोभ मत करो, एक ही मिठाई काफी है। Don't be greedy, one sweet is enough.
(lobh mat karo, ek hii mithaaii kaaphii hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
लोभ इंसान को अंधा बना देता है। Greed makes a person blind.
(lobh insaan ko andhaa banaa detaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उसके मन में धन का लोभ बढ़ता जा रहा था। The greed for money kept growing in his heart.
(uske man men dhan kaa lobh badhtaa jaa rahaa thaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
क्रोध, मोह और लोभ ये तीनों मनुष्य के सबसे बड़े शत्रु माने जाते हैं। Anger, attachment, and greed -- these three are considered man's greatest enemies.
(krodh, moh aur lobh ye tiinon manushy ke sabse bade shatru maane jaate hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
यदि उसमें थोड़ा भी लोभ न होता, तो वह यह पैसे कभी न लेता। If he had even a little greed in him, he would never have taken this money.
(yadi usmen thodaa bhii lobh n hotaa, to vah yah paise kabhii n letaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
साधु ने कहा कि लोभ त्यागे बिना मन को शांति नहीं मिलती। The sage said that without renouncing greed, the mind finds no peace.
(saadhu ne kahaa ki lobh tyaage binaa man ko shaanti nahiin miltii।)
Register: Devotional -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उसका लोभ इतना बढ़ गया कि वह अपने भाई का हिस्सा भी हड़पने लगा। His greed grew so much that he started grabbing even his brother's share.
(uskaa lobh itnaa badh gayaa ki vah apne bhaaii kaa hissaa bhii hadapne lagaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
शायद उसे भी सत्ता का लोभ हो। Perhaps he too has a greed for power.
(shaayad use bhii sattaa kaa lobh ho।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
गुरु जी हमेशा कहते थे कि लोभ से बचना चाहिए। The teacher always used to say that one should avoid greed.
(guru jii hameshaa kahte the ki lobh se bachnaa chaahie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): लोभ (lobh)
(sg.m.oblique): लोभ (lobh)
(pl.m.direct): लोभ (lobh)
(pl.m.oblique): लोभों (lobhon)