पिवळा in 30 Sekunden
- Pivḷā is the Marathi word for yellow.
- It is a variable adjective that changes based on noun gender.
- Common forms are Pivḷā (M), Pivḷī (F), and Pivḷē (N).
- It is culturally significant due to its association with turmeric (Halad).
The Marathi word पिवळा (Pivḷā) is the primary adjective used to describe the color yellow. In the Marathi language, colors are not just static labels but are deeply integrated into the grammatical structure of the sentence. Because 'पिवळा' ends in the vowel 'ā', it is classified as a variable adjective. This means it must change its ending to agree with the gender and number of the noun it describes. For instance, if you are talking about a masculine object like a mango (आंबा - Āmbā), you use 'पिवळा'. If you are talking about a feminine object like a saree (साडी - Sāḍī), it becomes 'पिवळी' (Pivḷī). For a neuter object like a flower (फूल - Phūl), it becomes 'पिवळे' (Pivḷē). This agreement is the most fundamental aspect of using the word correctly in daily conversation.
- Visual Spectrum
- In the context of the rainbow or 'Indradhanushya', पिवळा is the third color usually mentioned. It represents brightness, energy, and the sun.
- Cultural Symbolism
- Yellow holds immense significance in Maharashtra. It is the color of turmeric (Halad), which is considered sacred and auspicious. You will see this color used extensively in weddings, religious rituals, and traditional medicine.
सूर्यफूल पिवळे असते. (The sunflower is yellow.)
Beyond physical objects, 'पिवळा' can sometimes be used to describe the state of something aging or ripening. A leaf turning yellow signifies the change of seasons, and a fruit turning yellow indicates it is ready to eat. In a more metaphorical or colloquial sense, describing someone's face as 'pivaḷā paḍṇē' (turning yellow) usually indicates sickness, anemia, or extreme fear, much like the English expression 'turning pale'. However, the primary use remains the literal description of color. Whether you are at a fruit market looking for 'pivaḷe keshari āmbē' (yellow saffron mangoes) or describing the 'pivaḷā dhom' (bright yellow) sun during a summer afternoon in Pune, this word is indispensable for any learner of Marathi.
तिने पिवळी ओढणी घातली आहे. (She has worn a yellow scarf/dupatta.)
Using 'पिवळा' in sentences requires an understanding of Marathi's Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) structure and adjective placement. Usually, the adjective precedes the noun it qualifies, but it can also follow the noun when acting as a predicate. For example, 'पिवळा शर्ट' (Yellow shirt) vs 'हा शर्ट पिवळा आहे' (This shirt is yellow). In both cases, the adjective must match the gender and number of the noun 'शर्ट' (which is masculine). If we change the noun to 'भिंत' (Bhinta - wall, which is feminine), the sentence becomes 'ती भिंत पिवळी आहे' (That wall is yellow).
- Masculine Singular
- तो पिवळा पक्षी पहा. (Look at that yellow bird.) Here, 'पक्षी' (bird) is masculine.
- Feminine Singular
- मला पिवळी फुले आवडतात. (I like yellow flowers.) Note: While 'फूल' is neuter, if referring to a specific feminine noun like 'चमेली' (Jasmine - though usually white, for example's sake), the ending shifts.
- Neuter Singular
- हे पिवळे घर कोणाचे आहे? (Whose yellow house is this?) 'घर' is neuter.
बाजारात भरपूर पिवळी केळी होती. (There were many yellow bananas in the market.)
When using 'पिवळा' in plural forms, the masculine 'पिवळा' changes to 'पिवळे' (Pivḷē), and both feminine and neuter plurals often consolidate into 'पिवळ्या' (Pivḷyā) in oblique cases or specific dialects, though standard Marathi distinguishes them. For example, 'पिवळे आंबे' (Yellow mangoes - masculine plural). If you add a postposition (like 'वर' - on, 'खाली' - under), the adjective takes the oblique form 'पिवळ्या' regardless of the original gender. 'त्या पिवळ्या टेबलावर' (On that yellow table). This 'oblique' transformation is a common hurdle for beginners but is essential for sounding like a native speaker.
