Ways to say it
| Hindi | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ज़िंदगी | zindagī | /zɪn.d̪ə.ɡiː/ (Hindi, Standard) /d͡ʒɪn.d̪ə.ɡiː/ (Hindi, Standard) |
feminine |
| जीना | jīnā | /d͡ʒiː.nɑː/ (Hindi, Standard) | |
| जीवन | jīvan | /d͡ʒiː.ʋən/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| हयात | hayāt | /ɦə.jɑːt̪/ (Hindi, Standard) | feminine |
| प्राण | prāṇ | /pɾɑːɳ/ (Hindi, Standard) | feminine |
| लाइफ | lāiph | masculine | |
| लाइफ़ | lāif | masculine | |
| जीव | jīv | /d͡ʒiːʋ/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| जीवित | jīvit | /d͡ʒiː.ʋɪt̪/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| जान | jān | /d͡ʒɑːn/ (Hindi, Standard) | feminine |
While the general concept of the state of being alive is expressed by many terms, they vary significantly in nuance. Some terms refer to the biological life force, some to the philosophical concept of existence and others to the transliterated English word used in casual speech.
Which one should you use?
ज़िंदगी is the most common way to refer to life in everyday conversation and poetry. In contrast, जीवन is a more formal or philosophical term often found in literature, science or proverbs. जान is a colloquial term used to refer to the 'life force' or 'breath of life' within a person, frequently appearing in idioms about being precious or the process of dying. For spiritual or yogic contexts, प्राण is used to refer specifically to the vital life force or breath. The terms लाइफ and लाइफ़ are the transliterated English word 'life' and are used in colloquial settings. The term जीव typically refers to a living being, while जीवित is the adjective for being alive. हयात is another form for life, and प्राण is a feminine noun referring to life force.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ज़िंदगी is the standard for daily use and poetic expression. जीवन is the preferred choice for formal, scientific or literary contexts. प्राण is a formal and spiritual term, while जान is highly colloquial.
How does it change in a sentence?
ज़िंदगी is a feminine noun, so any adjectives modifying it must also be in the feminine form. जीवन is a masculine noun, so any adjectives modifying it must also be in the masculine form. लाइफ and लाइफ़ are masculine nouns. प्राण is a feminine noun. जान is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
zindagī (/zɪn.d̪ə.ɡiː/)
When do people say it?
In metaphorical speech, the term धड़कन (heartbeat) is sometimes used to represent life. Additionally, the word जान is often used in idioms to describe something or someone that is incredibly precious, as they represent one's very life force.
Did you know?
- In poetic or romantic Hindi, the word जान is frequently used as a term of endearment for a loved one, effectively calling them 'my life'.
- The term हयात traveled from Arabic into Classical Persian before entering Hindi around 1609.
Examples in context
- जल ही जीवन है।Water is life.This sentence uses जीवन to show how water is essential for life.Tatoeba #5978200 by anushka, translation #3861611 by Hybrid
- जीवन एक रहस्य है।Life is a mystery.This sentence uses जीवन to express a philosophical thought about life.Tatoeba #12395488 by Saumya, translation #3737508 by CK
- ज़िंदगी एक पहेली है ।Life is a riddle.This sentence uses ज़िंदगी to describe life as a riddle.Tatoeba #8938156 by simranbansal, translation #9415338 by abracadebby
- मनुष्य के लिए जीवन महत्वपूर्ण होता है।Life is important for humans.
- इस जिंदगी में हमेशा खुश रहो।Stay happy in this life.
- 39 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Amit and Priya are discussing their busy schedules in a cafe.
- अमित Amitशहर की ज़िंदगी बहुत भागदौड़ भरी है।shahar ki zindagi bahut bhaagdaud bhari hai.City life is very hectic.
- प्रिया Priyaहाँ, अमित, मैं भी यही महसूस करती हूँ।haan, amit, main bhi yahi mehsoos karti hoon.Yes, Amit, I feel the same way.
- अमित Amitहमें थोड़ा समय अपने लिए निकालना चाहिए।hamein thoda samay apne liye nikaalna chahiye.We should take some time for ourselves.
- प्रिया Priyaबिल्कुल, सुकून ज़रूरी है।bilkul, sukoon zaroori hai.Exactly, peace is necessary.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “life” translations and entries ज़िंदगी, जीना, जीवन, हयात, प्राण, जीव, जीवित, जान, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ज़िंदगी, जीवन, प्राण, हयात, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
