Chapter 12

Pronunciation Guide

Many words are spelt one way and spoken another, and a wrong pronunciation can also lead to a wrong spelling. This chapter brings together the words students most often mispronounce. Tap 🔊, listen, and repeat each word aloud until it sounds natural to you.

English Alphabet and Sounds

The English alphabet has 26 letters. Of these, 5 letters (a, e, i, o, u) are vowels and the rest are consonants.

To pronounce words correctly, you should know the sounds that these letters produce. English has about 44 sounds (20 vowel sounds and 24 consonant sounds). Because there are more sounds than letters, some letters have more than one sound, and some letters give different sounds in different combinations.

In this guide, the pronunciation of each word is shown in Devanagari in brackets, e.g. Name (नेम). These respellings are a close guide; listen to correct English and practise aloud. First, let us learn the sounds of the vowels and their combinations.

Sounds of A

Concept 1: When 'a' comes alone as a word, it usually gives the sound 'अ', not 'ए'.
e.g. A boy (अ बॉय)

Concept 2: 'a', 'ai' and 'ay' can give the sound 'ए'.
e.g. Name (नेम), Blame (ब्लेम), Rain (रेन), Say (से), Pay (पे)

Concept 3: 'a' sometimes gives the sound 'ऐ', and sometimes (before 're') the sound 'एअ'.
e.g. An (ऐन), Man (मैन), Bat (बैट), Rare (रेअर), Bare (बेअर), Dare (डेअर)

Concept 4: 'a' sometimes gives the sound 'अ' or 'आ'.
e.g. Alert (अलर्ट), Alive (अलाइव), Are (आर), Jar (जार)

Concept 5: 'a' (especially before 'll') and 'aw' give the sound 'ऑ'.
e.g. Tall (टॉल), Ball (बॉल), Awkward (ऑकवर्ड)

Sounds of E

Concept 1: 'e', 'ee', 'ea' and 'ei' can give the sound 'ई'.
e.g. Meme (मीम), She (शी), Deep (डीप), Keep (कीप), See (सी), Sea (सी), Weak (वीक), Seize (सीज़)

Concept 2: 'e' often gives the sound 'ए' (short).
e.g. Pen (पेन), Ten (टेन)

Concept 3: 'e' sometimes gives the sound 'इ'.
e.g. Begin (बिगिन), Eleven (इलेवन), Elect (इलेक्ट)

Concept 4: An 'e' at the end of a word is usually silent.
e.g. Love (लव), Dove (डव), Like (लाइक)

Sounds of I

Concept 1: 'i' usually gives the sound 'इ'.
e.g. Bin (बिन), Tin (टिन), Injured (इन्जर्ड)

Concept 2: 'i' (before 're') and 'io' can give the sound 'आय'.
e.g. Tire (टायर), Expire (एक्सपायर), Fire (फ़ायर), Lion (लायन), Riot (रायट)

Concept 3: 'i' sometimes gives the sound 'आइ' (often in the pattern i + consonant + e).
e.g. Pile (पाइल), Like (लाइक), Bike (बाइक)

Concept 4: 'ie' and 'ei' usually give the long sound 'ई'.
e.g. Piece (पीस), Believe (बिलीव), Receive (रिसीव)

Concept 5: In the combination consonant + i + r (+ consonant), the 'i' does not give its own 'इ' sound; 'ir' is pronounced like 'अर'.
e.g. Flirt (फ़्लर्ट), Third (थर्ड), Dirt (डर्ट)

Sounds of O

Concept 1: 'o' usually gives the sound 'ओ'.
e.g. More (मोर), Snow (स्नो), No (नो)

Concept 2: 'oo' gives the sound 'उ' or 'ऊ'. Before 'k' it usually gives a short 'उ'; before 'd' it can give either a short 'उ' or a long 'ऊ'; in most other words it gives a long 'ऊ'.
e.g. Cook (कुक), Book (बुक), Good (गुड), Hood (हुड), Food (फ़ूड), Groom (ग्रूम), Shoot (शूट)

Concept 3: 'o' can give the sound 'अ'. In 'ow' and 'ou' it often gives the sound 'आउ'.
e.g. Done (डन), Come (कम), Son (सन), Cow (काउ), How (हाउ), Doubt (डाउट), About (अबाउट)

Concept 4: 'o' sometimes gives the sound 'ऑ' (also in 'oi' and 'oy', which sound like 'ऑइ' / 'ऑय').
e.g. On (ऑन), Off (ऑफ़), Lot (लॉट), Top (टॉप), Join (जॉइन), Boy (बॉय), Royal (रॉयल)

Sounds of U

Concept 1: 'u' usually gives the sound 'अ'.
e.g. Utter (अटर), Run (रन), Gun (गन)

Concept 2: 'u' sometimes gives the sound 'यू'.
e.g. Use (यूज़), Tube (ट्यूब), Universal (यूनिवर्सल)

Concept 3: 'u' sometimes gives the sound 'यो'; this usually happens when 'u' is followed by 're'.
e.g. Cure (क्योर), Pure (प्योर), Sure (श्योर)

Sounds of Consonant Letters

The usual sounds of consonant letters and some common combinations are:

B – ब
C – क / स
Ch – च / क
D – ड / द
F – फ़
G – ग / ज
H – ह
J – ज
K – क
L – ल
M – म
N – न
P – प
Ph – फ़
Q – क (qu = क्व)
R – र
S – स / ज़
Sh – श
T – ट / त
Th – थ / द
V – व
W – व
X – क्स / ज़
Y – य
Z – ज़
-tion – शन
-ture – चर

Combinations such as Bh (भ), Chh (छ), Dh (ध), Gh (घ), Jh (झ) and Kh (ख) are used mainly when Hindi words and names are written in English letters, e.g. Bharat; in English words 'gh' is usually silent or sounds like 'फ़' (see Silent Letters).

Common Pronunciation Concepts

Concept 1: A single vowel usually gives a short sound.
e.g. Gift (गिफ़्ट) – 'i' gives a short sound.

Concept 2: When two vowels come together, they usually give a long sound.
e.g. Brief (ब्रीफ़) – 'ie' gives a long sound.

Concept 3: When a single vowel is followed by one consonant and then 'e', the 'e' is silent and the vowel gives its long sound, even though it is single.
e.g. Cut (कट) – short 'u'; Cute (क्यूट) – 'e' silent, long 'u'. Similarly: Bit (बिट) and Bite (बाइट).

Concept 4: In the combination 'igh', the 'gh' is usually silent and the 'i' gives its long sound 'आइ'.
e.g. Tight (टाइट), Fight (फ़ाइट), Night (नाइट)

Concept 5: When 'c' is followed by 'e', 'i' or 'y', it gives the sound 'स' (s). Before other letters it gives the sound 'क' (k).
e.g. Cycle (साइकल), Ceiling (सीलिंग), Centre (सेंटर) – c = स; Comb (कोम), Cap (कैप), Cup (कप), Cute (क्यूट) – c = क

Concept 6: When 'g' is followed by 'e', 'i' or 'y', it is usually pronounced 'ज' (j). There are, however, many exceptions.
e.g. Gym (जिम), Analogy (अनैलजी), Agent (एजेंट), General (जेनरल), Giant (जायंट)
Exceptions: Gift (गिफ़्ट), Girl (गर्ल), Get (गेट), Gear (गियर), Give (गिव)

Concept 7: When 'x' comes at the start of a word, it usually gives the sound 'ज़' (z).
e.g. Xenophobia (ज़ेनोफ़ोबिया), Xenon (ज़ीनॉन), Xylophone (ज़ाइलोफ़ोन)

Concept 8: In grammatical (function) words, 'th' is pronounced 'द'; in most other words it is pronounced 'थ'.
e.g. The (द), That (दैट), Their (देयर), Though (दो) – grammatical words
Exception: Through (थ्रू)
Other words: Throw (थ्रो), Therapy (थेरेपी), Theory (थियरी)

Concept 9: In English, a double letter usually gives only a single sound.
e.g. Class (क्लास), Running (रनिंग), Swimming (स्विमिंग)

Concept 10: A vowel before a double consonant usually gives a short sound.
e.g. Dinner (डिनर), but Diner (डाइनर)

Concept 11: An 's' between two vowels often gives the sound 'ज़' (z). (There are exceptions, e.g. Base (बेस), Case (केस).)
e.g. Phase (फ़ेज़), Music (म्यूज़िक), Please (प्लीज़)

Concept 12: 'ch' usually gives the sound 'च', but there are many exceptions in which it gives the sound 'क'. These words are often related to science and technology (many come from Greek).
e.g. Chemistry (केमिस्ट्री), Mechanic (मकैनिक), Alchemist (ऐल्केमिस्ट), Echo (एको)

Silent Letters in English

Many English words contain letters that are written but not pronounced. These are called silent letters.

Silent B: When 'b' comes after 'm' at the end of a word, or before 't', it is usually silent.
e.g. Comb (कोम), Bomb (बॉम), Tomb (टूम), Debt (डेट), Doubt (डाउट), Subtle (सटल)
Exception: Obtain (ऑब्टेन)

Silent C: When 'c' comes after 's' and is followed by 'e', 'i' or 'y', it is silent. A 'c' before 'k' or 'q' is also silent.
e.g. Science (साइंस), Sceptre (सेप्टर), Ascetic (असेटिक), Acknowledge (अक्नॉलिज), Acquit (अक्विट)
Exception: Sceptical (स्केप्टिकल)

Silent E: When 'e' comes at the end of a word, it is silent; and if a vowel + one consonant comes before that 'e', the vowel's sound becomes long.
e.g. Love (लव), Like (लाइक), Bike (बाइक), Kite (काइट)

Silent GH – Concept 1: When 'gh' comes in the middle or at the end of a word, it is often silent; if 'i' comes before it, the 'i' gives a long sound.
e.g. Light (लाइट), Fight (फ़ाइट), Neighbour (नेबर), Bought (बॉट), Caught (कॉट), Dough (डो)

Silent GH – Concept 2: Sometimes, when 'gh' comes at the end of a word, it gives the sound 'फ़' (f). In such words, 'ou' or 'au' usually comes before 'gh'.
e.g. Rough (रफ़), Tough (टफ़), Enough (इनफ़), Cough (कॉफ़), Laugh (लाफ़)

Silent GH – Concept 3: When 'g' and 'h' belong to different parts (roots) of a word, they are pronounced separately.
e.g. Doghouse (डॉगहाउस), Bighead (बिगहेड), Foghorn (फ़ॉगहॉर्न)

Silent D – Concept 1: In 'dge', the 'd' is hardly heard and the combination gives the sound 'ज' (j).
e.g. Grudge (ग्रज), Hedge (हेज), Pledge (प्लेज), Dodge (डॉज)