You will encounter the word 'पिवळा' in a variety of real-world settings in Maharashtra. One of the most common places is the local 'Bhaji Market' (Vegetable market). Vendors will shout about 'पिवळी धमक लिंबू' (Bright yellow lemons) or 'पिवळे धमक आंबे' (Bright yellow mangoes). The intensifier 'धमक' (dhamak) is frequently paired with yellow to describe a shade that is particularly vibrant and saturated. You will also hear it in the kitchen, as 'पिवळी डाळ' (yellow dal/lentils) is a staple of every Maharashtrian household. Turmeric, or 'Halad', which gives the dal its color, is often described by its deep yellow hue.
- Festivals and Rituals
- During the 'Haldi' ceremony of a wedding, guests and family members will constantly use the word to describe the turmeric paste applied to the bride and groom. You might hear, "हळद किती पिवळी आहे!" (How yellow the turmeric is!).
- Public Transport
- In cities like Mumbai, the iconic taxis are often referred to as 'Kaali-Peeli' (Black and Yellow). While 'Peeli' is Hindi, in a Marathi context, people might say 'पिवळी टॅक्सी' (Pivḷī taxi).
पावसाळ्यात गढूळ पाणी पिवळसर दिसते. (In the rainy season, muddy water looks yellowish.)
In literature and poetry, 'पिवळा' is used to describe the 'Pivḷē ऊन' (yellow sunlight) of the late afternoon, often evoking a sense of nostalgia or calm. School children learn it as one of the colors of the national flag's 'Ashoka Chakra' background or in primary school rhymes about nature. If you are watching a Marathi news channel, you might hear it in the context of 'Pivaḷē Pramāṇpatra' (Yellow Certificate/Ration Card), which is a specific socio-economic category for food security in India. Thus, the word spans from the mundane act of buying lemons to the complexities of state administration.
The most frequent mistake English speakers make when using 'पिवळा' is failing to apply gender agreement. In English, the word 'yellow' never changes. Whether it is a yellow book, a yellow car, or yellow flowers, the word remains the same. In Marathi, this is a major error. Saying 'पिवळा साडी' (Pivḷā sāḍī) is incorrect because 'sāḍī' is feminine; it must be 'पिवळी साडी' (Pivḷī sāḍī). Similarly, saying 'पिवळा फुले' (Pivḷā phulē) for yellow flowers is wrong; it should be 'पिवळी फुले' (neuter plural agreement).
- Oblique Case Errors
- Another common pitfall is not changing the adjective when a postposition is added. For example, 'In the yellow room' should be 'पिवळ्या खोलीत' (Pivḷyā kholīt), not 'पिवळी खोलीत'. The 'ā' or 'ī' ending must transform to 'yā' before the suffix 't' (in).
Incorrect: तो पिवळा गाडीत बसला.
Correct: तो पिवळ्या गाडीत बसला. (He sat in the yellow car.)
Pronunciation is another area where learners struggle. The 'ḷ' (ळ) sound in 'पिवळा' does not exist in English. It is a retroflex lateral approximant. Many learners substitute it with a standard 'l' sound, saying 'Pivla'. While locals will understand you, it sounds distinctly foreign. To pronounce 'ळ' correctly, you must curl your tongue back and touch the roof of your mouth, then flick it forward. Finally, avoid using 'पिवळा' to mean 'cowardly' as is common in English ('yellow-bellied'). In Marathi, cowardice is expressed using words like 'भित्रा' (Bhitrā).
While 'पिवळा' is the general word for yellow, Marathi has several nuanced terms to describe different shades and intensities. Using these can make your Marathi sound more sophisticated and precise. For example, if you want to describe something that is golden-yellow, you would use 'सोनेरी' (Sonērī). This is often used for jewelry, sunlight, or ripening grain. If you want to describe a pale or faint yellow, the suffix '-सर' (-sar) can be added, making it 'पिवळसर' (Pivḷasar), which means 'yellowish'.
