Ways to say it
| Hindi | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| दुर्बल | durbal | /d̪ʊɾ.bəl/ (Hindi, Standard) |
| निर्बल | nirbal | /nɪɾ.bəl/ (Hindi, Standard) |
| कमज़ोर | kamzor | /kəm.zoːɾ/ (Hindi, Standard) /kəm.d͡ʒoːɾ/ (Hindi, Standard) |
| अशक्त | aśakt | /ə.ʃəkt̪/ (Hindi, Standard) |
दुर्बल is a formal term used when referring to physical weakness specifically. अशक्त is used for expressing incapacity or the lack of strength. The word कमजोरियत suggests the state of being weak or feeble.
What does it mean word for word?
The word दुर्बल is composed of the prefix dur- (bad/difficult) and bal (strength/force).
Which one should you use?
While दुर्बल and निर्बल are formal Sanskrit-derived terms, कमज़ोर is a common Persian-derived word used more frequently in everyday spoken Hindi.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
अशक्त is a highly formal or literary term often used in legal, political or philosophical contexts to denote a lack of power or capacity.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective कमज़ोर is invariant for gender and number, meaning it does not change whether the subject is masculine, feminine, singular or plural.
How do you pronounce it?
durbal is pronounced /d̪ʊɾ.bəl/.
Did you know?
- The root bal in दुर्बल and निर्बल is the same root found in the name Balram, a figure of immense strength in Indian mythology.
- While most Hindi adjectives change their ending to match the gender of the person they describe, कमज़ोर remains exactly the same for everyone.
- The word दुर्बल is a doublet of the common word दुबला, which specifically describes someone who is thin or skinny.
Examples in context
- टॉम कमज़ोर नहीं है।Tom isn't weak.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use कमज़ोर in a negative statement.Tatoeba #3617095 by sabretou, translation #3171262 by CK
- वह बीमार हो गया है, उसकी सेहत कमजोर हो गई है।He has fallen ill, his health has become weak.
- उसके लिए यह बड़ी मुश्किल होगी क्योंकि वह शारीरिक रूप से अशक्त है।It will be difficult for him because he is physically weak.
- वह बहुत दुर्बल दिख रहा है।vah bahut durbal dikh raha hai.He is looking very weak.
- बीमारी के कारण शरीर दुर्बल हो गया।beemaaree ke kaaran shareer durbal ho gaya.The body became weak due to illness.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Aditya and Priya are discussing a student's performance.
- आदित्य Adityaप्रिया, क्या यह छात्र गणित में दुर्बल है?Priyā, kyā yah chātr gaṇit meṃ durbal hai?Priya, is this student weak in mathematics?
- प्रिया Priyaहाँ आदित्य, उसे और अभ्यास की ज़रूरत है।hāñ Āditya, use aur abhyās kī zarūrat hai।Yes Aditya, he needs more practice.
- आदित्य Adityaमैं उसे अतिरिक्त मदद दूँगा।maiṃ use atirikt madad dūṅgā।I will give him extra help.
- प्रिया Priyaयह एक बहुत अच्छा विचार है।yah ek bahut acchā vicār hai।That is a very good idea.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “weak” translations and entries दुर्बल, निर्बल, कमज़ोर, अशक्त, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries अशक्त, कमज़ोर, दुर्बल, निर्बल, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
