मेज़बान (mezbaan)

noun A single-sense word meaning 'host' -- the person who receives and looks after guests. Persian loanword, common in both everyday hospitality talk and formal contexts (TV shows, events).
Sense 1 : host (person who entertains guests)
noun, masculine/feminine
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: In Delhi households, being a good मेज़बान (mezbaan) is a point of real pride -- hospitality culture (मेहमान नवाज़ी, mehmaan navaazii, 'hospitality') runs deep, and you will hear this word used for everything from a dinner-party host to a country hosting the Olympics (मेज़बान देश, mezbaan desh, 'host country').
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes use मेज़बान (mezbaan) for a TV/show host in the sense of 'anchor' -- that role is usually एंकर (enkar) or प्रस्तोता (prastotaa); मेज़बान (mezbaan) is reserved for someone hosting guests (at home, an event, or a country hosting an event). 2) The related word मेहमान (mehmaan, 'guest') is the natural pair -- learners occasionally confuse the two since both are Persian loanwords with similar sound.
Sample Sentences:
आज रात की पार्टी का मेज़बान कौन है? Who is the host of tonight's party?
(aaj raat kii paartii kaa mezbaan kaun hai?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
एक अच्छे मेज़बान को अपने मेहमानों का पूरा ध्यान रखना चाहिए। A good host should take full care of their guests.
(ek achchhe mezbaan ko apne mehmaanon kaa pooraa dhyaan rakhnaa chaahie।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
मेज़बान ने दरवाज़े पर खड़े होकर हर मेहमान का स्वागत किया। The host stood at the door and welcomed every guest.
(mezbaan ne darvaaze par khade hokar har mehmaan kaa svaagat kiyaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
भारत अगले साल इस टूर्नामेंट का मेज़बान होगा। India will be the host of this tournament next year.
(bhaarat agle saal is toornaament kaa mezbaan hogaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
अगर मैं मेज़बान होता तो सबके लिए खाना खुद बनाता। If I were the host, I would cook the food myself for everyone.
(agar main mezbaan hotaa to sabke lie khaanaa khud banaataa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
मेज़बान बनो और अपने दोस्तों को घर पर बुलाओ। Be the host and invite your friends over.
(mezbaan bano aur apne doston ko ghar par bulaao।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
समारोह का आयोजन इस तरह किया गया कि मेज़बान द्वारा हर मेहमान का व्यक्तिगत स्वागत सुनिश्चित हो। The ceremony was organized in such a way that personal welcome of every guest by the host was ensured.
(samaaroh kaa aayojan is tarah kiyaa gayaa ki mezbaan dvaaraa har mehmaan kaa vyaktigat svaagat sunishchit ho।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
पेरिस ओलंपिक खेलों का मेज़बान देश था। Paris was the host country of the Olympic Games.
(peris olampik khelon kaa mezbaan desh thaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
काश हमारा शहर भी किसी बड़े खेल आयोजन का मेज़बान बन पाता। I wish our city too could become the host of some big sporting event.
(kaash hamaaraa shahar bhii kisii bade khel aayojan kaa mezbaan ban paataa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
शादी में मेज़बान परिवार सुबह से रात तक मेहमानों की खातिरदारी में लगा रहा। At the wedding, the host family stayed busy attending to the guests from morning till night.
(shaadii men mezbaan parivaar subah se raat tak mehmaanon kii khaatirdaarii men lagaa rahaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m/f.direct): मेज़बान (mezbaan)
(sg.m/f.oblique): मेज़बान (mezbaan)
(pl.m/f.direct): मेज़बानें (mezbaanen)
(pl.m/f.oblique): मेज़बानों (mezbaanon)