- पिवळा vs सोनेरी (Sonērī)
- 'पिवळा' is the flat color name. 'सोनेरी' implies a metallic luster or a precious quality, like 'सोनेरी किरण' (golden rays).
- पिवळा vs जर्द पिवळा (Jard Pivḷā)
- 'जर्द' (Jard) is a Persian-origin loanword used to describe a very deep, intense, or dark yellow, almost bordering on orange-yellow.
- पिवळा vs हळदण (Haḷadaṇ)
- 'हळदण' is a more poetic or rural term meaning 'to turn yellow like turmeric', often used for ripening crops.
आकाशात सोनेरी प्रकाश पसरला होता. (Golden light was spread across the sky.)
In some dialects, especially in southern Maharashtra, you might hear 'वळद' (Vaḷad) used colloquially in specific compound words, though 'पिवळा' remains the standard. For a learner, mastering 'पिवळा' and its gender variations is priority one, while 'पिवळसर' and 'सोनेरी' are excellent additions for a more descriptive vocabulary.
How Formal Is It?
"सदर भिंतीचा रंग पिवळा असावा."
"मला पिवळा रंग आवडतो."
"काय पिवळा धमक आंबा आहे हा!"
"हा बघ पिवळा चिमणा!"
"तो पार पिवळा पडला रे!"
Wusstest du?
The retroflex 'ḷ' in 'Pivḷā' is a characteristic feature of Marathi that distinguishes it from its neighbor Hindi, which uses 'Pīlā'.
Aussprachehilfe
- Pronouncing 'ḷ' as a simple 'l' (Pivla instead of Pivḷā).
- Aspirating the 'p' like 'Phivla'.
- Making the 'v' sound too much like an English 'f'.
- Shortening the final 'ā' too much.
- Missing the schwa sound in the middle 'va'.
Schwierigkeitsgrad
Easy to recognize in text as it's a common color.
Requires knowledge of gender agreement rules.
The retroflex 'ḷ' is difficult for native English speakers.
Easy to hear, though 'ḷ' might be confused with 'l'.
Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest
Voraussetzungen
Als Nächstes lernen
Fortgeschritten
Wichtige Grammatik
Adjective Agreement (Variable)
पिवळा (M), पिवळी (F), पिवळे (N).
Oblique Case Transformation
पिवळा -> पिवळ्या (before postpositions like -त, -वर, -ला).
Pluralization of Variable Adjectives
पिवळा आंबा -> पिवळे आंबे.
Intensifier Placement
पिवळा + धमक = पिवळा धमक.
Suffix -sar for 'ish'
पिवळा + सर = पिवळसर (Yellowish).
Beispiele nach Niveau
हा पिवळा आंबा आहे.
This is a yellow mango.
Masculine singular agreement: पिवळा + आंबा.
ती पिवळी गाडी आहे.
That is a yellow car.
Feminine singular agreement: पिवळी + गाडी.
हे पिवळे फूल आहे.
This is a yellow flower.
Neuter singular agreement: पिवळे + फूल.
मला पिवळा रंग आवडतो.
I like the color yellow.
'रंग' (color) is masculine, so we use 'पिवळा'.
सूर्य पिवळा दिसतो.
The sun looks yellow.
Predicate adjective agreement with 'सूर्य' (masculine).
पिवळे केळे खा.
Eat the yellow banana.
'केळे' (banana) is neuter singular.
माझा शर्ट पिवळा आहे.
My shirt is yellow.
Possessive 'माझा' and 'पिवळा' both agree with 'शर्ट'.
पिवळी पिशवी कुठे आहे?
Where is the yellow bag?
'पिशवी' (bag) is feminine.
बाजारात पिवळी केळी स्वस्त आहेत.
Yellow bananas are cheap in the market.
Plural neuter: 'केळी' is plural, so 'पिवळी' (or 'पिवळी' depending on dialect) is used.
त्याने पिवळा टोपी घातली नाही.
He did not wear a yellow cap.
Wait, 'टोपी' is feminine, so it should be 'पिवळी टोपी'.
आम्ही पिवळ्या घरात राहतो.
