दवा
davā/d̪ə.ʋɑː/feminine
In Hindi, the English word 'medicine' is most commonly translated as दवा (davā). Wiktionary also lists औषधि (auṣdhi) and औषध (auṣadh).
Meaning: substance which promotes healing (noun)
Ways to say it
| Hindi | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| दवा | davā | /d̪ə.ʋɑː/ (Hindi, Standard) | feminine |
| औषधि | auṣdhi | /ɔːʂ.d̪ʱiː/ (Hindi, Standard) | feminine |
| औषध | auṣadh | /ɔː.ʂəd̪ʱ/ (Hindi, Standard) | feminine |
| दारू | dārū | /d̪ɑː.ɾuː/ (Hindi, Standard) | feminine |
| दवाई | davāī | /d̪ə.ʋɑː.iː/ (Hindi, Standard) | feminine |
| औखध | aukhadh | /ɔː.kʰəd̪ʱ/ (Hindi, Standard) | feminine |
The terms in Hindi refer to substances used for healing.
Which one should you use?
The word दवा is the most common, everyday word for medicine used in conversation. Its variation दवाई is a very common variation of दवा used interchangeably in spoken Hindi. औषधि is a more formal or technical term, often used in medical or literary contexts. Note that औषध and औखध are also forms of the word medicine.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of the common word दवा is दवाइयाँ.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers should avoid using दारू to mean medicine, as it is a slang term for alcohol/liquor.
Did you know?
- The word दारू originally meant a medicinal drug in Middle Persian, but in modern Hindi, it has shifted to mean alcohol.
- In many rural Indian dialects, the word दवाई can be used broadly to refer to any chemical treatment, including pesticides for crops.
- In an Ayurvedic context, the word औषधि refers not just to a pill, but to the entire healing property of a plant.
Examples in context
- औषधि का अच्छा प्रभाव पड़ा।The medicine had a good effect.This sentence shows how to describe the positive effect of औषधि.
- वह दवाइयां खरीदता है।He buys medicine.This sentence demonstrates the use of दवा when discussing purchasing medicine.Tatoeba #3870406 by sabretou, translation #434860 by lukaszpp
- मुझे खाँसी की दवाई चाहिए।I need coughing medicine.This sentence shows how to use दवा to express a specific need for medicine.Tatoeba #491559 by minshirui, translation #436847 by lukaszpp
- कृपया आप मुझे दवा दे सकते हैं?Can you please give me the medicine?
- 18 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Anjali is checking on Rahul, who is feeling unwell at home.
- अंजलि Anjaliराहुल, क्या तुमने दवा ली?Rāhul, kyā tumne davā lī?Rahul, did you take your medicine?
- राहुल Rahulअभी नहीं, मैं थोड़ी देर बाद लूँगा।abhī nahīṅ, maiṅ thoṛī der bād lūṅgā.Not yet, I will take it in a little while.
- अंजलि Anjaliनहीं, तुम्हें अभी दवा लेनी चाहिए।nahīṅ, tumhe abhī davā lenī cāhiye.No, you should take the medicine now.
- राहुल Rahulठीक है, मैं अभी ले लेता हूँ।ṭhīk hai, maiṅ abhī le letā hūṅ.Okay, I will take it right now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “medicine” translations and entries दवा, औषधि, औषध, दारू, दवाई, औखध, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries औषध, औषधि, दवा, दारू, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0, Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
