भवदीय (bhavdiiy)
adjective
A highly formal letter-closing word meaning 'yours' (as in 'yours sincerely'), used mainly in written correspondence.
Sense
1
:
yours (formal letter closing)
adjective Used only as a self-standing closing formula before the signature in formal or official letters, not in spoken sentences.
Synonyms: आपका (aapkaa, everyday equivalent)
Frequency: low
Cultural Note: This is the word you find at the bottom of an old-style Hindi formal letter, right before the writer's name -- school Hindi textbooks still teach 'पत्र-लेखन' (patr-lekhan, letter-writing) format with भवदीय (bhavdiiy) as the closing for a male writer and भवदीया (bhavdiiyaa) for a female writer. In everyday emails and messages today, most people have shifted to आपका (aapkaa) or just a plain sign-off, so भवदीय (bhavdiiy) has a slightly old-fashioned, official flavor, like 'yours faithfully' in English.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners try to use भवदीय (bhavdiiy) in speech or casual writing where आपका (aapkaa) is the natural choice; भवदीय (bhavdiiy) belongs strictly to formal letter-writing register. 2) It is invariant in this closing-formula use even though it looks like it should inflect like a normal -आ adjective -- it is not modified for the gender of the writer or recipient in this fixed function.
Sample Sentences:
पत्र के अंत में उसने लिखा, भवदीय, रमेश कुमार।
At the end of the letter he wrote, yours sincerely, Ramesh Kumar.
(patr ke ant men usne likhaa, bhavdiiy, ramesh kumaar।)
भवदीय, विद्यालय के प्रधानाचार्य।
Yours faithfully, the principal of the school.
(bhavdiiy, vidyaalay ke pradhaanaachaary।)
औपचारिक पत्र सदैव भवदीय शब्द से समाप्त होना चाहिए, ऐसा हमारी अध्यापिका ने सिखाया था।
A formal letter should always end with the word 'bhavdiya', our teacher had taught us this.
(aupchaarik patr sadaiv bhavdiiy shabd se samaapt honaa chaahie, aisaa hamaarii adhyaapikaa ne sikhaayaa thaa।)
बच्चों, पत्र-लेखन में हस्ताक्षर से पहले भवदीय लिखना मत भूलना।
Children, don't forget to write 'bhavdiya' before your signature in letter-writing.
(bachchon, patr-lekhan men hastaakshar se pahle bhavdiiy likhnaa mat bhoolnaa।)
अगर यह पत्र किसी अधिकारी को भेजा जाए, तो अंत में भवदीय लिखा जाना चाहिए।
If this letter is to be sent to an official, then 'bhavdiya' should be written at the end.
(agar yah patr kisii adhikaarii ko bhejaa jaae, to ant men bhavdiiy likhaa jaanaa chaahie।)
पुराने ज़माने के पत्रों में भवदीय लिखने का रिवाज़ था, अब लोग बस आपका लिख देते हैं।
In old-time letters there was a custom of writing 'bhavdiya', now people just write 'aapka'.
(puraane zamaane ke patron men bhavdiiy likhne kaa rivaaz thaa, ab log bas aapkaa likh dete hain।)
यदि मैं वह पत्र लिखता, तो अंत में भवदीय ज़रूर लिखता।
If I had written that letter, I would definitely have written 'bhavdiya' at the end.
(yadi main vah patr likhtaa, to ant men bhavdiiy zaroor likhtaa।)
परीक्षा में पत्र-लेखन के प्रश्न में भवदीय लिखना अनिवार्य होता है।
In the letter-writing question in the exam, writing 'bhavdiya' is mandatory.
(pariikshaa men patr-lekhan ke prashn men bhavdiiy likhnaa anivaary hotaa hai।)
महोदय, आपके सुझावों के लिए धन्यवाद। भवदीय, सुरेश गुप्ता।
Sir, thank you for your suggestions. Yours faithfully, Suresh Gupta.
(mahoday, aapke sujhaavon ke lie dhanyvaad। bhavdiiy, suresh guptaa।)
Morphology
Adjective (variable)
(sg.m):
भवदीय
(bhavdiiy)
(pl.m):
भवदीये
(bhavdiiye)
(sg.f):
भवदीयी
(bhavdiiyii)
(pl.f):
भवदीयी
(bhavdiiyii)