We live in a yellow house.
Oblique case: 'पिवळ्या' because of 'घरात' (in the house).
मला पिवळी डाळ हवी आहे.
I want yellow dal.
'डाळ' is feminine.
पिवळे पक्षी झाडावर आहेत.
Yellow birds are on the tree.
Masculine plural: 'पक्षी' (birds) + 'पिवळे'.
ती पिवळी साडी सुंदर आहे.
That yellow saree is beautiful.
Feminine agreement.
पिवळ्या रंगाची पेन्सिल दे.
Give the yellow color pencil.
Oblique 'पिवळ्या' because of 'रंगाची'.
लिंबू पिवळे आणि आंबट असते.
Lemon is yellow and sour.
Neuter singular 'लिंबू' + 'पिवळे'.
पिवळ्या धमक फुलांनी बाग भरली आहे.
The garden is filled with bright yellow flowers.
Use of intensifier 'धमक'.
आजोबांनी पिवळ्या कागदावर पत्र लिहिले.
Grandfather wrote a letter on yellow paper.
Oblique case 'पिवळ्या' modifying 'कागदावर'.
हळदीमुळे भाताला पिवळा रंग आला.
The rice got a yellow color because of turmeric.
Causal sentence structure.
तिचा चेहरा भीतीने पिवळा पडला.
Her face turned yellow (pale) with fear.
Idiomatic use of color for emotions.
पिवळ्या रंगाचा वापर करून चित्र काढा.
Draw a picture using yellow color.
Instructional imperative.
त्या पिवळ्या डब्यात काय आहे?
What is in that yellow box/container?
'डबा' is masculine, 'पिवळ्या' is oblique.
पिवळी ओढणी वाऱ्यावर उडत होती.
The yellow scarf was flying in the wind.
Descriptive past continuous.
उन्हाळ्यात गवत पिवळे पडते.
In summer, the grass turns yellow.
General truth about nature.
पिवळ्या रेशन कार्डावर धान्य मिळते.
Grain is available on the yellow ration card.
Specific cultural/administrative context.
पावसाळ्याच्या सुरुवातीला बेडूक पिवळे होतात.
Frogs turn yellow at the start of the monsoon.
Biological observation.
पिवळ्या रंगाचे महत्त्व भारतीय संस्कृतीत मोठे आहे.
The importance of yellow color is great in Indian culture.
Abstract noun phrase.
तिने पिवळसर रंगाची साडी निवडली.
She chose a yellowish saree.
Use of '-सर' for 'ish' suffix.
पिवळ्या दिव्याचा प्रकाश डोळ्यांना त्रास देतो.
The light from the yellow lamp hurts the eyes.
Complex sentence with subject-object relationship.
हळदीच्या कार्यक्रमात सर्वजण पिवळे कपडे घालतात.
Everyone wears yellow clothes in the Haldi ceremony.
Cultural practice description.
पिवळ्या फुलांचा ताटवा पाहून मन प्रसन्न झाले.
The mind felt refreshed seeing the cluster of yellow flowers.
Evocative literary style.
जुन्या पुस्तकाची पाने पिवळी झाली होती.
The pages of the old book had turned yellow.
Describing age and texture.
संध्याकाळचे पिवळे ऊन डोंगरांवर पसरले होते.
The yellow sunlight of the evening was spread over the mountains.
Literary description of 'Un' (sunlight).
त्याच्या बोलण्यातून एक प्रकारचा पिवळा मत्सर जाणवत होता.
A kind of yellow (bitter/jaundiced) jealousy was felt in his speech.
Metaphorical use of color for emotion.
पिवळ्या पत्रिकेवर लग्नाचे निमंत्रण दिले जाते.
Wedding invitations are given on yellow cards (traditionally).
Social custom reference.
पिवळ्या धातूचा मोह मानवाला अनादी काळापासून आहे.
Humanity has had a fascination with the yellow metal (gold) since time immemorial.
Euphemism for gold (Sonē).
पिवळसर पाणी पिणे आरोग्यासाठी घातक ठरू शकते.