Silent D – Concept 2: When 'd' comes after 'a' and before 'j', it is also hardly heard. 'd' is also silent in some other common words.
e.g. Adjective (ऐजिक्टिव), Adjust (अजस्ट), Adjourn (अजर्न); Sandwich (सैनविच), Handkerchief (हैंकरचीफ़), Handsome (हैनसम), Wednesday (वेन्ज़डे)

Silent G: When 'g' comes before 'n', it is usually silent.
e.g. Design (डिज़ाइन), Align (अलाइन), Champagne (शैम्पेन), Foreign (फ़ॉरिन)
Exception: Cognitive (कॉग्निटिव), Signature (सिग्नेचर), Magnet (मैग्नेट), Igneous (इग्नियस)

Silent H – Concept 1: When 'h' comes after 'r' or 'w', it is usually silent. In the 'who' combination, however, the 'w' is silent and the 'h' is pronounced.
e.g. Rhythm (रिदम), Rhetoric (रेटरिक), When (वेन), Where (वेयर)
Exception: Who (हू), Whom (हूम), Whose (हूज़)

Silent H – Concept 2: 'h' is sometimes silent at the start of a word, and sometimes it is pronounced.
e.g. Hour (आवर), Honest (ऑनेस्ट), Heir (एयर), Honour (ऑनर) – 'h' silent
House (हाउस), Hotel (होटेल), Home (होम) – 'h' pronounced

Silent K: When 'k' comes before 'n' at the start of a word, the 'k' is silent.
e.g. Know (नो), Knock (नॉक), Knife (नाइफ़), Knight (नाइट), Knowledge (नॉलिज)

Silent P: When 'p' comes at the start of a word and is immediately followed by 's' or 'n', the 'p' is usually silent.
e.g. Psalm (साम), Pneumonia (न्यूमोनिया), Pneumatic (न्यूमैटिक), Psychology (साइकॉलजी)

Silent L – Concept 1: When 'l' comes after 'a', 'o' or 'u' and before 'k', 'f', 'm' or 'd', it is often silent.
e.g. Calf (काफ़), Half (हाफ़), Calm (काम), Would (वुड), Should (शुड), Folk (फ़ोक), Yolk (योक)

Silent L – Concept 2: 'l' is also silent in some other words.
e.g. Almond (आमंड), Salmon (सैमन), Colonel (कर्नल)

Silent S: In the combination 'isle', the 's' is usually silent. The 's' is also silent in 'island'.
e.g. Isle (आइल), Islet (आइलेट), Aisle (आइल), Island (आइलैंड)

Silent N: When a word ends in 'mn', the 'n' is silent.
e.g. Column (कॉलम), Damn (डैम), Solemn (सॉलम), Autumn (ऑटम)

Silent U: When 'u' comes between 'g' and a vowel, the 'u' is often silent.
e.g. Guest (गेस्ट), League (लीग), Guard (गार्ड), Guild (गिल्ड), Guess (गेस)

Silent W – Concept 1: When a word starts with 'wr', the 'w' is silent.
e.g. Wrinkle (रिंकल), Wreck (रेक), Wrestler (रेस्लर), Wrap (रैप)

Silent W – Concept 2: In words with the 'who' combination, the 'w' is silent.
e.g. Who (हू), Whom (हूम), Whose (हूज़), Whole (होल)

Silent W – Concept 3: 'w' is also silent in some other words.
e.g. Sword (सॉर्ड), Answer (आन्सर), Two (टू)

Silent T – Concept 1: In the combination 'tch', the 't' is silent.
e.g. Catch (कैच), Match (मैच), Batch (बैच)

Silent T – Concept 2: 't' is silent in many common words.
e.g. Castle (कासल), Christmas (क्रिसमस), Listen (लिसन), Whistle (विसल), Thistle (थिसल), Bustle (बसल), Hasten (हेसन), Fasten (फ़ासन), Soften (सॉफ़न), Often (ऑफ़न)

Silent R: In British English, 'r' is pronounced only when a vowel sound follows it; otherwise it is silent. In American English, however, 'r' is usually pronounced.
e.g. Verb, Performance, Their, Here – silent 'r' (British)
Romantic, Purify, Aroma – 'r' pronounced

Silent letters 1 · A–C

Aisle — a passage between rows of seats or shelves (गलियारा, दो कतारों के बीच का रास्ता)
Almond — an oval nut with a sweet taste (बादाम)
Answer — a reply; to reply (उत्तर; उत्तर देना)
Apostle — a close follower of a leader or faith (प्रेरित, शिष्य)
Asthma — a disease that makes breathing difficult (दमा, अस्थमा)
Autumn — the season between summer and winter (पतझड़ का मौसम)
Benign — harmless, kind (हानिरहित, सौम्य)
Biscuit — a small, flat, dry baked snack (बिस्कुट)
Bomb — an explosive device; to attack with explosives (बम; बम से हमला करना)
Buffet — a meal where guests serve themselves (बुफ़े, स्वयं परोसने वाला भोजन)
Build — to construct (बनाना, निर्माण करना)
Bustle — busy, noisy activity; to hurry about (हड़बड़ी, चहल-पहल; भाग-दौड़ करना)
Calf — a young cow; the back of the lower leg (बछड़ा; पिंडली)
Calm — peaceful and quiet; to soothe (शांत; शांत करना)
Campaign — an organised effort towards a goal (अभियान; अभियान चलाना)
Castle — a large old fortified building (किला)
Chalk — a soft white stone used for writing (चॉक, खड़िया)
Chestnut — a brown nut; a reddish-brown colour (शाहबलूत; भूरा रंग)
Circuit — a closed path for electric current; a lap (परिपथ, सर्किट; चक्कर)
Climb — to go up something (चढ़ना)

Silent letters 2 · C–G

Colonel — a senior officer in the army (कर्नल)
Column — a pillar; a vertical block of text or figures (स्तंभ, कॉलम)
Comb — a toothed tool for the hair; to tidy hair with it (कंघी; कंघी करना)
Condemn — to criticise strongly; to sentence (निंदा करना; दंडित करना)
Corps — a military unit or organised group (सैन्य दल, कोर)
Crumb — a tiny piece of bread or cake (चूरा, टुकड़ा)
Debt — money that you owe to someone (कर्ज़)
Debut — a first public appearance (पहली प्रस्तुति, पदार्पण)
Depot — a storage place; a bus or railway yard (गोदाम, डिपो)
Design — a plan or pattern; to plan or draw (डिज़ाइन, नक़्शा; रूपरेखा बनाना)
Doubt — a feeling of uncertainty; to feel unsure (संदेह; संदेह करना)
Exhaust — to tire out completely; waste gas from an engine (थका देना; धुआँ)
Exhibit — to display publicly; an item on display (प्रदर्शित करना; प्रदर्श)
Fascinate — to attract and hold attention strongly (मोहित करना)
Fasten — to fix or tie firmly (कसना, बाँधना)
Folk — ordinary people; traditional (लोग; लोक)
Foreign — from another country (विदेशी)
Ghost — the spirit of a dead person (भूत, प्रेत)
Glisten — to shine with a wet or oily surface (चमकना)
Gnat — a tiny biting insect (मच्छर जैसा छोटा कीड़ा)

Silent letters 3 · G–K

Gnaw — to bite repeatedly (कुतरना)
Guarantee — a firm promise; to promise formally (गारंटी; ज़मानत देना)
Guard — a person who protects; to protect (पहरेदार; रक्षा करना)
Guess — to estimate without knowing (अनुमान लगाना; अनुमान)
Half — one of two equal parts (आधा)
Handkerchief — a small cloth for wiping the nose or face (रूमाल)
Handsome — good-looking (सुंदर, आकर्षक)
Heir — a person who inherits property (उत्तराधिकारी)
Honest — truthful and sincere (ईमानदार)
Honour — great respect; to respect (सम्मान; सम्मानित करना)
Hour — sixty minutes (घंटा)
Hustle — to push or hurry roughly; busy activity (धक्का देकर आगे बढ़ना; भाग-दौड़)
Hymn — a religious song of praise (स्तुति-गीत, भजन)
Indict — to formally charge with a crime (अभियोग लगाना)
Island — a piece of land surrounded by water (द्वीप)
Knack — a special skill or talent (हुनर, कौशल)
Knead — to press and fold dough with the hands (आटा गूँधना)
Knee — the joint in the middle of the leg (घुटना)
Kneel — to go down on the knees (घुटनों के बल बैठना)
Knife — a tool with a blade for cutting (चाकू)

Silent letters 4 · K–P

Knit — to make cloth from wool using needles (बुनना, स्वेटर बुनना)
Knob — a round handle or switch (घुंडी, मूठ)
Knock — to hit a door; a sudden hit (खटखटाना; दस्तक)
Knot — a tie in rope or thread; to tie (गाँठ; गाँठ बाँधना)
Knowledge — what a person knows and understands (ज्ञान)
Knuckle — a joint of a finger (उँगली का जोड़)
Lamb — a young sheep; its meat (मेमना)
League — a group of teams or nations (लीग, संघ)
Limb — an arm, leg or large branch (अंग, शाखा)
Listen — to pay attention to a sound (सुनना)
Mnemonic — a device that helps memory (स्मरण-सूत्र)
Mortgage — a loan to buy a property; to pledge a property (बंधक, गृह-ऋण; गिरवी रखना)
Muscle — body tissue that produces movement (मांसपेशी)
Neighbour — a person living next door (पड़ोसी)
Numb — unable to feel anything (सुन्न)
Often — many times; frequently (अक्सर)
Palm — the inner surface of the hand; a kind of tree (हथेली; ताड़ का पेड़)
Plumber — a person who fits and repairs water pipes (नल-मिस्त्री)
Pneumonia — a serious infection of the lungs (निमोनिया)
Psalm — a sacred song or poem (भजन, स्तोत्र)

Silent letters 5 · P–S

Pseudo — false or pretending to be genuine (नक़ली, छद्म)
Psychiatrist — a doctor who treats mental illness (मनोचिकित्सक)
Psychology — the scientific study of the mind and behaviour (मनोविज्ञान)
Raspberry — a small soft red fruit (रसभरी जैसा लाल फल)
Receipt — a paper showing that payment has been made (रसीद)
Reign — the period a king or queen rules; to rule (शासनकाल; शासन करना)
Resign — to leave a job formally (इस्तीफ़ा देना)
Rhetoric — skilled or showy use of language (वाक्पटुता, आडंबरपूर्ण भाषा)
Rheumatism — a disease causing painful joints (गठिया)
Rhinoceros — a large animal with a horn on its nose (गैंडा)
Rhubarb — a plant with thick red stalks used in desserts (एक पौधा जिसके डंठल खाए जाते हैं)
Rhyme — words that end with the same sound; to match in sound (तुकबंदी; तुक मिलाना)
Rhythm — a regular pattern of beats or movement (लय, ताल)
Salmon — a large pink fish eaten as food (सैल्मन मछली)
Sandwich — two slices of bread with a filling (सैंडविच)
Scissors — a cutting tool with two blades (कैंची)
Should — used to say what is right or advisable (चाहिए)
Soften — to make or become softer (नरम करना या होना)
Solemn — serious and dignified (गंभीर, गरिमामय)
Sovereign — having supreme power; a ruler (संप्रभु; शासक)

