कॉलेज (kolej)

noun An English loanword meaning 'college' -- used exactly as in English for a post-school higher-education institution.
Sense 1 : college (institution)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: महाविद्यालय (mahaavidyaalay, formal)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: In Delhi-NCR, कॉलेज (kolej) is a huge marker of life-stage identity -- 'कॉलेज लाइफ' (kolej laaiph, 'college life') is talked about the way Americans talk about 'the college years,' full of nostalgia for freedom, friendships, and first jobs on the horizon. It contrasts with स्कूल (skool, 'school'), and the shift from one to the other is a major rite of passage in casual conversation.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes reach for महाविद्यालय (mahaavidyaalay) in casual speech; native speakers overwhelmingly say कॉलेज (kolej) in everyday conversation, saving the Sanskritized word for official signage or formal writing. 2) The vowel is the English 'o' sound written with the nukta-marked ऑ (o); dropping the nukta to write कालेज (kaalej) is an older but less common spelling, still seen occasionally in print.
Sample Sentences:
मैं दिल्ली यूनिवर्सिटी के एक कॉलेज में पढ़ता हूँ। I study at a college in Delhi University.
(main dillii yoonivarsitii ke ek kolej men padhtaa hoon।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उसने पिछले साल कॉलेज जॉइन किया था। She joined college last year.
(usne pichhle saal kolej join kiyaa thaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
हम कॉलेज के बाहर चाय पी रहे थे। We were drinking tea outside the college.
(ham kolej ke baahar chaay pii rahe the।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अगले साल मेरा भाई कॉलेज जाएगा। Next year my brother will go to college.
(agle saal meraa bhaaii kolej jaaegaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
कल कॉलेज मत जाओ, बारिश बहुत तेज़ है। Don't go to college tomorrow, it's raining very heavily.
(kal kolej mat jaao, baarish bahut tez hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
काश मैं भी उसी कॉलेज में होता जहाँ तू है। I wish I were in the same college where you are.
(kaash main bhii usii kolej men hotaa jahaan too hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
यह इमारत सन् उन्नीस सौ चालीस में एक कॉलेज के रूप में स्थापित की गई थी। This building was established as a college in nineteen forty.
(yah imaarat san unniis sau chaaliis men ek kolej ke roop men sthaapit kii gaii thii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
मेरी कॉलेज लाइफ ज़िंदगी के सबसे बेहतरीन दिनों में से एक थी। My college life was one of the best times of my life.
(merii kolej laaiph zindgii ke sabse behatriin dinon men se ek thii।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
शायद वह इस बार किसी सरकारी कॉलेज में एडमिशन ले ले। Maybe she'll take admission in some government college this time.
(shaayad vah is baar kisii sarkaarii kolej men edmishan le le।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
प्राचार्य ने घोषणा की कि कॉलेज अगले सोमवार से फिर से खुल जाएगा। The principal announced that the college would reopen from next Monday.
(praachaary ne ghoshnaa kii ki kolej agle somvaar se phir se khul jaaegaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
स्कूल खत्म होने के बाद हर किसी को कॉलेज की आज़ादी का इंतज़ार रहता है। After school ends, everyone looks forward to the freedom of college.
(skool khatm hone ke baad har kisii ko kolej kii aazaadii kaa intzaar rahtaa hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): कॉलेज (kolej)
(sg.m.oblique): कॉलेज (kolej)
(pl.m.direct): कॉलेज (kolej)
(pl.m.oblique): कॉलेजों (kolejon)