Drinking yellowish water can prove dangerous for health.
Medical/Safety warning context.
पिवळ्या रंगाच्या छटा निसर्गात वैविध्यपूर्ण असतात.
The shades of yellow are diverse in nature.
Generalizing about aesthetics.
त्या इमारतीचा रंग पिवळा धमक असल्याने ती लांबूनच दिसते.
Since the building's color is bright yellow, it is visible from afar.
Causal link 'aslyāne'.
पिवळ्या रंगाची उधळण पाहून डोळ्यांचे पारणे फिटले.
Seeing the splash of yellow color was a treat for the eyes.
Idiomatic expression 'pāraṇē phiṭṇē'.
पिवळ्या रंगाच्या साहित्यातून क्रांतीची बीजे पेरली गेली.
The seeds of revolution were sown through 'yellow literature' (underground/sensational).
Historical/Political metaphor.
निसर्गाच्या पिवळ्या कॅनव्हासवर त्याने आपले आयुष्य रेखाटले.
He sketched his life on the yellow canvas of nature.
High literary abstraction.
पिवळ्या जर्द रंगाची ती कलाकृती प्रदर्शनाचे आकर्षण ठरली.
That artwork of deep intense yellow became the attraction of the exhibition.
Art criticism terminology.
पिवळ्या हळदीचा टिळा लावून त्याने युद्धावर प्रस्थान केले.
Applying a mark of yellow turmeric, he departed for war.
Epic/Historical narrative style.
पिवळ्या रंगाच्या लहरी मानवी मेंदूवर सकारात्मक परिणाम करतात.
Yellow color waves have a positive effect on the human brain.
Scientific/Psychological discourse.
पिवळ्या फुलांच्या गंधाने अवघा परिसर दरवळून गेला.
The entire area was filled with the fragrance of yellow flowers.
Poetic use of 'darvaḷṇē'.
पिवळ्या कागदावरील त्या जुन्या नोंदी इतिहासाची साक्ष देतात.
Those old records on yellow paper bear witness to history.
Formal historical documentation.
पिवळ्या रंगाची ही छटा केवळ पहाटेच्या प्रकाशातच उमटते.
This shade of yellow only appears in the dawn light.
Precise temporal description.
Häufige Kollokationen
Häufige Phrasen
पिवळा पडणे
पिवळी धमक
पिवळा जर्द
पिवळे पीक
पिवळी पत्रकारिता
पिवळे सोने
पिवळा सिग्नल
पिवळी टॅक्सी
पिवळा बेडूक
पिवळी भिंत
Redewendungen & Ausdrücke
"चेहरा पिवळा पडणे"
To lose color in the face due to fear or shock.
चोरी पकडली गेल्यावर त्याचा चेहरा पिवळा पडला.
Common"पिवळी पत्रकारिता"
Journalism based on sensationalism rather than facts.
काही वृत्तपत्रे केवळ पिवळी पत्रकारिता करतात.
Formal/Media"पिवळा पडणे (for crops)"
To ripen or to dry up (depending on context).
पाण्याअभावी पीक पिवळे पडले.
Agricultural"हात पिवळे करणे"
To get someone married (literally: to make hands yellow with turmeric).
मुलीचे हात पिवळे करण्याची जबाबदारी वडिलांची असते.
Cultural/Traditional"पिवळे सोने होणे"
To get a high price for a crop, making it as valuable as gold.
यंदा सोयाबीन पिवळे सोने झाले.
Economic/Rural"पिवळा डोळा"
To look with jealousy (less common than 'lal dola' but used for jaundiced view).
दुसऱ्याच्या प्रगतीवर पिवळा डोळा ठेवू नये.
Literary"पिवळे पान"
An old person (metaphor for a leaf about to fall).
म्हातारे आजोबा म्हणजे घराचे पिवळे पान.
Poetic"पिवळा ताप"
Yellow fever (medical).
त्याला पिवळा ताप झाला आहे.
Medical"पिवळा पट्टा"
Yellow belt (in martial arts).