Silent letters 6 · S–Y

Stalk — a plant's stem; to follow secretly (डंठल; चुपके से पीछा करना)
Subtle — not obvious; delicate or slight (सूक्ष्म; हल्का)
Thistle — a prickly wild plant (कँटीला जंगली पौधा)
Thumb — the short, thick finger of the hand (अंगूठा)
Tomb — a grave or burial chamber (मक़बरा, क़ब्र)
Tongue — the organ in the mouth used for tasting and speaking (जीभ; भाषा)
Tsunami — a huge sea wave caused by an undersea earthquake (सुनामी)
Vehicle — a machine for carrying people or goods (वाहन)
Wednesday — the day after Tuesday (बुधवार)
Whistle — a high sound made through the lips; to make it (सीटी; सीटी बजाना)
Wrap — to cover by folding something around (लपेटना; आवरण)
Wreath — a ring of flowers or leaves (माला, पुष्पचक्र)
Wreck — a badly damaged vehicle or ship; to ruin (मलबा; बर्बाद करना)
Wrench — a tool for turning nuts; to twist violently (रिंच, पाना; मरोड़ना)
Wrestle — to fight by gripping and throwing (कुश्ती लड़ना)
Wriggle — to twist and turn with small movements (कुलबुलाना, छटपटाना)
Wrinkle — a small fold or line in skin or cloth; to crease (झुर्री, सिलवट; सिलवट पड़ना)
Wrist — the joint between the hand and the arm (कलाई)
Yacht — a boat used for sailing or racing (नौका (पाल वाली))
Yolk — the yellow part of an egg (अंडे की ज़र्दी)

Everyday words 1 · A–B

Above — higher than (ऊपर)
Advice — an opinion on what someone should do (सलाह)
Advise — to tell someone what they should do (सलाह देना)
Ahead — in front; forward (आगे)
Algorithm — a set of steps to solve a problem (एल्गोरिथम)
Already — before now (पहले से)
Among — in the middle of several (के बीच)
Another — one more; a different one (एक और)
Apron — a cloth worn over the front of clothes (एप्रन)
Athlete — a person who is good at sports (खिलाड़ी)
Average — the usual amount; ordinary (औसत)
Bandage — a strip of cloth to cover a wound (पट्टी)
Basil — a fragrant herb (तुलसी जैसी जड़ी-बूटी)
Bear — to carry or tolerate; a large animal (सहना; भालू)
Become — to start to be (बन जाना)
Beverage — a drink (पेय पदार्थ)
Bowl — a deep round dish (कटोरा)
Bread — a baked food made from flour (रोटी, ब्रेड)
Breadth — the distance from side to side (चौड़ाई)

Everyday words 2 · B–C

Breakfast — the first meal of the day (नाश्ता)
Breath — air taken in and out of the lungs (साँस)
Brother — a boy or man with the same parents (भाई)
Bury — to put something under the ground (दफ़नाना)
Business — trade; a commercial activity (व्यापार)
Butcher — a person who sells meat (कसाई)
Butter — a yellow food made from cream (मक्खन)
Button — a small round fastener; a push switch (बटन)
Cabbage — a round green leafy vegetable (पत्तागोभी)
Cereal — a breakfast food made from grain (अनाज)
Chaos — complete disorder and confusion (अव्यवस्था)
Chemical — a substance made by chemistry (रासायनिक पदार्थ)
Chemistry — the science of substances (रसायन विज्ञान)
Chocolate — a sweet brown food made from cocoa (चॉकलेट)
Chorus — a group of singers; repeated part of a song (समूहगान; टेक)
Clerk — an office worker who keeps records (लिपिक, क्लर्क)
Cloth — woven material (कपड़ा)
Clothes — things that people wear (कपड़े)
College — a place of higher education (महाविद्यालय)

Everyday words 3 · C–D

Comfortable — giving ease; relaxed and free from pain (आरामदायक)
Company — a business; the presence of others (कंपनी; साथ)
Cottage — a small house in the countryside (कुटिया, छोटा मकान)
Country — a nation (देश)
Couple — two people or things together (जोड़ा)
Courage — bravery (साहस)
Cousin — child of one's uncle or aunt (चचेरा/ममेरा भाई या बहन)
Cover — to put something over; a lid (ढकना; आवरण)
Cupboard — a piece of furniture with doors for storing things (अलमारी)
Cushion — a soft bag used for sitting or leaning (गद्दी)
Damage — harm done to something (नुकसान)
Dead — no longer alive (मृत)
Deaf — unable to hear (बधिर)
Dealt — past form of 'deal' (निपटा)
Death — the end of life (मृत्यु)
Dessert — a sweet dish eaten after a meal (मिठाई, मीठा व्यंजन)
Device — a tool or machine made for a purpose (उपकरण)
Diameter — a line across the middle of a circle (व्यास)
Discover — to find something for the first time (खोज करना)

Everyday words 4 · D–H

Does — third person singular of 'do' (करता/करती है)
Done — finished; past participle of 'do' (किया हुआ; पूरा)
Double — twice as much (दोगुना)
Dozen — a group of twelve (दर्जन)
Dungeon — a dark prison under a castle (काल-कोठरी)
Envelope — a paper cover for a letter (लिफ़ाफ़ा)
Example — something that shows a general rule (उदाहरण)
Feather — a light part of a bird's body (पंख)
February — the second month of the year (फ़रवरी)
Film — a movie; to record a movie (फ़िल्म)
Flour — powder made from grain (आटा)
Focus — centre of attention; to concentrate (ध्यान केंद्रित करना)
Fruit — the sweet part of a plant that can be eaten (फल)
Glove — a covering for the hand (दस्ताना)
Gone — past participle of 'go' (चला गया)
Governor — the head of a state (राज्यपाल)
Great — very large or very good (महान, बहुत बढ़िया)
Head — the top part of the body (सिर)
Health — the condition of the body (स्वास्थ्य)

Everyday words 5 · H–L

Healthy — strong and well (स्वस्थ)
Heaven — the place where good people go after death (स्वर्ग)
Heavy — of great weight (भारी)
Height — how tall something is (ऊँचाई)
Honey — a sweet food made by bees (शहद)
Hood — a covering for the head (टोपी जैसा आवरण)
Image — a picture or likeness (छवि, तस्वीर)
Instead — in place of something (बजाय)
Iron — a metal; a device for pressing clothes; to press clothes (लोहा; इस्त्री; इस्त्री करना)
Jealous — unhappy because of another's success (ईर्ष्यालु)
Judge — a court official; to form an opinion (न्यायाधीश; परखना)
Justice — fair treatment (न्याय)
Label — a small piece of paper attached to an object (लेबल, पर्ची)
Language — a system of words used to speak or write (भाषा)
Leather — material made from animal skin (चमड़ा)
Leisure — free time; time for rest (फ़ुर्सत)
Leopard — a large spotted wild cat (तेंदुआ)
Lettuce — a green leafy salad vegetable (सलाद पत्ता)
Loose — not tight (ढीला)

Everyday words 6 · L–N

Lose — to fail to keep; to be defeated (खोना; हारना)
Love — deep affection (प्रेम)
Luggage — bags and suitcases for a journey (सामान)
Luxury — great comfort and expense (विलासिता)
Marriage — the legal union of two people (विवाह)
Mature — fully grown; sensible (परिपक्व)
Meadow — a field of grass (चरागाह)
Meant — past form of 'mean' (मतलब था)
Message — a piece of information sent to someone (संदेश)
Mischievous — playful in a naughty way (शरारती)
Monday — the first working day of the week (सोमवार)
Monkey — an animal that climbs trees (बंदर)
Mosquito — a small flying insect that bites (मच्छर)
Moth — an insect like a butterfly that flies at night (पतंगा)
Mother — a female parent (माँ)
Move — to change place or position (हिलना, हटाना)
None — not any; no one (कोई नहीं)
Nothing — not anything (कुछ नहीं)
Nourish — to give food needed for health (पोषण देना)

Everyday words 7 · O–Q

Once — one time; formerly (एक बार; कभी)
One — the number 1 (एक)
Onion — a round vegetable with a sharp smell (प्याज़)
Other — different or additional (दूसरा)
Oven — a closed box for baking food (तंदूर, ओवन)
Package — a parcel; a set of things offered together (पैकेट; पैकेज)
Parameter — a limit or fixed factor (मापदंड)
Passage — a short piece of text; a narrow way (अनुच्छेद; गलियारा)
Pear — a sweet fruit (नाशपाती)
Pizza — a flat baked dish of dough with toppings (पिज़्ज़ा)
Pleasure — a feeling of enjoyment (आनंद)
Poem — a piece of writing in verse (कविता)
Poet — a person who writes poems (कवि)
Potato — a round root vegetable (आलू)
Pretty — attractive; fairly (सुंदर; काफ़ी)
Pronunciation — the way a word is spoken (उच्चारण)
Prove — to show that something is true (सिद्ध करना)
Pudding — a soft sweet dish (हलवे जैसी मीठी डिश)
Queue — a line of people waiting; to wait in a line (कतार; कतार में लगना)

Everyday words 8 · Q–S

Quiet — making little or no noise (शांत)
Read — to look at and understand written words (पढ़ना)
Ready — prepared (तैयार)
Realm — a kingdom; an area of interest (राज्य; क्षेत्र)
Recipe — a set of instructions for cooking a dish (पकवान बनाने की विधि)
Recover — to get well again; to get back (स्वस्थ होना; वापस पाना)
Refrigerator — an appliance that keeps food cold (रेफ़्रिजरेटर)
Route — a way taken to reach a place (मार्ग)
Said — past form of 'say' (कहा)
Sausage — minced meat in a tube-shaped skin (सॉसेज)
Says — third person singular of 'say' (कहता/कहती है)
Schedule — a timetable; to plan for a fixed time (समय-सारणी; समय तय करना)
Sew — to join cloth with needle and thread (सिलना)
Shove — to push roughly (धक्का देना)
Soldier — a person in an army (सैनिक)
Some — an unspecified number (कुछ)
Son — a male child (बेटा)
Sour — having a sharp taste like lemon (खट्टा)
Spinach — a dark green leafy vegetable (पालक)

