Ways to say it
| Hindi | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| प्रिय | priya | /pɾɪ.jᵊ/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| प्रिया | priyā | /pɾɪ.jɑː/ (Hindi, Standard) | feminine |
| प्रियतम | priytam | /pɾɪj.t̪əm/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| प्रियतमा | priyatmā | /pɾɪ.jət̪.mɑː/ (Hindi, Standard) | feminine |
These terms are used to refer to a person who is dearly loved or liked. Some forms are used for general affection, while others are specifically poetic or highly intense.
Which one should you use?
The forms differ in intensity and gender. प्रिय and प्रिया are standard terms for 'dear' or 'beloved'. In contrast, प्रियतम and प्रियतमा are more intense or poetic versions, often translated as 'dearest' or 'beloved'. Additionally, the term दिलरुबा is used in poetic expressions to convey the sense of someone who captivates your heart.
How does it change in a sentence?
The words change based on the gender of the person being addressed. For the standard and intense forms, use प्रिय (masculine) and प्रिया (feminine) or प्रियतम (masculine) and प्रियतमा (feminine). For the informal endearing terms, use प्यारा (masculine) and प्यारी (feminine).
How do you pronounce it?
priya (2 syllables)
Did you know?
- While प्रिय is a standard term, the word दिलरुबा literally means 'heart-stealer' or 'heart-snatcher'. It describes someone who has captivated your heart by force of attraction.
- In modern urban India, people often skip these formal Hindi terms and use English words like 'baby' or 'honey' even while speaking Hindi.
- Because these words are 'learned borrowings' from Sanskrit, they carry a weight of prestige and can make a simple greeting feel much more profound or sacred.
Examples in context
- तुम मेरे लिए सबसे प्यारी हो।You are the most beloved to me.
Example conversation
Aditya and Anjali are planning a dinner date.
- आदित्य Adityaनमस्ते प्रिय, आज रात का क्या प्लान है?namaste priya, aaj raat ka kya plan hai?Hello sweetheart, what is the plan for tonight?
- अंजलि Anjaliहम बाहर खाना खाने चल सकते हैं।hum baahar khaana khaane chal sakte hain.We can go out for dinner.
- आदित्य Adityaयह बहुत अच्छा विचार है!yah bahut accha vichaar hai!That is a very good idea!
- अंजलि Anjaliठीक है, मैं तैयार होती हूँ।theek hai, main taiyaar hoti hoon.Okay, I will get ready.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sweetheart” translations and entries प्रिय, प्रिया, प्रियतम, प्रियतमा, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries प्रिय, प्रियतम, प्रियतमा, प्रिया, CC BY-SA 4.0.