त्याने कराटेमध्ये पिवळा पट्टा मिळवला.
Sports"पिवळ्या रंगाची उधळण"
A beautiful display of yellow (usually in nature).
वसंत ऋतूत पिवळ्या रंगाची उधळण दिसते.
LiteraryWortfamilie
Substantive
Verben
Adjektive
Verwandt
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
Think of a 'Pivot' (Piv-) that is 'Large' (-ḷā) and painted bright yellow. Pivot-Large = Pivḷā.
Visuelle Assoziation
Visualize a bright yellow 'Piv' (a small bird) with a 'La' (large) tail. The yellow bird is the 'Pivḷā' bird.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Try to find five things in your room that are 'पिवळा', 'पिवळी', or 'पिवळे' and name them aloud with the correct gender agreement.
Wortherkunft
Derived from the Old Indo-Aryan (Sanskrit) word 'Pīta' (पीत), meaning yellow.
Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: The color yellow or saffron.
Indo-Aryan -> Prakrit -> Apabhramsa -> Old Marathi -> Modern Marathi.Kultureller Kontext
No specific sensitivities; however, 'pivaḷā' used for skin can imply illness (jaundice), so use carefully when describing people.
In English, yellow can mean cowardice. In Marathi, it almost exclusively refers to the color or physical state (ripeness/health).
Im Alltag üben
Kontexte aus dem Alltag
Grocery Shopping
- पिवळी डाळ द्या.
- पिवळे लिंबू आहेत का?
- जास्त पिवळे आंबे नकोत.
- पिवळी केळी ताजी आहेत.
Describing Nature
- पिवळे सूर्यफूल पहा.
- पाने पिवळी झाली आहेत.
- पिवळे ऊन पडले आहे.
- पिवळा पक्षी उडाला.
Clothing/Fashion
- पिवळी साडी छान दिसते.
- माझा पिवळा शर्ट कुठे आहे?
- पिवळा रुमाल दे.
- तिने पिवळी रिबीन लावली आहे.
Art and Craft
- पिवळा रंग वापरा.
- पिवळा कागद कापून घ्या.
- पिवळी पेन्सिल संपली.
- पिवळ्या रंगाची छटा द्या.
Health
- त्याचे डोळे पिवळे झाले आहेत.
- लघवी पिवळी होत आहे.
- चेहरा पिवळा पडला आहे का?
- पिवळा ताप पसरला आहे.
Gesprächseinstiege
"तुला पिवळा रंग आवडतो का? (Do you like the color yellow?)"
"या पिवळ्या साडीची किंमत काय आहे? (What is the price of this yellow saree?)"
"तुझ्याकडे पिवळा पेन आहे का? (Do you have a yellow pen?)"
"बाहेर पिवळे ऊन किती छान पडले आहे ना? (The yellow sunlight outside is so nice, isn't it?)"
"पिवळी डाळ कशी बनवायची? (How to make yellow dal?)"
Tagebuch-Impulse
आज मी बाजारात पाहिलेल्या पिवळ्या गोष्टींबद्दल लिहा. (Write about the yellow things I saw in the market today.)
पिवळा रंग मला आनंदी का वाटतो? (Why does the color yellow make me feel happy?)
माझ्याकडे असलेल्या पिवळ्या कपड्यांचे वर्णन करा. (Describe the yellow clothes I have.)
निसर्गातील पिवळ्या रंगाचे महत्त्व काय आहे? (What is the importance of yellow in nature?)
जर संपूर्ण जग पिवळे झाले तर काय होईल? (What would happen if the whole world turned yellow?)
Summary
The word 'पिवळा' (yellow) is essential for basic descriptions in Marathi. Its most important feature is gender agreement: use 'पिवळा' for masculine nouns like 'आंबा' (mango) and 'पिवळी' for feminine nouns like 'साडी' (saree).
- Pivḷā is the Marathi word for yellow.
- It is a variable adjective that changes based on noun gender.
- Common forms are Pivḷā (M), Pivḷī (F), and Pivḷē (N).
- It is culturally significant due to its association with turmeric (Halad).
