ओस
os/oːs/feminine
The English word 'dew' is translated into Hindi as ओस (os). Wiktionary also lists शबनम (śabnam).
Meaning: moisture in the air that settles on plants, etc (noun)
Ways to say it
| Hindi | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ओस | os | /oːs/ (Hindi, Standard) | feminine |
| शबनम | śabnam | /ʃəb.nəm/ (Hindi, Standard) | feminine |
The word refers to moisture in the air that settles on plants, etc.
Which one should you use?
ओस is the standard, everyday word for dew, whereas शबनम is a more poetic or literary way to express the same concept.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ओस is the common form used in standard, everyday speech. शबनम is reserved for more formal, literary or poetic contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both forms are feminine nouns. If you want to say 'dewdrops', you can use the phrase ओस की बूंदें, which literally means 'drops of dew'.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /oːs/.
Did you know?
- While ओस is the everyday word, शबनम is so closely linked to poetry and romance that it is frequently used as a female given name in India.
- The poetic word शबनम is a compound of two Persian words: शब meaning 'night' and नम meaning 'moisture'.
- In many Hindi poems, शबनम is used as a metaphor for tears, personifying the 'moisture of the night' as something human and sorrowful.
Examples in context
- घास पर ओस जमी है।ghaas par os jamee hai.There is dew on the grass.
- सुबह की ओस बहुत ठंडी थी।subah kee os bahut thandee thee.The morning dew was very cold.
- पत्तों पर ओस की बूंदें हैं।patton par os kee boondein hain.There are dew drops on the leaves.
Example conversation
A couple is walking through a garden early in the morning.
- आदित्य Adityaदेखो, फूलों पर ओस है।dekho, phoolon par os hai.Look, there is dew on the flowers.
- प्रिया Priyaहाँ, यह बहुत सुंदर लग रहा है।haan, yah bahut sundar lag raha hai.Yes, it looks very beautiful.
- आदित्य Adityaप्रिया, क्या तुम्हें ठंड लग रही है?priya, kya tumhein thand lag rahee hai?Priya, are you feeling cold?
- प्रिया Priyaहाँ, ओस की वजह से ठंड है।haan, os kee vajah se thand hai.Yes, it is cold because of the dew.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dew” translations and entries ओस, शबनम, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ओस, शबनम, CC BY-SA 4.0.