Everyday words 9 · S–V

Sponge — a soft material that soaks up water (स्पंज)
Spread — to open out; to cover a surface (फैलाना)
Steady — firm; regular (स्थिर)
Steak — a thick slice of meat or fish (मांस का मोटा टुकड़ा)
Suite — a set of connected rooms; a set of software programs (कमरों का समूह)
Sure — certain (निश्चित)
Swear — to promise solemnly; to use bad words (क़सम खाना)
Sweat — moisture from the skin when hot (पसीना)
Sweater — a woollen garment (स्वेटर)
Sword — a weapon with a long sharp blade (तलवार)
Thermometer — an instrument for measuring temperature (तापमापी)
Threat — a warning of harm (धमकी, ख़तरा)
Threaten — to say one will harm someone (धमकाना)
Tomato — a soft red fruit eaten as a vegetable (टमाटर)
Ton — a unit of weight (टन)
Tortoise — a slow animal with a hard shell (कछुआ)
Trouble — difficulty; to disturb (परेशानी; तंग करना)
Vase — a pot for holding flowers (फूलदान)
Vegetable — a plant or part of a plant eaten as food (सब्ज़ी)

Everyday words 10 · V–W

Video — a recording of moving pictures (वीडियो)
Village — a small settlement in the countryside (गाँव)
Vinegar — a sour liquid used in cooking (सिरका)
Vitamin — a substance needed in small amounts for health (विटामिन)
Wander — to walk about without a fixed aim (भटकना, घूमना)
Want — to wish to have or do (चाहना)
Was — past form of 'be' (I/he/she/it) (था/थी)
Wealth — a large amount of money or property (धन-संपत्ति)
Wealthy — rich (धनी)
Weapon — an object used to fight or attack (हथियार)
Wear — to have clothes on (पहनना)
Weather — the condition of the atmosphere (मौसम)
Wolf — a wild animal like a large dog (भेड़िया)
Woman — an adult female person (स्त्री, महिला)
Women — more than one woman (महिलाएँ)
Won — past form of 'win' (जीता)
Wonder — to be curious; amazement (सोचना; आश्चर्य)
Wool — soft hair from sheep (ऊन)
Worry — to feel anxious; anxiety (चिंता करना; चिंता)

Tricky sounds 1 · A–C

Access — a way of entering or reaching; to reach (पहुँच; प्राप्त करना)
Accident — an unexpected event causing harm (दुर्घटना)
Ache — a continuing dull pain; to hurt (दर्द; दर्द होना)
Adventure — an exciting or unusual experience (रोमांचक यात्रा, साहसिक अनुभव)
Aged — very old; of the stated age (बहुत बूढ़ा; उम्र वाला)
Aggression — angry or violent behaviour (आक्रामकता)
Anchor — a heavy hook that holds a ship; to fix firmly (लंगर; लंगर डालना)
Ancient — very old; from long ago (प्राचीन)
Anemone — a small wild flower; a sea creature (एक छोटा फूल)
Anger — a strong feeling of displeasure; to make angry (ग़ुस्सा; क्रोधित करना)
Anthem — a formal song of a country or group (राष्ट्रगान, स्तुति-गीत)
Anxious — worried and nervous (चिंतित, बेचैन)
Architect — a person who designs buildings (वास्तुकार)
Archive — a collection of old records; to store records (अभिलेखागार; अभिलेख में रखना)
Authority — power to give orders; an expert body (अधिकार, प्राधिकरण)
Blood — the red liquid in the body (ख़ून, रक्त)
Bough — a large branch of a tree (पेड़ की बड़ी शाखा)
Breathe — to take air in and out (साँस लेना)
Busy — having a lot to do (व्यस्त)
Casual — relaxed; not formal (अनौपचारिक, सहज)

Tricky sounds 2 · C–D

Ceiling — the upper surface of a room (छत (कमरे की))
Chameleon — a lizard that changes colour (गिरगिट)
Character — a person's nature; a person in a story (चरित्र, स्वभाव; पात्र)
Charisma — a special power to attract people (आकर्षक व्यक्तित्व)
Chasm — a deep opening in the ground; a wide gap (गहरी दरार; बड़ी खाई)
Chef — a professional cook (रसोइया (पेशेवर))
Chemist — a person who sells medicines (दवा-विक्रेता)
Choir — a group of singers (गायक-मंडली)
Closure — the act of closing; a feeling of an ending (बंद होना; समापन)
Congestion — heavy blocking, as of traffic or the nose (भीड़-भाड़, जाम; अवरोध)
Conscience — the inner sense of right and wrong (अंतरात्मा, विवेक)
Conscious — aware; awake (सचेत, होश में)
Cough — a sudden noisy push of air from the throat; to do so (खाँसी; खाँसना)
Creature — a living being, especially an animal (प्राणी, जीव)
Crooked — bent; dishonest (टेढ़ा; बेईमान)
Cycle — a series of events that repeat; to ride a bicycle (चक्र; साइकिल चलाना)
Daughter — a female child (बेटी)
Decision — a choice made after thinking (निर्णय)
Definite — clear and fixed; certain (निश्चित, स्पष्ट)
Dough — a thick mixture of flour and water (गुँधा हुआ आटा)

Tricky sounds 3 · D–I

Draught — a current of cold air; a serving of drink (हवा का झोंका; घूँट)
Drought — a long period without rain (सूखा)
Echo — a sound that bounces back (गूँज; गूँजना)
Emphasis — special importance or stress (ज़ोर, बल)
Engine — a machine that produces power (इंजन)
Enough — as much as is needed (काफ़ी, पर्याप्त)
Epitome — a perfect example of something (आदर्श उदाहरण; प्रतिमान)
Epoch — a long period of time in history (युग)
Exposure — being uncovered or made known (उजागर होना; संपर्क)
Favourite — liked more than others (पसंदीदा)
Finger — one of the five parts at the end of the hand (उँगली)
Flood — a large overflow of water (बाढ़; बाढ़ आना)
Furniture — tables, chairs, beds and similar objects (फ़र्नीचर)
Gauge — a measuring instrument; to judge (मापक यंत्र; आँकना)
Genuine — real, not fake; sincere (असली; सच्चा)
Gesture — a movement that expresses meaning (हाव-भाव, इशारा; इशारा करना)
Giant — a huge person or thing (दैत्य; विशाल)
Ginger — a hot-tasting root used in cooking (अदरक)
Hyperbole — deliberate exaggeration (अतिशयोक्ति)
Insurance — a contract that pays for loss or damage (बीमा)

Tricky sounds 4 · L–P

Laugh — to make sounds showing amusement (हँसना; हँसी)
Laughter — the sound of laughing (हँसी की आवाज़)
Learned — having much knowledge from study (विद्वान)
Linger — to stay on for a long time (देर तक टिके रहना)
Literature — written works, especially of high quality (साहित्य)
Machine — a device that does work (मशीन)
Magazine — a printed publication issued regularly (पत्रिका)
Measure — to find the size of something; a step taken (नापना; उपाय)
Medicine — a drug used to treat illness (दवा)
Minute — sixty seconds · extremely small (मिनट · अत्यंत सूक्ष्म)
Month — one of the twelve parts of a year (महीना)
Moustache — hair growing above the upper lip (मूँछ)
Naked — without clothes; uncovered (नग्न, नंगा)
Naughty — badly behaved, usually of a child (शरारती)
Nought — the number zero; nothing (शून्य)
Ocean — a very large sea (महासागर)
Official — approved by authority; a person in authority (आधिकारिक; अधिकारी)
Orchestra — a large group of musicians (वाद्यवृंद, ऑर्केस्ट्रा)
Ought — used to say what is right or sensible (चाहिए)
Parachute — a large cloth that slows a fall from the air (पैराशूट; पैराशूट से उतरना)

Tricky sounds 5 · P–S

Pharmacy — a shop that sells medicines (दवाख़ाना)
Phenomenon — a fact or event that can be observed (घटना, परिघटना)
Physician — a medical doctor (चिकित्सक)
Plough — a farm tool for turning soil (हल; हल चलाना)
Prophecy — a statement about what will happen (भविष्यवाणी)
Question — a sentence asking for information; to doubt (प्रश्न; संदेह करना)
Quinoa — a grain eaten as healthy food (क्विनोआ अनाज)
Rough — not smooth; not gentle (खुरदरा; कठोर)
Routine — a fixed daily pattern; regular (दिनचर्या; नियमित)
Sacred — holy; deserving great respect (पवित्र)
Sapphire — a blue precious stone (नीलम)
Scheme — a plan or programme (योजना)
School — a place where children are taught (विद्यालय, स्कूल)
Seizure — a sudden attack of illness; the act of seizing (दौरा; ज़ब्ती)
Slaughter — killing of animals or many people (वध, संहार; वध करना)
Southern — in or from the south (दक्षिणी)
Stomach — the organ where food is digested (पेट; आमाशय)
Succeed — to achieve a goal; to follow after (सफल होना; उत्तराधिकारी बनना)
Sugar — a sweet substance used in food and drink (चीनी, शक्कर)
Suggestion — an idea offered for consideration (सुझाव)

Tricky sounds 6 · T–W

Target — an aim or goal; to aim at (लक्ष्य; निशाना बनाना)
Television — a device that shows pictures and sound (दूरदर्शन, टीवी)
Temperature — how hot or cold something is (तापमान)
Theatre — a place where plays are shown (रंगमंच, नाट्यशाला)
Thorough — complete; careful and detailed (संपूर्ण; सावधानीपूर्ण)
Though — in spite of the fact that (हालाँकि)
Thought — an idea; the past form of 'think' (विचार; think का भूतकाल)
Through — from one side to the other (के आर-पार)
Thyme — a small herb used in cooking (एक सुगंधित जड़ी-बूटी)
Tough — strong; difficult (कठोर; कठिन)
Transition — a change from one state to another (संक्रमण, बदलाव)
Treasure — valuable things; to value highly (ख़ज़ाना; बहुमूल्य मानना)
Triumph — a great victory; to win (विजय; विजयी होना)
Trough — a long open container for animal feed or water (नाँद, कुंड)
Usual — normal; expected (सामान्य, आम)
Vaccine — a medicine that protects against a disease (टीका)
Visual — related to sight (दृश्य, देखने से जुड़ा)
Wicked — evil; very bad (दुष्ट, बुरा)
Wound — an injury; to injure · past of wind (घाव; घायल करना · wind का past)
Wretched — very unhappy or poor (दुखी, अभागा)

