सपना
सपना in 30 Seconds
- Refers to the images and stories seen during sleep.
- Represents life goals, ambitions, and deep desires.
- Always a masculine singular noun in Hindi grammar.
- Commonly paired with the verb 'देखना' (to see).
- Literal Meaning
- The series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep, often discussed in the morning.
कल रात मैंने एक बहुत अजीब सपना देखा।
- Metaphorical Meaning
- A cherished aspiration, ambition, or ideal that a person wishes to achieve in their waking life, driving their daily actions.
डॉक्टर बनना मेरा बचपन का सपना है।
उसका सपना एक दिन सच होगा।
- Cultural Context
- Dreams are frequently discussed in Indian households, often analyzed for hidden meanings or future predictions regarding family matters.
मुझे कल रात एक डरावना सपना आया।
हमारा सपना भारत को महान बनाना है।
- Verb Pairing
- The most common verb used with 'सपना' is 'देखना' (to see). This applies to both literal sleep dreams and future aspirations.
हर कोई एक सफल जीवन का सपना देखता है।
- Expressing Goals
- Use the infinitive verb + 'ने' + 'का' + 'सपना' to express a specific action you dream of doing.
मेरा विदेश जाने का सपना है।
उसका सपना बहुत बड़ा है।
- Negative Sentences
- To say you didn't dream, simply place 'नहीं' before the verb.
मुझे कल रात कोई सपना नहीं आया।
यह घर मेरा सपना था।
- In Media
- Bollywood songs and movie dialogues are saturated with references to dreams, both romantic and ambitious.
वह मेरे सपनों का राजकुमार है।
- Daily Life
- Morning routines often involve discussing the dreams one had during the night with family members.
आज सुबह मैंने एक बहुत अच्छा सपना देखा।
क्या तुम्हारा सपना पूरा हुआ?
- Political Speeches
- Used to describe the collective vision or goals for the country's future development.
यह नए भारत का सपना है।
हमें अपने सपनों के लिए लड़ना होगा।
- Gender Agreement
- Always treat 'सपना' as a masculine singular noun. Modifying adjectives and pronouns must match this gender.
यह मेरा सबसे बड़ा सपना है। (Correct)
- Dream vs. Sleep
- Do not interchange 'सपना' (dream) with 'नींद' (sleep). They require different verbs and contexts.
नींद में मैंने एक सपना देखा।
उसका सपना अधूरा रह गया।
- Oblique Case
- When using a postposition after the plural 'dreams', you must use the oblique form 'सपनों'.
वह मेरे सपनों में आती है।
मैंने सपनों का महल बनाया।
- Formal Synonym
- 'स्वप्न' (svapn) is the Sanskrit-derived formal equivalent, used in literature and official contexts.
यह एक बुरा स्वप्न था।
- Poetic Synonym
- 'ख़्वाब' (khvaab) is an Urdu/Persian origin word heavily used in romantic contexts and songs.
मैंने एक हसीन ख़्वाब देखा।
मेरे अरमान पूरे नहीं हुए।
- Antonyms
- Words like 'हकीकत' (reality) and 'सच्चाई' (truth) serve as the direct opposites to the illusion of a dream.
यह सपना नहीं, हकीकत है।
उसका लक्ष्य स्पष्ट है।
How Formal Is It?
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Fun Fact
In many Indian languages, the word for dream is very similar due to the shared Sanskrit root. For example, in Bengali it is 'swopno', in Marathi it is 'swapna', and in Gujarati it is 'sapnu'.
Pronunciation Guide
- Pronouncing the first 'a' like the 'a' in 'cat' (sap-na). It should be a soft 'uh' sound (sup-na).
- Shortening the final 'aa' sound. It must be long, otherwise it might sound incomplete.
- Adding an English 'r' sound at the end (sap-nar). Keep the vowel pure.
- Treating it as a feminine noun because it ends in 'a'. It is strictly masculine.
- Using 'karna' (to do) instead of 'dekhna' (to see) when forming sentences.
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read, common letters (स, प, न, ा).
Simple spelling, no complex conjunct consonants.
Requires remembering the masculine gender and correct verb pairing (देखना).
Very clearly pronounced and easily recognizable in speech.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Noun Gender Agreement
सपना is masculine. Use मेरा (mera), बड़ा (bada), अच्छा (achha).
Transitive Verbs in Past Tense (Ergative)
With देखना (to see), use ने (ne) with the subject: मैंने सपना देखा।
Oblique Plural with Postpositions
सपने + में = सपनों में (In dreams).
