How to Say "Adjective" in Nepali

विशेषण

viśeṣaṇ

The English word 'adjective' is translated into Nepali as विशेषण (viśeṣaṇ).

In a grammatical context, विशेषण refers to a word that modifies a noun or describes a noun’s referent.

Meaning: (grammar) a word that modifies a noun or describes a noun’s referent (noun)

What does it mean word for word?

The word is derived from Sanskrit roots where viśeṣa means 'distinction' or 'specialty' and the suffix -ṇa denotes a quality or state.

viśeṣaṇ

In Nepali, some words can function as both a noun and a विशेषण without changing their form, making the distinction depend entirely on the word's position in the sentence.
The term विशेषण is part of a linguistic 'bridge' across South Asia. Because of its Sanskrit origin, a speaker of Bengali or Hindi would likely recognize this word instantly even if they do not speak Nepali.
In Nepali education, the विशेषण is rarely taught in isolation. It is presented as one half of a mandatory pair with विशेष्य, which is the noun being described.

रातो फूल
Red flower
ठुलो घर
Big house
यो शब्द एक विशेषण हो।
yo shabda ek visheshana ho.
This word is an adjective.
विशेषणले नामको विशेषता बुझाउँछ।
visheshanaley naamko visheshata bujhaunchha.
An adjective describes the characteristics of a noun.
तपाईँले वाक्यमा विशेषण प्रयोग गर्नुभयो।
tapāīṅle vākyamā visheshana prayoga garnubhayō.
You used an adjective in the sentence.

Two students are studying Nepali grammar together.

माया Maya

रोशन, यो शब्द के हो?
Roshan, yo shabda ke ho?
Roshan, what is this word?
रोशन Roshan

यो एउटा विशेषण हो, माया।
Yo euta visheshon ho, Maya.
This is an adjective, Maya.
माया Maya

यसले के काम गर्छ?
Yasle ke kaam garchha?
What does it do?
रोशन Roshan

यसले नामको वर्णन गर्छ।
Yasle naamko varnan garchha.
It describes the noun.

Sources

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