Borrowed words 1 · A–B

Ad hoc — made for a particular purpose only (तदर्थ, विशेष उद्देश्य के लिए)
Ad infinitum — without end (अनंत काल तक)
Ad nauseam — again and again until people are tired of it (इतना कि ऊब हो जाए)
Alma mater — the school or college one attended (अपना पूर्व विद्यालय या महाविद्यालय)
Alter ego — a person's second self or hidden side (दूसरा रूप, घनिष्ठ मित्र)
Ambience — the character and mood of a place (माहौल, वातावरण)
Angst — a feeling of deep worry or anxiety (गहरी चिंता, बेचैनी)
Avant-garde — very modern and experimental, ahead of its time (अग्रगामी, नवीन प्रयोगवादी)
Baguette — a long thin loaf of French bread (लंबी पतली फ़्रेंच ब्रेड)
Ballet — a graceful theatrical dance form (बैले नृत्य)
Beige — a pale sandy-brown colour (हल्का भूरा रंग)
Bizarre — very strange and unusual (विचित्र, अजीब)
Blitz — a sudden, intense attack or effort (अचानक ज़बरदस्त हमला या अभियान)
Bona fide — genuine and sincere (असली, सच्चा)
Bonsai — a tiny tree grown in a pot (गमले में उगाया गया बौना पेड़)
Bon voyage — a wish for a pleasant journey (यात्रा मंगलमय हो)
Bouquet — a bunch of flowers; the smell of wine (गुलदस्ता)
Bourgeois — belonging to the conventional middle class (मध्यवर्गीय; रूढ़िवादी)
Brochure — a small booklet with information (पुस्तिका)

Borrowed words 2 · B–D

Bureau — an office or a government department; a writing desk (कार्यालय, ब्यूरो)
Cache — a hidden store of things; stored data on a device (छिपा भंडार; कैश स्मृति)
Café — a small restaurant serving drinks and light meals (कैफ़े, छोटा रेस्तराँ)
Camouflage — a disguise that blends into the surroundings; to hide in this way (छद्मावरण; छिपाना)
Canapé — a small piece of bread with a topping (छोटा सजा हुआ नाश्ता)
Carte blanche — complete freedom to act as one wishes (पूरी छूट, खुली छूट)
Chalet — a wooden house, often in the mountains (पहाड़ी लकड़ी का मकान)
Chauffeur — a person employed to drive a car (वेतनभोगी चालक)
Chic — stylish and elegant (सुरुचिपूर्ण, फ़ैशनेबल)
Cliché — an idea or phrase that is overused (घिसा-पिटा वाक्यांश)
Clique — a small closed group of people (गुट; मंडली)
Connoisseur — an expert judge in matters of taste (पारखी)
Coup — a sudden seizure of power; a clever achievement (तख़्तापलट; शानदार सफलता)
Coup d'état — a sudden illegal seizure of power (तख़्तापलट)
Critique — a detailed evaluation; to evaluate in detail (आलोचनात्मक समीक्षा; समीक्षा करना)
Cuisine — a style of cooking of a country or region (पाक-शैली, व्यंजन)
Cul-de-sac — a street closed at one end (बंद गली)
Debris — scattered broken pieces left after destruction (मलबा)
De facto — in fact, whether or not officially recognised (वास्तव में, व्यवहार में)

Borrowed words 3 · D–F

Decor — the style of decoration in a room (साज-सज्जा)
Déjà vu — the feeling that you have lived the moment before (पहले देखे होने का एहसास)
Delicatessen — a shop selling cooked meats, cheeses and ready food (तैयार भोजन की दुकान)
Détente — the easing of tension between countries (तनाव में कमी, मैत्री-स्थापना)
Doppelgänger — a person who looks exactly like another (हमशक्ल)
Dossier — a set of papers with detailed information on a person (फ़ाइल, दस्तावेज़ों का पुलिंदा)
Elite — the most powerful or talented group (अभिजात वर्ग, श्रेष्ठ)
Emoji — a small digital picture showing an emotion (भाव दिखाने वाला छोटा चित्र)
Encore — a call or extra performance after the show (फिर से (प्रस्तुति))
Entourage — a group of people who attend an important person (अनुचर-मंडली, लाव-लश्कर)
Entrée — the main dish of a meal (मुख्य व्यंजन)
Entrepreneur — a person who starts and runs a business (उद्यमी)
Espresso — strong black coffee made with steam pressure (तेज़ काली कॉफ़ी)
Facade — the front of a building; a false outward appearance (इमारत का अगला भाग; दिखावटी रूप)
Fait accompli — something already done that cannot be changed (हो चुका काम)
Faux pas — an embarrassing mistake in social behaviour (सामाजिक शिष्टाचार की भूल)
Femme fatale — a dangerously attractive woman (जानलेवा रूप से आकर्षक स्त्री)
Fiancé — a man engaged to be married (मंगेतर (पुरुष))
Fuselage — the main body of an aeroplane (विमान का मुख्य ढाँचा)

Borrowed words 4 · G–M

Gaffe — an embarrassing mistake made in public (भारी भूल, चूक)
Genre — a category of art, music or writing (विधा; साहित्यिक प्रकार)
Ghetto — a part of a city where a minority group lives (बस्ती, अलग-थलग मोहल्ला)
Gourmet — a person who enjoys fine food; of high-quality food (खाने का शौक़ीन; उत्कृष्ट भोजन)
Graffiti — words or drawings painted on public walls (दीवारों पर बनी चित्रकारी या लिखावट)
Guerrilla — a member of a small irregular fighting group (छापामार)
Hors d'oeuvre — a small dish served before the main meal (भोजन से पहले परोसा जाने वाला छोटा व्यंजन)
Incognito — with one's identity hidden (छद्म वेश में, गुप्त रूप से)
In situ — in the original place or position (अपनी मूल जगह पर)
Kamikaze — a reckless act likely to cause one's own death (आत्मघाती)
Karaoke — entertainment where people sing along to recorded music (कराओके (संगीत पर गाना))
Karate — a Japanese martial art using hands and feet (जापानी मार्शल आर्ट)
Kindergarten — a school for very young children (बालवाड़ी, नर्सरी स्कूल)
Laissez-faire — a policy of not interfering in economic matters (अहस्तक्षेप की नीति)
Macabre — disturbing because it involves death (भयावह, मृत्यु से जुड़ा)
Maestro — a great conductor, composer or teacher of music (संगीत का महान गुरु)
Magnum opus — the greatest work of an artist or writer (सर्वश्रेष्ठ कृति)
Matinee — an afternoon performance of a play or film (दोपहर का शो)
Menu — a list of dishes in a restaurant (भोजन-सूची)

Borrowed words 5 · M–P

Milieu — the social surroundings in which one lives (सामाजिक परिवेश)
Mirage — an optical illusion, like water seen in a desert (मृगतृष्णा)
Modus operandi — a particular way of doing something (कार्य-पद्धति, काम करने का तरीक़ा)
Montage — a picture or film made by combining many images (चित्र-संयोजन)
Motif — a repeated pattern or theme (आकृति, मुख्य विषय)
Naive — lacking experience and too trusting (भोला, नादान)
Née — born with the name (used before a woman's maiden name) (पूर्व नाम (विवाह से पहले का))
Niche — a small specialised area of the market; suited to a small group (विशेष कोना; सीमित वर्ग का)
Nonchalant — calm and seeming not to care (लापरवाह, बेपरवाह)
Nuance — a very small difference in meaning or tone (सूक्ष्म अंतर)
Origami — the Japanese art of folding paper (काग़ज़ मोड़ने की जापानी कला)
Panache — a stylish and confident manner (शान, रोब-दाब)
Paparazzi — photographers who follow celebrities (मशहूर हस्तियों का पीछा करने वाले फ़ोटोग्राफ़र)
Passé — no longer fashionable (पुराना पड़ चुका, चलन से बाहर)
Per se — by itself; in itself (अपने आप में)
Plateau — a flat area of high land; a period of no change (पठार; स्थिरता की अवस्था)
Premiere — the first public showing of a film or play (पहला सार्वजनिक प्रदर्शन)
Prima donna — a very vain, temperamental person (नख़रेबाज़ (अहंकारी) व्यक्ति)
Pro bono — done free of charge for the public good (निःशुल्क, जनहित में)

Borrowed words 6 · P–S

Pâté — a soft paste of meat or fish (मांस या मछली का नरम पेस्ट)
Protégé — a young person helped by an older, experienced one (शिष्य, संरक्षित)
Quiche — a baked dish of eggs and cream in a pastry case (अंडे व क्रीम से बना बेक्ड व्यंजन)
Quid pro quo — something given in return for something else (बदले में दी गई वस्तु या सेवा)
Rapport — a close and friendly understanding between people (सौहार्द, आपसी तालमेल)
Regime — a government, especially an undemocratic one (शासन, सत्ता)
Rendezvous — a meeting at an agreed time and place (मिलन-स्थल; पूर्व-निर्धारित भेंट)
Repertoire — all the songs or plays a performer knows (प्रदर्शन-सूची, कलाओं का भंडार)
Reservoir — a large natural or artificial lake for storing water (जलाशय)
Restaurateur — a person who owns and runs a restaurant (रेस्तराँ का मालिक)
Résumé — a short written account of one's education and jobs (बायोडाटा, सार)
Ricochet — to bounce off a surface at an angle (टकराकर उछलना)
Risqué — slightly shocking or improper (थोड़ा अश्लील या अभद्र)
Sabotage — deliberate damage to spoil a plan; to damage deliberately (तोड़फोड़; जानबूझकर नुकसान पहुँचाना)
Saboteur — a person who deliberately damages something (तोड़फोड़ करने वाला)
Sachet — a small sealed packet of a substance (छोटा पैकेट)
Sauté — to fry quickly in a little oil (हल्का तलना)
Savoir-faire — the ability to behave well in any social situation (व्यवहार-कुशलता)
Schadenfreude — pleasure at another person's misfortune (दूसरे के दुर्भाग्य पर ख़ुशी)

Borrowed words 7 · S–Z

Silhouette — a dark shape seen against a light background (छायाकृति)
Soirée — an evening party (शाम की दावत)
Souvenir — an object kept as a memory of a place (यादगार वस्तु)
Status quo — the existing state of affairs (यथास्थिति)
Suede — soft leather with a velvety surface (मुलायम चमड़ा)
Sushi — Japanese rice rolls with fish or vegetables (जापानी व्यंजन (चावल और मछली))
Tableau — a scene shown by silent, still actors (झाँकी)
Tête-à-tête — a private conversation between two people (आमने-सामने की निजी बातचीत)
Valet — a person who parks cars for guests; a personal servant (गाड़ी खड़ी करने वाला; निजी सेवक)
Verbatim — in exactly the same words (शब्दशः)
Versus — against (in sports and law) (के विरुद्ध)
Vice versa — the other way round (इसके उलट)
Vignette — a short, vivid description or scene (लघु चित्रण)
Vis-à-vis — in relation to; compared with (के संबंध में, की तुलना में)
Voilà — there it is (used when showing something) (लीजिए, यह रहा)
Voyeur — a person who gets pleasure from secretly watching others (ताक-झाँक करने वाला)
Wanderlust — a strong desire to travel (घूमने की तीव्र इच्छा)
Zeitgeist — the general spirit or mood of an age (युग की भावना)

