Hindi · Emotions & Descriptions
"Beautiful" in Hindi: सुंदर
सुंदरsundar
Note: also: ख़ूबसूरत (khoobsoorat)
Beautiful in Hindi is सुंदर (sundar). Unlike most Hindi adjectives, it never changes its ending, so you say sundar ghar (a beautiful house) and sundar saadi (a beautiful sari). You will also hear ख़ूबसूरत (khoobsoorat), which comes from Urdu and is just as common in speech and songs.
Sightseeing in Agra
ताज महल सच में बहुत सुंदर है!Taj Mahal sach mein bahut sundar hai!
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How to pronounce सुंदर
Say it
SOON-dur
/sʊn̪.d̪ər/
Say SOON-dur, but keep the first vowel short, like the u in "put". The n blends straight into a dental d, made with the tongue against the upper teeth. The final r is a light tap of the tongue, not an English r.
"Beautiful" in Hindi: quick reference
| Hindi | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| सुंदरsundar | beautiful The all-purpose word for people, places, and things. It stays the same for every gender. | The all-purpose word for people, places, and things. It stays the same for every gender. |
| ख़ूबसूरतkhoobsoorat | beautiful, gorgeous Urdu-origin and very common in conversation, film songs, and poetry. It also never changes. | Urdu-origin and very common in conversation, film songs, and poetry. It also never changes. |
| बहुत सुंदरbahut sundar | very beautiful The everyday compliment for a view, an outfit, or a photo. | The everyday compliment for a view, an outfit, or a photo. |
| प्यारा / प्यारीpyaara / pyaari | lovely, cute For children, pets, and sweet things. Unlike sundar, it changes for gender. | For children, pets, and sweet things. Unlike sundar, it changes for gender. |
| हैंडसमhandsome | handsome In casual talk, men are more often called handsome, in English, than sundar. | In casual talk, men are more often called handsome, in English, than sundar. |
How to use सुंदर in real life
- 1Sightseeing in Agra
ताज महल सच में बहुत सुंदर है!
Taj Mahal sach mein bahut sundar hai!
The Taj Mahal is really beautiful!
Sach mein (really, truly) is a natural way to add feeling to any compliment.
- 2Complimenting a guest at a wedding
आपकी साड़ी बहुत सुंदर है, कहाँ से ली?
aapki saadi bahut sundar hai, kahaan se li?
Your sari is beautiful, where did you get it?
Asking where something is from is a friendly follow-up, and people are usually happy to tell you.
- 3Looking at the view from a hill station
यहाँ से पहाड़ कितने सुंदर लगते हैं!
yahaan se pahaad kitne sundar lagte hain!
The mountains look so beautiful from here!
Lagna means "to seem" or "to look". Here it agrees with pahaad, which is plural.
Mistakes English speakers make with सुंदर
Incorrect: Aapki saadi bahut sundari hai.
Correct: Aapki saadi bahut sundar hai.
Learners who know achha and achhi sometimes add -i to every adjective. Sundar does not end in -aa, so it never changes.
Incorrect: Khaana bahut sundar tha.
Correct: Khaana bahut svaadisht tha.
Sundar is about looks. For tasty food say svaadisht (delicious) or simply achha. For lovely weather, say mausam suhaana hai.
Good to know
Hindi has several words for beautiful, and each has its own feel. Sundar comes from Sanskrit and is neutral and safe everywhere, while khoobsoorat, from Persian through Urdu, sounds a little more romantic and fills Bollywood lyrics. In everyday city speech, people also mix in English words like cute and smart for compliments about clothes and looks.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Telling a friend about your trip to Udaipur
ChatPal
उदयपुर की ट्रिप कैसी रही?
Udaipur ki trip kaisi rahi?
How was your trip to Udaipur?
You
बहुत अच्छी! उदयपुर की झीलें बहुत सुंदर हैं।
bahut achhi! Udaipur ki jheelen bahut sundar hain.
Really good! The lakes in Udaipur are so beautiful.
ChatPal
मैंने सुना है वहाँ का सूर्यास्त भी बहुत ख़ूबसूरत होता है।
maine suna hai vahaan ka sooryaast bhi bahut khoobsoorat hota hai.
I've heard the sunset there is beautiful too.
You
हाँ, बिल्कुल! सबसे सुंदर नज़ारा पिछोला झील पर था।
haan, bilkul! sabse sundar nazaara Pichhola jheel par tha.
Yes, absolutely! The most beautiful view was at Lake Pichola.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Beautiful" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Beautiful" in Hindi
Does sundar change for masculine and feminine?
No. Sundar is an invariable adjective: sundar ladka, sundar ladki, sundar phool. Only adjectives ending in -aa, like achha or pyaara, change to -e or -i.
What is the difference between sundar and khoobsoorat?
They mean the same, and both are used every day. Sundar is Sanskrit-origin and a bit more neutral. Khoobsoorat is Urdu-origin and sounds slightly more poetic, which is why songs love it.
How do I tell someone they look beautiful?
Say aap bahut sundar lag rahi hain to a woman, or lag rahe hain to a man. It is a normal compliment from family and friends, for example at a wedding, but from a stranger it can feel too personal.
Can I call a man sundar?
Yes. Sundar works for men too, as in sundar ladka (a good-looking boy). In casual speech, though, people more often say handsome or smart about a man's looks.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