Infinitive as Noun
डॉक्टर बनना (To become a doctor) acts as the subject for the dream: डॉक्टर बनना मेरा सपना है।
Compound Verbs
सच होना (to become true) is used as a single unit: सपना सच हो गया।
Examples by Level
मैं सपना देखता हूँ।
I see a dream.
Basic present tense with the verb 'देखना' (to see).
यह एक अच्छा सपना है।
This is a good dream.
Adjective 'अच्छा' agrees with the masculine singular noun 'सपना'.
मैंने एक सपना देखा।
I saw a dream.
Past tense. 'देखना' is transitive, so the subject takes 'ने'.
मुझे सपना आया।
I got a dream.
Alternative phrasing using 'आना' (to come) with the dative subject 'मुझे'.
वह बुरा सपना था।
That was a bad dream.
Use of 'बुरा' (bad) with past tense 'था'.
मेरे दो सपने हैं।
I have two dreams.
Plural form 'सपने' used with plural verb 'हैं'.
क्या तुमने सपना देखा?
Did you see a dream?
Simple yes/no question in the past tense.
यह मेरा सपना है।
This is my dream.
Possessive pronoun 'मेरा' agrees with masculine singular 'सपना'.
मेरा सपना डॉक्टर बनना है।
My dream is to become a doctor.
Using infinitive 'बनना' to express a goal.
उसका सपना सच हो गया।
His/her dream came true.
Using the phrase 'सच होना' (to come true).
मुझे कल रात कोई सपना नहीं आया।
I didn't get any dream last night.
Negative sentence in the past tense.
हम बड़े सपने देखते हैं।
We dream big (see big dreams).
Plural adjective 'बड़े' with plural noun 'सपने'.
तुम्हारा सपना क्या है?
What is your dream?
Using interrogative 'क्या' to ask about aspirations.
यह घर मेरे सपनों का घर है।
This house is the house of my dreams.
Introduction of oblique plural 'सपनों' with postposition 'का'.
वह हमेशा सपने देखता रहता है।
He always keeps dreaming.
Continuous aspect using 'रहना'.
मेरा सपना टूट गया।
My dream broke (shattered).
Using 'टूटना' to express a failed aspiration.
मैं अपने सपनों को पूरा करने के लिए मेहनत करूँगा।
I will work hard to fulfill my dreams.
Using 'पूरा करना' (to fulfill) and 'के लिए' (in order to).
अगर मेरा सपना सच हुआ, तो मैं पार्टी दूँगा।
If my dream comes true, I will throw a party.
Conditional sentence structure (अगर... तो).
वह खुली आँखों से सपने देखता है।
He dreams with open eyes (daydreams).
Idiomatic expression for daydreaming.
सपनों की दुनिया से बाहर आओ।
Come out of the dream world.
Using oblique plural 'सपनों' to create a descriptive phrase.
बचपन के सपने अक्सर बदल जाते हैं।
Childhood dreams often change.
Using 'बदल जाना' (to change completely).
उसने मुझे अपने सपनों के बारे में बताया।
He told me about his dreams.
Using 'के बारे में' (about) with the oblique plural.
यह नौकरी पाना मेरा सबसे बड़ा सपना था।
Getting this job was my biggest dream.
Using a gerund phrase 'नौकरी पाना' as the subject.
हर माता-पिता का सपना होता है कि उनके बच्चे सफल हों।
It is every parent's dream that their children succeed.
Complex sentence using 'कि' (that) to introduce a clause.
यह परियोजना मेरे लिए सिर्फ एक काम नहीं, बल्कि एक सपना है।
This project is not just a job for me, but a dream.
Using 'सिर्फ... नहीं, बल्कि' (not just... but also) structure.
वह सपना जो मैंने बचपन में देखा था, आज हकीकत बन गया है।
The dream that I saw in childhood has become a reality today.
Relative clause using 'जो' (that/which).
बिना मेहनत के सपने कभी साकार नहीं होते।
Dreams are never realized without hard work.
Using formal vocabulary 'साकार होना' (to be realized).
उसके सपनों ने उसे मुश्किल समय में भी हार नहीं मानने दी।
His dreams did not let him give up even in difficult times.
Causative structure with 'देना' (to let/allow).
हमें अपने सपनों और यथार्थ के बीच संतुलन बनाना चाहिए।
We should strike a balance between our dreams and reality.
Using formal antonym 'यथार्थ' (reality).
सपनों का पीछा करना एक साहसिक कदम है।
Chasing dreams is a courageous step.
Using 'पीछा करना' (to chase) metaphorically.
कई बार हमारे सपने हमारी असुरक्षाओं को दर्शाते हैं।
Sometimes our dreams reflect our insecurities.
Psychological context using 'दर्शाना' (to reflect/show).