Stress changes the meaning 1 · A–C

Abstract — existing as an idea; a summary; to take out (अमूर्त; सार; अलग करना)
Abuse — wrong or cruel treatment; to treat badly (दुरुपयोग, गाली; दुरुपयोग करना)
Advocate — a supporter; to publicly support (समर्थक, वकील; पैरवी करना)
Ally — a friend or partner; to join together (सहयोगी, मित्र-राष्ट्र; जुड़ना)
Alternate — every second one; to take turns (एक-एक छोड़कर; बारी-बारी से आना)
Appropriate — suitable; to take for one's own use (उचित; हड़प लेना)
Approximate — nearly correct; to come close to (लगभग सही; निकट पहुँचना)
Associate — a partner; to connect in the mind (साथी, सहयोगी; जोड़ना)
Attribute — a quality or feature; to say something is caused by (गुण, विशेषता; श्रेय देना)
Bow — a weapon or a knot; to bend forward (धनुष, गाँठ; झुकना)
Close — to shut; near (बंद करना; पास)
Combat — fighting; to fight against (युद्ध, लड़ाई; मुक़ाबला करना)
Compound — a mixture of parts; to make worse (यौगिक, मिश्रण; और बिगाड़ना)
Conduct — (n) behaviour · (v) to carry out or lead ((n) आचरण · (v) संचालित करना)
Conflict — a serious disagreement; to clash (संघर्ष, टकराव; टकराना)
Console — a control panel; to comfort (नियंत्रण-पटल; सांत्वना देना)
Content — (n) what is inside · (adj) happy and satisfied ((n) विषय-वस्तु · (adj) संतुष्ट)
Contest — a competition; to dispute or compete for (प्रतियोगिता; विवाद करना, चुनाव लड़ना)
Contract — (n) a legal agreement · (v) to shrink; to catch an illness ((n) अनुबंध · (v) सिकुड़ना; बीमारी लगना)

Stress changes the meaning 2 · C–E

Contrast — a clear difference; to compare differences (अंतर, विषमता; तुलना करना)
Convert — a person who changed belief; to change form (धर्मांतरित व्यक्ति; बदलना)
Convict — a person jailed for a crime; to declare guilty (सज़ायाफ़्ता; दोषी ठहराना)
Decrease — a fall in amount; to become smaller (कमी; घटना)
Delegate — a representative; to hand over a task (प्रतिनिधि; काम सौंपना)
Deliberate — done on purpose; to think carefully (जान-बूझकर किया गया; सोच-विचार करना)
Desert — (n) a dry sandy region · (v) to abandon ((n) रेगिस्तान · (v) छोड़ देना)
Digest — a short summary; to absorb food or ideas (सार-संग्रह; पचाना)
Discount — a reduction in price; to reduce a price or ignore (छूट; घटाना, अनदेखा करना)
Document — an official paper; to record in writing (दस्तावेज़; लिखित रूप में दर्ज करना)
Duplicate — an exact copy; to make a copy (प्रतिलिपि; नक़ल करना)
Elaborate — detailed and complicated; to explain in detail (विस्तृत; विस्तार से बताना)
Entrance — a way in; to fill with delight (प्रवेश-द्वार; मंत्रमुग्ध करना)
Escort — a person who accompanies; to accompany (संरक्षक, साथ चलने वाला; साथ ले जाना)
Estimate — a rough calculation; to calculate roughly (अनुमान; अनुमान लगाना)
Excuse — a reason given for a fault; to forgive (बहाना; क्षमा करना)
Exploit — a bold act; to use unfairly or to make use of (साहसिक कार्य; शोषण करना)
Export — (n) goods sent abroad · (v) to send goods to another country ((n) निर्यात की वस्तु · (v) निर्यात करना)
Extract — a short passage or substance taken out; to take out (अंश, सार; निकालना)

Stress changes the meaning 3 · F–P

Frequent — happening often; to visit often (बार-बार होने वाला; बार-बार जाना)
Graduate — a person with a degree; to receive a degree (स्नातक; स्नातक होना)
House — a building to live in; to provide space (मकान; ठहराना)
Import — (n) goods brought from abroad · (v) to bring goods into a country ((n) आयात की वस्तु · (v) आयात करना)
Increase — (n) a rise · (v) to become or make greater ((n) वृद्धि · (v) बढ़ाना)
Insert — something put inside; to put into (अंदर रखी वस्तु; डालना)
Insult — (n) a rude remark · (v) to speak rudely to someone ((n) अपमान · (v) अपमान करना)
Intimate — very close and private; to hint (घनिष्ठ, निजी; संकेत देना)
Invalid — a sick or disabled person; not valid (रोगी या अपंग व्यक्ति; अमान्य)
Lead — to guide; a metal (नेतृत्व करना; सीसा)
Live — to be alive; happening now (जीना; सीधा प्रसारण वाला)
Moderate — medium; to make less extreme (मध्यम; नियंत्रित करना)
Object — (n) a thing; an aim · (v) to oppose ((n) वस्तु; उद्देश्य · (v) आपत्ति करना)
Perfect — without any fault; to make faultless (पूर्ण, त्रुटिहीन; निखारना)
Permit — (n) an official licence · (v) to allow ((n) अनुमति-पत्र · (v) अनुमति देना)
Present — (n) a gift; the current time · (v) to give or show ((n) उपहार; वर्तमान · (v) प्रस्तुत करना)
Produce — (n) farm products · (v) to make or create ((n) कृषि उपज · (v) उत्पादन करना)
Progress — forward movement; to move forward (प्रगति; आगे बढ़ना)
Project — (n) a planned piece of work · (v) to throw forward; to estimate ((n) परियोजना · (v) प्रक्षेपित करना; अनुमान लगाना)

Stress changes the meaning 4 · P–W

Protest — (n) a public show of disagreement · (v) to object strongly ((n) विरोध प्रदर्शन · (v) विरोध करना)
Rebel — (n) a person who fights authority · (v) to rise against authority ((n) विद्रोही · (v) विद्रोह करना)
Record — (n) a written account; the best result · (v) to put on tape or on paper ((n) अभिलेख; कीर्तिमान · (v) दर्ज करना)
Refuse — (n) rubbish · (v) to say no ((n) कूड़ा-कचरा · (v) मना करना)
Reject — a thing refused; to refuse to accept (अस्वीकृत वस्तु; अस्वीकार करना)
Row — a line; to paddle a boat; a quarrel (पंक्ति; नाव चलाना; झगड़ा)
Segment — one part of a whole; to divide into parts (खंड, हिस्सा; खंडों में बाँटना)
Separate — apart; to divide (अलग; अलग करना)
Sow — to plant seeds; a female pig (बोना; सूअरी)
Subject — (n) a topic; the doer of the action · (v) to expose to something ((n) विषय; कर्ता · (v) अधीन करना)
Survey — a study of opinions or an area; to examine (सर्वेक्षण; सर्वे करना)
Suspect — a person thought guilty; doubtful; to doubt (संदिग्ध व्यक्ति; शक़ करना)
Tear — a drop from the eye; to rip (आँसू; फाड़ना)
Torment — great suffering; to cause great pain (यातना; सताना)
Transfer — a move from one place to another; to move (स्थानांतरण; स्थानांतरित करना)
Transport — a system for carrying people; to carry (परिवहन; ढोना)
Upset — a shock or sadness; unhappy; to make unhappy (परेशानी; उदास; दुखी करना)
Use — the act of using; to employ (उपयोग; इस्तेमाल करना)
Wind — moving air; to turn or twist (हवा; घुमाना, लपेटना)

Stress in the right place 1 · A–A

Ability — the power to do something (क्षमता)
Academy — a school or college for special training (अकादमी, प्रशिक्षण संस्थान)
Address — to speak to; the place where someone lives (संबोधित करना; पता)
Administration — the management of an organisation or government (प्रशासन)
Admirable — deserving respect and approval (सराहनीय)
Admiration — respect and approval (प्रशंसा)
Advantage — a favourable position (लाभ, फ़ायदा)
Advertise — to promote a product publicly (विज्ञापन देना)
Advertisement — a public notice to promote a product or job (विज्ञापन)
Alcohol — a drink such as beer or wine; the liquid in it (शराब)
Analyse — to examine something in detail (विश्लेषण करना)
Analysis — a detailed examination of something (विश्लेषण)
Analyst — a person who analyses information (विश्लेषक)
Analytical — using careful reasoning and examination (विश्लेषणात्मक)
Application — a formal request; a use of something (आवेदन; प्रयोग)
Arithmetic — the study of numbers and calculation (अंकगणित)
Atmosphere — the air around the earth; the mood of a place (वायुमंडल; माहौल)
Atomic — relating to atoms (परमाणु)
Attitude — a way of thinking or behaving (दृष्टिकोण; रवैया)
Authentic — genuine; real (प्रामाणिक, असली)

Stress in the right place 2 · B–C

Biological — relating to living things (जैविक)
Biologist — a scientist who studies living things (जीव विज्ञानी)
Biology — the study of living things (जीव विज्ञान)
Bureaucracy — a system of government by officials (नौकरशाही)
Calendar — a chart showing days and months (कैलेंडर)
Career — a person's working life or profession (पेशा; जीवन-वृत्ति)
Catastrophe — a sudden great disaster (महाविपत्ति)
Category — a group of things of the same kind (श्रेणी)
Cement — grey powder used to bind bricks and stones (सीमेंट)
Ceremony — a formal public event (समारोह)
Cigarette — a thin roll of tobacco for smoking (सिगरेट)
Colleague — a person you work with (सहकर्मी)
Committee — a group chosen to make decisions (समिति)
Communicate — to share information with others (संवाद करना)
Community — a group of people living in one place (समुदाय)
Comparable — similar enough to be compared (तुलना योग्य, समान)
Compete — to try to win against others (प्रतिस्पर्धा करना)
Competent — having the skill to do something well (सक्षम, योग्य)
Competition — a contest; rivalry (प्रतियोगिता)
Competitive — involving competition; eager to win (प्रतिस्पर्धी)

Stress in the right place 3 · C–E

Competitor — a person or company that competes (प्रतियोगी, प्रतिद्वंद्वी)
Conference — a large formal meeting (सम्मेलन)
Consequence — a result of an action (परिणाम)
Contribute — to give a part toward something (योगदान देना)
Contribution — something given toward a result (योगदान)
Democracy — a system of government by the people (लोकतंत्र)
Democrat — a person who believes in democracy (लोकतंत्रवादी)
Democratic — based on democracy; fair to all (लोकतांत्रिक)
Determine — to decide; to find out exactly (निश्चय करना; पता लगाना)
Develop — to grow or make something grow (विकसित होना या करना)
Development — growth; a new stage (विकास)
Difficulty — a problem; the state of being hard (कठिनाई)
Diplomacy — managing relations between countries (कूटनीति)
Diplomat — an official who represents a country abroad (राजनयिक)
Diplomatic — relating to diplomacy; tactful (कूटनीतिक)
Disaster — a sudden event causing great damage (आपदा)
Discipline — training that produces orderly behaviour (अनुशासन)
Distribute — to give out among people (बाँटना, वितरित करना)
Economic — relating to the economy (आर्थिक)
Economical — not wasting money, time or fuel (किफ़ायती)

