What does it mean word for word?
The word शुभकामनाएँ is literally "auspicious wishes", composed of shubh meaning auspicious or good and kamna meaning wish or desire.
Which one should you use?
The standard form शुभकामनाएँ is used for general best wishes. For a more specific emphasis on luck, you can use सौभाग्य!, which means "Good luck!" There are also more elaborate formal constructions: सौभाग्य प्राप्ति की शुभकामनाएँ means "best wishes for good luck", and ईश्वर आपको सफलता दें means "May God grant you success".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
शुभकामनाएँ is a formal and polite way to wish someone luck, making it suitable for professional settings, speeches or greeting cards. The phrases सौभाग्य प्राप्ति की शुभकामनाएँ and ईश्वर आपको सफलता दें are also formal options for expressing luck and success.
How do you pronounce it?
shubhkamnayein
Did you know?
- When wishing luck for a new business or home, it is common to accompany the phrase शुभकामनाएँ with the offering of sweets, called mithai.
- The root shubh is so central to the concept of luck that it appears in shubh mahurat, the practice of choosing an 'auspicious time' for weddings or business deals.
- The word शुभ (shubh) in शुभकामनाएँ is a key component of many names and terms related to divinity and purity, much like 'blessed' in English.
Examples in context
- परीक्षा के लिए शुभकामनाएँ।Pariksha ke liye shubhkamnayein.Good luck for the exam.
- आपको नई नौकरी के लिए शुभकामनाएँ।Aapko nayi naukri ke liye shubhkamnayein.Good luck to you for your new job.
Example conversation
Anjali is wishing Rahul luck before his job interview.
- अंजलि Anjaliराहुल, इंटरव्यू के लिए शुभकामनाएँ।Rahul, interview ke liye shubhkamnayein.Rahul, good luck for the interview.
- राहुल Rahulशुक्रिया, अंजलि।Shukriya, Anjali.Thank you, Anjali.
- अंजलि Anjaliतुम बहुत अच्छा करोगे।Tum bahut achha karoge.You will do very well.
- राहुल Rahulउम्मीद तो यही है।Ummeed toh yahi hai.That is the hope.
