साबुन (saabun)

noun A simple, everyday noun meaning 'soap.' It has only one common sense, but learners often trip on its gender.
Sense 1 : soap
noun, masculine
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: In most Indian households you will hear साबुन (saabun) used loosely to cover both bathing soap and laundry bar-soap (कपड़े धोने का साबुन, kapde dhone kaa saabun, 'clothes-washing soap'), while liquid soap or shampoo has its own separate words. Asking नहाने का साबुन कहाँ है? (nahaane kaa saabun kahaan hai, 'where is the bathing soap?') is a very common household question, especially with guests.
Common Mistakes: 1) Gender is often assumed feminine (by analogy with other household items) but साबुन (saabun) is masculine: यह साबुन अच्छा है (yah saabun achchhaa hai, 'this soap is good'), not अच्छी. 2) Learners sometimes add an unnecessary plural -ें; साबुन (saabun) stays the same in the plural when counting bars generically, though साबुन की टिकिया (saabun kii tikiyaa, 'a bar of soap') is the more precise way to count individual bars.
Sample Sentences:
नहाने का साबुन कहाँ है? Where is the bathing soap?
(nahaane kaa saabun kahaan hai?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
बाज़ार से एक साबुन लेते आना। Bring a soap from the market.
(baazaar se ek saabun lete aanaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
यह साबुन बहुत खुशबूदार है। This soap is very fragrant.
(yah saabun bahut khushboodaar hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
माँ रोज़ कपड़े धोने का साबुन खरीदती हैं। Mother buys clothes-washing soap every day.
(maan roz kapde dhone kaa saabun khariidtii hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
साबुन खत्म हो गया है, नया ले आओ। The soap is finished, bring a new one.
(saabun khatm ho gayaa hai, nayaa le aao।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर साबुन गीला रहता तो जल्दी घुल जाता। If the soap had stayed wet, it would have dissolved quickly.
(agar saabun giilaa rahtaa to jaldii ghul jaataa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
हाथ धोने के लिए साबुन का इस्तेमाल करें। Please use soap to wash your hands.
(haath dhone ke lie saabun kaa istemaal karen।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
हो सकता है कि साबुन अलमारी में रखा हो। It's possible the soap has been kept in the cupboard.
(ho saktaa hai ki saabun almaarii men rakhaa ho।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
बच्चे ने साबुन से बुलबुले बनाए थे। The child had made bubbles with soap.
(bachche ne saabun se bulbule banaae the।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
इस दुकान में हर तरह के साबुन बेचे जाते हैं। All kinds of soap are sold in this shop.
(is dukaan men har tarah ke saabun beche jaate hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
कल तक साबुन खत्म हो चुका होगा। The soap will have run out by tomorrow.
(kal tak saabun khatm ho chukaa hogaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): साबुन (saabun)
(sg.m.oblique): साबुन (saabun)
(pl.m.direct): साबुन (saabun)
(pl.m.oblique): साबुनों (saabunon)