Stress in the right place 4 · E–G

Economics — the study of money, trade and production (अर्थशास्त्र)
Economist — an expert in economics (अर्थशास्त्री)
Economy — the system of money, trade and industry of a country (अर्थव्यवस्था)
Education — teaching and learning (शिक्षा)
Effect — a result or change caused by something (प्रभाव, असर)
Emergency — a sudden serious situation (आपातकाल)
Enemy — a person or country hostile to another (दुश्मन)
Engineer — a person who designs machines or structures (इंजीनियर)
Enthusiasm — strong eager interest (उत्साह)
Environment — the natural world; surroundings (पर्यावरण)
Epidemic — a widespread outbreak of disease (महामारी)
Especially — particularly (ख़ासकर)
Event — something that happens, especially important (घटना; आयोजन)
Exhibition — a public display (प्रदर्शनी)
Experience — knowledge from doing; to feel (अनुभव)
Experiment — a scientific test (प्रयोग)
Facility — a service or equipment provided (सुविधा)
Familiar — well known; often seen or heard (जाना-पहचाना)
Geographical — relating to geography (भौगोलिक)
Geography — the study of the Earth and its features (भूगोल)

Stress in the right place 5 · G–I

Geology — the study of rocks and the Earth's structure (भू-विज्ञान)
Geometric — relating to geometry or regular shapes (ज्यामितीय)
Geometry — the branch of maths dealing with shapes (ज्यामिति)
Government — the group that rules a country (सरकार)
Historian — a person who studies or writes history (इतिहासकार)
Historic — important in history (ऐतिहासिक (महत्त्वपूर्ण))
Historical — connected with the past; real in history (ऐतिहासिक (इतिहास से संबंधित))
History — the study of past events (इतिहास)
Hospitable — friendly and generous to guests (मेहमाननवाज़)
Hotel — a building that provides rooms for guests (होटल)
Hypocrisy — pretending to have beliefs one does not hold (पाखंड)
Hypothesis — a suggested explanation to be tested (परिकल्पना)
Identity — who a person is (पहचान)
Immediate — happening at once (तत्काल)
Important — of great value or significance (महत्वपूर्ण)
Impossible — not able to happen (असंभव)
Incredible — hard to believe; amazing (अविश्वसनीय)
Industrial — connected with industry (औद्योगिक)
Industrious — hard-working (परिश्रमी)
Industry — the making of goods; a branch of business (उद्योग)

Stress in the right place 6 · I–N

Inevitable — certain to happen; unavoidable (अपरिहार्य)
Information — facts told or learned (जानकारी)
Initiative — the first step; ability to act on one's own (पहल)
Interesting — holding your attention (रोचक)
Interview — a formal meeting to assess someone (साक्षात्कार)
Irrelevant — not connected with the matter (अप्रासंगिक)
Jewellery — ornaments such as rings and necklaces (आभूषण, गहने)
Lamentable — very bad; deserving regret (शोचनीय, दुखद)
Library — a place where books are kept (पुस्तकालय)
Literary — connected with literature (साहित्यिक)
Magnetic — having the power of a magnet (चुंबकीय)
Maintenance — keeping something in good condition (रखरखाव)
Manufacture — to make goods in a factory (निर्माण करना)
Mathematics — the study of numbers and shapes (गणित)
Mechanic — a person who repairs machines (मिस्त्री)
Mechanical — worked by a machine; done without thought (यांत्रिक)
Mechanism — a working part or process of a machine (क्रियाविधि, यंत्र-रचना)
Miserable — very unhappy (दुखी)
National — relating to a nation (राष्ट्रीय)
Nationality — belonging to a nation (राष्ट्रीयता)

Stress in the right place 7 · N–P

Necessary — needed (ज़रूरी)
Negotiate — to discuss to reach agreement (बातचीत से तय करना)
Nominate — to propose someone for a position (नामांकित करना)
Occasion — a particular time or event (अवसर)
Opportunity — a favourable chance to do something (अवसर, मौक़ा)
Origin — the point where something begins (उत्पत्ति, मूल)
Original — first; not copied (मूल; मौलिक)
Originality — the quality of being new and not copied (मौलिकता)
Originate — to begin or start from a source (उत्पन्न होना)
Parliament — the law-making body of a country (संसद)
Particular — specific (विशेष)
Patriotic — loving one's country (देशभक्त)
Permanent — lasting for ever (स्थायी)
Personality — a person's nature (व्यक्तित्व)
Photograph — a picture taken with a camera (फ़ोटो, तस्वीर)
Photographer — a person who takes photographs (फ़ोटोग्राफ़र)
Photographic — connected with photographs or photography (फ़ोटो से जुड़ा; फ़ोटोग्राफ़ी का)
Photography — the art of taking pictures (फ़ोटोग्राफ़ी)
Pioneer — one of the first to do something (अग्रदूत)
Police — the organisation that keeps law and order (पुलिस)

Stress in the right place 8 · P–S

Political — relating to politics or government (राजनीतिक)
Politician — a person who works in politics (राजनेता)
Politics — activities connected with government and power (राजनीति)
Possibility — something that may happen (संभावना)
Preferable — more desirable or suitable (ज़्यादा पसंदीदा, बेहतर)
Preference — liking one thing more than another (पसंद; वरीयता)
Preparation — getting ready (तैयारी)
Privilege — a special right or advantage (विशेषाधिकार)
Procedure — an established way of doing something (प्रक्रिया)
Professor — a senior university teacher (प्रोफ़ेसर)
Psychological — relating to the mind (मनोवैज्ञानिक)
Reality — the real state of things (वास्तविकता)
Reference — a mention; a source (संदर्भ)
Relevant — connected with the matter (प्रासंगिक)
Remarkable — worthy of notice; unusual (उल्लेखनीय)
Representative — a person who acts for others (प्रतिनिधि)
Reputation — general opinion about someone (प्रतिष्ठा)
Responsibility — a duty to deal with something (ज़िम्मेदारी)
Secretary — an official who handles papers and messages (सचिव)
Significant — important; meaningful (महत्वपूर्ण)

Stress in the right place 9 · S–V

Similar — alike but not identical (मिलता-जुलता)
Society — people living together; a club (समाज)
Success — achieving what you aimed for (सफलता)
Technical — relating to practical skills or machines (तकनीकी)
Technician — a person who works with technical equipment (तकनीशियन)
Technique — a particular way of doing something (तकनीक, कौशल)
Technological — relating to technology (तकनीकी)
Technology — scientific knowledge used in practice (प्रौद्योगिकी)
Temporary — lasting for a short time (अस्थायी)
Territory — land under a ruler's control (क्षेत्र, भू-भाग)
Unanimous — agreed by everyone (सर्वसम्मत)
Vocabulary — all the words one knows (शब्द भंडार)
Voluntary — done by choice (स्वैच्छिक)
Volunteer — a person who offers to help (स्वयंसेवक)
Vulnerable — easily hurt or attacked (असुरक्षित, कमज़ोर)

SSC words 1 · A–C

Acquiesce — to accept something without protest (चुपचाप मान लेना)
Adage — a short, well-known saying (कहावत, लोकोक्ति)
Ambiguous — having more than one possible meaning (अस्पष्ट, दो अर्थों वाला)
Ambivalent — having mixed feelings about something (दुविधा में, द्वंद्वग्रस्त)
Amenable — willing to accept or follow advice (सहमत होने को तैयार)
Anecdote — a short amusing or interesting story about a real event (किस्सा, रोचक प्रसंग)
Anonymous — with a name that is not known or not given (अज्ञात, गुमनाम)
Antipathy — a strong dislike (तीव्र अरुचि, विद्वेष)
Apathy — lack of interest or concern (उदासीनता)
Archipelago — a group or chain of many islands (द्वीप समूह)
Arduous — needing great effort and endurance (कठिन, कष्टसाध्य)
Ascetic — living a simple life without luxury; such a person (तपस्वी, संयमी)
Aura — a quality or feeling that surrounds a person or place (आभा, वातावरण)
Bellicose — eager to fight or quarrel (झगड़ालू, युद्धप्रिय)
Bequeath — to leave property to someone after death (वसीयत में देना)
Blasphemy — speech that insults God or sacred things (ईश-निंदा)
Cacophony — a harsh, unpleasant mixture of loud sounds (कर्कश शोर)
Cajole — to persuade someone by sweet talk (फुसलाना)
Camaraderie — friendship and trust among companions (भाईचारा)
Capricious — changing mood or behaviour suddenly and without reason (सनकी, अस्थिर)
Catharsis — the release of strong emotions that brings relief (भावनात्मक शुद्धि)

SSC words 2 · C–E

Clandestine — kept secret, often because illegal (गुप्त)
Cogent — clear, logical and convincing (तर्कसंगत, प्रभावशाली)
Commemorate — to honour the memory of a person or event (स्मरण करना, यादगार मनाना)
Conscientious — careful and hard-working; taking pains to do right (कर्तव्यनिष्ठ, ईमानदार)
Dearth — a lack or scarcity of something (कमी, अभाव)
Debacle — a sudden and complete failure (भारी विफलता)
Decorum — polite and correct behaviour (शिष्टाचार, मर्यादा)
Deference — polite respect for someone's opinion or position (आदर, सम्मान)
Deleterious — harmful, especially to health (हानिकारक)
Deluge — a heavy flood or great rush (बाढ़, बौछार)
Demise — death; the end of something (निधन; समाप्ति)
Disparate — completely different in kind (भिन्न, असमान)
Docile — quiet, obedient and easy to control (विनम्र, आज्ञाकारी)
Effervescent — bubbly; lively and enthusiastic (झागदार; उत्साह से भरा)
Egregious — outstandingly bad and shocking (घोर, अत्यंत निंदनीय)
Elicit — to draw out a response or information (उगलवाना, प्राप्त करना)
Eminent — famous and respected in a field (प्रतिष्ठित, विख्यात)
Enigma — a person or thing that is mysterious and hard to understand (पहेली, रहस्य)
Ennui — a feeling of boredom and dissatisfaction (ऊब, उदासी)
Ephemeral — lasting for a very short time (क्षणभंगुर)
Epiphany — a sudden moment of understanding (अचानक बोध)

