Ways to say it
| Hindi | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| इंसान | insān | /ɪn.sɑːn/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| मनुष्य | manuṣya | /mə.nʊʂ.jᵊ/ (Hindi, Standard) | |
| मानव | mānav | /mɑː.nəʋ/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| आदमी | ādmī | /ɑːd̪.miː/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| आदम | ādam | /ɑː.d̪əm/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| बशर | baśar | /bə.ʃəɾ/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| मानस | mānas | /mɑː.nəs/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| मानुस | mānus | /mɑː.nʊs/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| मानुष | mānuṣ | masculine, alternative form |
In Hindi, the terms for "human" vary. The adjective form मानवीय is used to describe things having the nature or attributes of a human, such as "human nature".
Which one should you use?
While इंसान is the most common way to refer to a human being in everyday spoken Hindi, मनुष्य is a more formal term. आदमी is most commonly used to mean "man" (an adult male), although it can occasionally mean "human" in certain contexts. बशर is a highly poetic or literary term often found in poetry influenced by Urdu.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
मनुष्य is formal and is typically reserved for written Hindi, official documents, academic contexts, science or philosophy. बशर is used in poetic or literary registers.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word इंसान is a masculine noun. While इंसानों is a plural form, in many simple sentences, the plural of इंसान is often expressed through context or by adding the word for people, लोग.
How do you pronounce it?
insān (two syllables: /ɪn.sɑːn/)
Did you know?
- The formal word मनुष्य is linked to 'Manu', the mythical first man and lawgiver in Hindu cosmology.
- The word आदमी is actually derived from the name 'Adam', linking the concept of 'human' to the biblical or Quranic first man.
- Hindi has multiple words for 'human' because it blends two distinct linguistic worlds: the Sanskrit-derived 'Tatsam' words and the Persian-Arabic 'Loan' words.
Examples in context
- वह इंसान नहीं, हैवान है।He is not a human, but a beast.This sentence uses इंसान to contrast a human with a beast.
- प्रत्येक मनुष्य मरणशील है।Every human being is mortal.This sentence uses मनुष्य to state that every human being is mortal.
- तुम एक मानव हो।You're a human.This sentence uses मानव to state that you are a human.Tatoeba #4640342 by sabretou, translation #416544 by Scott
- हर इंसान को सम्मान और प्रेम का हक़ होता है।Every human being deserves respect and love.
- इंसान अपने आसपास के लोगों के साथ समय बिताना पसंद करता है।Humans like to spend time with people around them.
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Neha and Vikas are talking about helping others.
- नेहा Nehaक्या तुम एक अच्छे इंसान हो?Kya tum ek achhe insaan ho?Are you a good human being?
- विकास Vikasहाँ, मैं सबकी मदद करता हूँ।Haan, main sabki madad karta hoon.Yes, I help everyone.
- नेहा Nehaयह जानकर बहुत खुशी हुई।Yeh jaankar bahut khushi hui.I am very happy to know that.
- विकास Vikasइंसान को दयालु होना चाहिए।Insaan ko dayalu hona chahiye.A human being should be kind.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “human” translations and entries इंसान, मनुष्य, मानव, आदमी, आदम, बशर, मानस, मानुस, मानुष, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries आदमी, इंसान, मनुष्य, मानव, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0, Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
