Ways to say it
| Hindi | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| पहाड़ | pahāṛ | /pə.ɦɑːɽ/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| पर्वत | parvat | /pəɾ.ʋət̪/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| गिरि | giri | /ɡɪ.ɾiː/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| पर्बत | parbat | masculine | |
| अचल | acal | /ə.t͡ʃəl/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| नग | nag | /nəɡ/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
All forms of this word refer to a large mass of earth and rock. Additionally, the term Shikhar is used specifically to refer to the summit or peak of a mountain range.
Which one should you use?
पहाड़ is the most common, everyday word used in standard conversation. पर्वत is a more formal or literary term often found in news, textbooks or formal literature.
Is it said differently in some regions?
पर्बत is a term commonly used in Northern India, especially in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word पहाड़ has an oblique plural form, पहाड़ों, which is used when it is followed by a postposition such as 'of' or 'on'. The adjective form for 'mountainous' or 'of the mountain' is पहाड़ी.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is pahāṛ (IPA: /pə.ɦɑːɽ/). It has two syllables.
Did you know?
- The word गिरि shares an ancient root with the Proto-Indo-European word for 'mountain', making it a very distant relative of words in other European languages.
- In Hindi, the word अचल can be used for 'mountain', but it literally translates to 'the immovable one' or 'that which does not move'.
- The word गिरि is not just a synonym for mountain, but it is often used in names of gods or mythical places, such as 'Giridhar' which means 'one who lifts a mountain'.
Examples in context
- यान्नी को पर्वत दिखा।Yanni saw the mountain.This sentence shows the use of पर्वत.Tatoeba #10047622 by sabretou, translation #9956111 by Amastan
- उस पहाड़ की चोटी चपटी है।The top of that mountain is flat.This sentence shows the use of पहाड़.Tatoeba #561241 by minshirui, translation #68366 by CM
- पहाड़ पर बर्फ़ बिछी हुई है।The mountain is covered with snow.Tatoeba #506538 by minshirui, translation #47709 by CK
- मुझे पहाड़ों में ट्रेकिंग करना बहुत पसंद है।I love trekking in the mountains.
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Vikas and Priya are looking at a landscape from a balcony.
- विकास Vikasप्रिया, देखो वह सुंदर पहाड़!Priyā, dekho vah sundar pahāṛ!Priya, look at that beautiful mountain!
- प्रिया Priyaहाँ विकास, वह बहुत बड़ा है।hā̃ Vikās, vah bahut baṛā hai.Yes Vikas, it is very large.
- विकास Vikasक्या हम उस पहाड़ पर जाएँ?kyā ham us pahāṛ par jā'ẽ?Shall we go to that mountain?
- प्रिया Priyaअभी नहीं, बहुत गर्मी है।abhī nahī̃, bahut garmi hai.Not now, it is very hot.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mountain” translations and entries पहाड़, पर्वत, गिरि, अचल, नग, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries गिरि, पर्वत, पहाड़, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