SSC words 3 · E–H

Epitaph — words written on a gravestone in memory of a dead person (समाधि-लेख)
Equivocal — having two possible meanings; deliberately unclear (अस्पष्ट, द्वयर्थक)
Erudite — having or showing great knowledge from study (विद्वान, पांडित्यपूर्ण)
Espionage — the practice of spying (जासूसी)
Euphemism — a mild word used in place of a harsh or rude one (सौम्योक्ति)
Exacerbate — to make a bad situation worse (बिगाड़ना, और गंभीर बनाना)
Exorbitant — far too high, especially a price (अत्यधिक, बेहिसाब)
Fastidious — very careful about details; hard to please (नुक्ताचीं, बहुत सतर्क)
Fatigue — extreme tiredness; to make very tired (थकान; थका देना)
Fiasco — a complete and humiliating failure (पूर्ण असफलता)
Fortuitous — happening by chance, often luckily (संयोगवश घटित)
Garrulous — talking too much about unimportant things (बातूनी)
Gauche — awkward in social situations (अनाड़ी, भद्दा)
Gregarious — fond of company; sociable (मिलनसार)
Hallucination — seeing or hearing something that is not really there (भ्रम, मतिभ्रम)
Haphazard — done without any plan or order (अव्यवस्थित, बिना योजना का)
Hegemony — dominant control or leadership of one state over others (वर्चस्व)
Heinous — extremely wicked or shocking (जघन्य)
Heresy — a belief that goes against accepted opinion (पाखंड, धर्म-विरोधी मत)
Hierarchy — a system ranking people by status (पदानुक्रम)
Humane — showing kindness and sympathy (दयालु, मानवीय)

SSC words 4 · I–L

Iconoclast — a person who attacks cherished beliefs and customs (मूर्तिभंजक; रूढ़ि-विरोधी)
Idiosyncrasy — a personal habit or feature peculiar to one person (निजी सनक, विशिष्ट आदत)
Ignominious — causing public shame or disgrace (अपमानजनक, शर्मनाक)
Imbroglio — a confusing, embarrassing situation (उलझन भरी स्थिति)
Impasse — a situation where no progress is possible (गतिरोध)
Impeccable — perfect, without any fault (त्रुटिहीन, बेदाग़)
Impromptu — done without preparation (तात्कालिक, बिना तैयारी का)
Indigenous — originating naturally in a particular place; native (देशज, स्थानीय)
Inexorable — impossible to stop or change (अटल, अपरिहार्य)
Innuendo — an indirect hint, usually insulting (कटाक्ष, ताना)
Insidious — spreading slowly and harmfully without being noticed (धीरे-धीरे फैलने वाला, छलपूर्ण)
Irascible — easily angered; hot-tempered (चिड़चिड़ा, गुस्सैल)
Irreparable — too bad to be repaired (अपूरणीय)
Jeopardy — danger of harm, loss or failure (ख़तरा, जोखिम)
Juxtapose — to place two things side by side to show a contrast (साथ-साथ रखकर तुलना करना)
Knight — a medieval soldier of high rank (मध्यकालीन योद्धा, सामंत)
Lethal — able to cause death (घातक, जानलेवा)
Lethargy — a lack of energy and enthusiasm (सुस्ती)
Liaison — contact or cooperation between groups (संपर्क, तालमेल)
Lieutenant — a junior officer in the army or navy (लेफ्टिनेंट)
Loquacious — talking a great deal (बातूनी, वाचाल)

SSC words 5 · L–O

Lucrative — producing a lot of money; profitable (लाभदायक)
Lugubrious — looking or sounding sad and dull (उदास, शोकपूर्ण)
Malign — to speak ill of someone; harmful (बदनाम करना; हानिकर)
Mandatory — required by law or rule; compulsory (अनिवार्य)
Melancholy — deep, lasting sadness (उदासी)
Mercenary — motivated only by money; a hired soldier (पैसे का लालची; भाड़े का सैनिक)
Miscellaneous — of various kinds; mixed (विविध, फुटकर)
Mundane — ordinary and dull (साधारण, नीरस)
Nadir — the lowest point of a situation (सबसे निचला बिंदु)
Nemesis — a long-standing enemy or cause of ruin (घोर शत्रु; पतन का कारण)
Nostalgia — a sentimental longing for the past (अतीत की याद)
Oasis — a fertile spot in a desert (मरुद्यान)
Obituary — a notice of a person's death with a short life story (शोक-समाचार, मृत्यु-सूचना)
Oblique — slanting; indirect (तिरछा; परोक्ष)
Oblivious — not aware of what is happening around (बेख़बर, अनजान)
Obsolete — no longer used because something newer exists (अप्रचलित)
Ominous — suggesting that something bad will happen (अशुभ, अपशकुन-सूचक)
Omniscient — knowing everything (सर्वज्ञ)
Onomatopoeia — a word that imitates a sound (ध्वन्यात्मक शब्द)
Opaque — not clear enough to see through (अपारदर्शी)
Ordeal — a very unpleasant or painful experience (कठिन परीक्षा, कष्टदायक अनुभव)

SSC words 6 · O–P

Ostentatious — showing off wealth to impress others (दिखावटी)
Ostracise — to exclude someone from a group (समाज से बहिष्कृत करना)
Palpable — so strong that it can almost be felt (स्पष्ट, महसूस होने योग्य)
Panacea — a remedy for all problems (रामबाण, हर रोग की दवा)
Paradigm — a typical example or model of something (आदर्श नमूना)
Paradox — a statement that seems contradictory but may be true (विरोधाभास)
Paragon — a perfect example of a quality (आदर्श नमूना)
Pariah — a person rejected by society (बहिष्कृत व्यक्ति)
Pathos — a quality that arouses pity or sadness (करुणा, मार्मिकता)
Pedantic — too concerned with small rules and details (नुक्ताचीनी करने वाला)
Penchant — a strong liking or habit for something (झुकाव, शौक)
Penury — extreme poverty (घोर निर्धनता)
Perfunctory — done without care or interest (ऊपरी, बेमन से किया गया)
Pernicious — very harmful in a gradual way (घातक, हानिकारक)
Peruse — to read something carefully (ध्यान से पढ़ना)
Philanthropist — a person who gives money and help to others (परोपकारी)
Phlegmatic — calm and not easily upset (शांत, उदासीन स्वभाव का)
Pious — deeply religious (धर्मपरायण, श्रद्धालु)
Placid — calm and not easily excited (शांत, स्थिर)
Plagiarism — copying another person's work and calling it one's own (साहित्यिक चोरी)
Plethora — a very large amount, more than is needed (अधिकता, बहुतायत)

SSC words 7 · P–S

Poignant — causing deep sadness or emotion (मार्मिक, हृदयस्पर्शी)
Posthumous — happening or awarded after a person's death (मरणोपरांत)
Prerogative — a special right belonging to a person or group (विशेषाधिकार)
Prestige — respect gained from success or position (प्रतिष्ठा, साख)
Procrastinate — to delay doing something unnecessarily (टालमटोल करना)
Prodigy — a young person with extraordinary talent (विलक्षण प्रतिभा वाला बालक)
Pseudonym — a false name used by a writer (उपनाम, छद्म नाम)
Pugnacious — eager to quarrel or fight (झगड़ालू)
Querulous — complaining in a weak, irritable way (शिकायती, चिड़चिड़ा)
Quixotic — idealistic but impractical (आदर्शवादी पर अव्यावहारिक)
Rancour — deep bitterness and ill feeling (कटुता, द्वेष)
Rebuke — to scold sharply; a sharp scolding (फटकारना; फटकार)
Recalcitrant — stubbornly refusing to obey rules (जिद्दी, अवज्ञाकारी)
Recluse — a person who lives alone and avoids others (एकांतवासी)
Reconnaissance — a survey of an area, especially by the army (टोह, सर्वेक्षण)
Reiterate — to say something again for emphasis (दोहराना)
Reprieve — a delay of punishment; to delay a punishment (दंड में राहत; सज़ा टालना)
Resilient — able to recover quickly from difficulty (लचीला, शीघ्र उबरने वाला)
Reticent — unwilling to speak freely about one's thoughts (संकोची, अल्पभाषी)
Sagacious — wise and showing good judgement (बुद्धिमान, विवेकी)
Salient — most noticeable or important (प्रमुख, उल्लेखनीय)

SSC words 8 · S–T

Sanguine — hopeful and optimistic (आशावादी)
Sardonic — mocking in a bitter way (व्यंग्यपूर्ण, कटाक्ष भरा)
Schism — a split between people of the same group, especially in a religion or party (फूट, विभाजन)
Scrupulous — very careful and honest about details (सतर्क और ईमानदार)
Sedentary — involving much sitting and little exercise (बैठे रहने वाला)
Sepulchre — a stone tomb or burial place (कब्र, मकबरा)
Solace — comfort in sadness or trouble (सांत्वना, दिलासा)
Sporadic — happening only now and then (छिटपुट, कभी-कभार)
Staunch — loyal and firm in belief (निष्ठावान, दृढ़)
Stoic — a person who bears pain without complaint; calm in hardship (धैर्यवान व्यक्ति; सहनशील)
Stringent — strict and demanding (कठोर, सख़्त)
Suave — charming, confident and polite in manner (शिष्ट और आकर्षक)
Subpoena — a legal order to appear in court (अदालती समन)
Succinct — brief but clear (संक्षिप्त और स्पष्ट)
Sumptuous — splendid and obviously expensive (भव्य, शानदार)
Supercilious — behaving as if one is better than others (घमंडी, तिरस्कारपूर्ण)
Surfeit — an excess of something (अधिकता, अतिरेक)
Surreptitious — done secretly to avoid being noticed (चोरी-छिपे किया गया)
Sycophant — a person who flatters important people to gain favour (चापलूस)
Taciturn — saying very little; quiet by nature (मितभाषी, कम बोलने वाला)
Temerity — excessive boldness; nerve (दुस्साहस, धृष्टता)

SSC words 9 · T–Z

Tenacious — holding firmly to a goal; persistent (दृढ़, अडिग)
Thesaurus — a book of words with similar meanings (पर्यायवाची शब्दकोश)
Thwart — to stop someone from doing something (विफल करना, रोकना)
Transient — lasting only a short time (क्षणिक, अस्थायी)
Truculent — aggressive and ready to argue (झगड़ालू, उग्र)
Ubiquitous — seeming to be present everywhere at the same time (हर जगह मौजूद)
Utopia — an imaginary perfect society (आदर्श समाज, कल्पना-लोक)
Vacillate — to keep changing one's mind (डगमगाना, दुविधा में रहना)
Vehement — showing strong feeling or force (प्रबल, उग्र)
Verbose — using more words than needed (शब्दबहुल, वाचाल)
Virulent — extremely harmful or bitterly hostile (घातक; विषैला)
Vociferous — loud and forceful in expressing opinions (मुखर, शोर मचाने वाला)
Whimsical — playful and unusual; full of sudden fancies (सनकी, मनमौजी)
Zealous — full of eager enthusiasm (उत्साही, जोशीला)
Zenith — the highest point; the peak (चरम बिंदु)

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