पूर्व
pūrv/puːɾʋ/masculine
In Hindi, 'east' is expressed as पूर्व (pūrv). Wiktionary also lists मशरिक़ (maśriq) and शर्क़ (śarq).
Meaning: compass point (noun)
Ways to say it
| Hindi | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| पूर्व | pūrv | /puːɾʋ/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| मशरिक़ | maśriq | /məʃ.ɾɪq/ (Hindi, Standard) /məʃ.ɾɪk/ (Hindi, Standard) |
masculine |
| शर्क़ | śarq | masculine | |
| शर्क | śark | masculine | |
| पूरब | pūrab | /puː.ɾəb/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| पूर्वा | pūrvā | feminine | |
| पूब | pūb | masculine |
The word refers to the compass point. It can also be used to refer to the Eastern world when using the forms पूरब or पूर्व.
Which one should you use?
पूर्व is more formal and is commonly used in official contexts, such as 'Middle East' (मध्य–पूर्व). In contrast, पूरब is more common in everyday spoken Hindi and casual conversation. The form मशरिक़ is a loanword from Arabic/Persian and is used in highly formal, literary or poetic contexts.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The formal term for east in Hindi is पूर्व. मशरिक़ is used in highly formal, literary or poetic contexts.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
All listed forms are masculine nouns, except for पूर्वा, which is feminine. The formal term पूर्वी is an adjective meaning "eastern".
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /puːɾʋ/ (pūrv).
Did you know?
- The word पूर्व is a homonym in Hindi that also means 'previous' or 'former'. For example, a 'former president' would use this same word.
- In Vastu Shastra, the traditional Indian system of architecture, the पूर्व is viewed as the most auspicious direction for a home's main entrance to welcome the sun.
- The term मशरिक़ is a loanword from Arabic and Persian, making it a linguistic relative of the words for 'east' used across the Islamic world.
Examples in context
- पूरब का सूरज पश्चिम में उगेगा।The sun of the east shall rise in the west.This sentence uses पूरब.Tatoeba #2657648 by sabretou, translation #2575685 by sabretou
- येमेन मध्य-पूर्व में एक देश है।Yemen is a country in the Middle East.This sentence uses पूर्व.Tatoeba #3661665 by sabretou, translation #3362001 by CK
- सउदी अरब मध्य पूर्व में सबसे बड़ा देश है।Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the Middle East.Tatoeba #3621294 by sabretou, translation #1815540 by Amastan
- मैं शहर के पूर्वी भाग में रहता/रहती हूँ।I live in the eastern part of the city.
- सूर्य पूर्व में उगता है।The sun rises in the east.
- अगर आप पूर्व की ओर जाएँगे, तो आप बाजार पाएँगे।If you go east, you will find the market.
Example conversation
Aditya and Pooja are looking at a map together.
- आदित्य Adityaपूजा, यह शहर नक्शे में कहाँ है?Puja, yah shahar nakshe mein kahan hai?Puja, where is this city on the map?
- पूजा Poojaयह शहर पूर्व दिशा में स्थित है।Yah shahar purv disha mein sthit hai.This city is located in the east direction.
- आदित्य Adityaक्या हमें पूर्व की ओर जाना होगा?Kya hamein purv ki or jana hoga?Will we have to go towards the east?
- पूजा Poojaहाँ, हमें उसी तरफ जाना है।Haan, hamein usi taraf jana hai.Yes, we have to go in that direction.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “east” translations and entries पूर्व, मशरिक़, पूरब, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries पूर्व, मशरिक़, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
