पुरस्कार (puraskaar)

noun A single, straightforward sense: a prize, award, or reward given in recognition of achievement.
Sense 1 : prize, award
noun, masculine
Synonyms: इनाम (inaam), अवार्ड (avaard, colloquial)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: पुरस्कार (puraskaar) is the word you see on certificates, in news reports about literary or film awards (like साहित्य पुरस्कार (saahity puraskaar, 'literature award')), and at annual school or government functions -- it carries a formal, ceremonial ring, whereas इनाम (inaam) feels more everyday, like a treat or reward among family and friends.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often use देना (denaa) with पुरस्कार (puraskaar) but forget the common frame is X को पुरस्कार देना (X ko puraskaar denaa, 'to give X an award') -- the recipient takes को (ko), not से (se) or का (kaa). 2) पुरस्कार (puraskaar) is more formal/official in tone than इनाम (inaam); for a casual reward (like a kid's prize at school or a bet won among friends), इनाम (inaam) usually sounds more natural.
Sample Sentences:
उसे इस साल का सबसे बड़ा पुरस्कार मिला। He received the biggest award of this year.
(use is saal kaa sabse badaa puraskaar milaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
राष्ट्रपति हर साल कई लेखकों को साहित्य पुरस्कार देते हैं। The president gives literature awards to many writers every year.
(raashtrapti har saal kaii lekhkon ko saahity puraskaar dete hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
इस फ़िल्म को सबसे अच्छी फ़िल्म का पुरस्कार दिया गया। This film was given the award for best film.
(is film ko sabse achchhii film kaa puraskaar diyaa gayaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
समारोह में पुरस्कार वितरण शाम को होगा। The award distribution at the ceremony will take place in the evening.
(samaaroh men puraskaar vitran shaam ko hogaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
अगर वह और मेहनत करता तो उसे भी पुरस्कार मिलता। If he had worked harder, he would have gotten the prize too.
(agar vah aur mehnat kartaa to use bhii puraskaar miltaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
कृपया मंच पर आकर अपना पुरस्कार ग्रहण करें। Please come to the stage and receive your award.
(kripyaa manch par aakar apnaa puraskaar grahan karen।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
मुझे उम्मीद है कि इस बार उसे पुरस्कार मिले। I hope that he gets the award this time.
(mujhe ummiid hai ki is baar use puraskaar mile।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
स्कूल में हर साल सबसे अच्छे छात्र को पुरस्कार दिया जाता है। Every year the best student in the school is given an award.
(skool men har saal sabse achchhe chhaatr ko puraskaar diyaa jaataa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
उसकी पहली किताब को पहले ही ज्ञानपीठ पुरस्कार से सम्मानित किया जा चुका था। His first book had already been honored with the Gyanpith Award.
(uskii pahlii kitaab ko pahle hii gyaanpiith puraskaar se sammaanit kiyaa jaa chukaa thaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
पुरस्कार समारोह में मुख्यमंत्री विशेष रूप से उपस्थित रहेंगे। The chief minister will be specially present at the award ceremony.
(puraskaar samaaroh men mukhymantrii vishesh roop se upasthit rahenge।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
अगर उसे यह पुरस्कार नहीं मिलता, तो वह बहुत निराश होता। If he had not gotten this award, he would have been very disappointed.
(agar use yah puraskaar nahiin miltaa, to vah bahut niraash hotaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): पुरस्कार (puraskaar)
(sg.m.oblique): पुरस्कार (puraskaar)
(pl.m.direct): पुरस्कार (puraskaar)
(pl.m.oblique): पुरस्कारों (puraskaaron)