उसकी बातों ने मेरे मन में नए सपने जगा दिए।
His words awakened new dreams in my mind.
Using 'जगाना' (to awaken) with dreams.
स्वतंत्रता सेनानियों ने एक आज़ाद भारत का स्वप्न देखा था।
The freedom fighters had dreamt of a free India.
Using the formal 'स्वप्न' in a historical context.
उसके ख़्वाब इतने ऊँचे हैं कि ज़मीन की हक़ीक़त उसे दिखाई नहीं देती।
His dreams are so high that he cannot see the reality of the ground.
Using poetic 'ख़्वाब' and contrasting it with 'हक़ीक़त'.
यह महज़ एक दिवास्वप्न है, इसका वास्तविकता से कोई लेना-देना नहीं है।
This is merely a daydream; it has nothing to do with reality.
Using advanced vocabulary 'दिवास्वप्न' (daydream).
सपनों के सौदागर अक्सर भोली-भाली जनता को ठगते हैं।
Merchants of dreams often cheat the innocent public.
Using the idiomatic phrase 'सपनों के सौदागर' (merchants of dreams).
उसकी आँखों में तैरते हुए सपने अचानक आंसुओं में बह गए।
The dreams floating in her eyes suddenly washed away in tears.
Highly descriptive and literary sentence structure.
एक समृद्ध राष्ट्र का सपना तब तक अधूरा है जब तक गरीबी न मिटे।
The dream of a prosperous nation remains incomplete until poverty is eradicated.
Complex conditional structure 'तब तक... जब तक' (until).
सपनों की व्याख्या सदियों से मानव मनोविज्ञान का एक जटिल विषय रही है।
The interpretation of dreams has been a complex subject of human psychology for centuries.
Academic context using 'व्याख्या' (interpretation).
उसने अपने सपनों की वेदी पर अपनी जवानी की बलि चढ़ा दी।
He sacrificed his youth on the altar of his dreams.
Metaphorical use of 'वेदी' (altar) and 'बलि' (sacrifice).
मुंगेरीलाल के हसीन सपनों की तरह, उसकी योजनाएँ भी धरी की धरी रह गईं।
Like Mungerilal's beautiful dreams, his plans also remained unexecuted.
Using a deep cultural idiom ('मुंगेरीलाल के हसीन सपने') for unrealistic daydreaming.
स्वप्न और यथार्थ के द्वंद्व में फंसा मनुष्य अक्सर अपना वर्तमान खो देता है।
Caught in the conflict between dream and reality, man often loses his present.
Highly philosophical and literary phrasing using 'द्वंद्व' (conflict).
पूंजीवादी व्यवस्था अक्सर आम आदमी को कृत्रिम सपनों के मायाजाल में उलझाए रखती है।
The capitalist system often keeps the common man entangled in the illusion of artificial dreams.
Sociological critique using advanced vocabulary like 'मायाजाल' (illusion).
कवि ने अपनी रचना में सपनों को एक ऐसे मृगमरीचिका के रूप में चित्रित किया है जो कभी तृप्त नहीं होती।
In his composition, the poet has depicted dreams as a mirage that is never satiated.
Literary analysis using 'मृगमरीचिका' (mirage).
उसके भाषण में बुने गए सुनहरे सपने महज़ चुनावी जुमले साबित हुए।
The golden dreams woven in his speech proved to be mere electoral rhetoric.
Political commentary using 'चुनावी जुमले' (electoral rhetoric).
स्वप्नदोष जैसी मनोवैज्ञानिक ग्रंथियों का विश्लेषण फ्रायडियन परिप्रेक्ष्य में किया जा सकता है।
Psychological complexes like nocturnal emissions can be analyzed in a Freudian perspective.
Medical/Psychological context using 'स्वप्नदोष' (nocturnal emission/wet dream).
अचेतन मन की गहराइयों से उठने वाले ये स्वप्न हमारी दमित इच्छाओं का ही प्रतिरूप हैं।
These dreams rising from the depths of the unconscious mind are merely the reflection of our repressed desires.
Psychoanalytical vocabulary ('अचेतन मन', 'दमित इच्छाएं').
उसने अपने जीवन के सांध्यकाल में महसूस किया कि वह जिन सपनों के पीछे भाग रहा था, वे नितांत खोखले थे।
In the twilight of his life, he realized that the dreams he was chasing were entirely hollow.
Literary narrative style using 'सांध्यकाल' (twilight/evening of life).
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
— To fulfill a dream. Used when someone achieves their long-held goal through effort.
मैं अपने माता-पिता का सपना पूरा करूँगा।
— To be lost in dreams. Used when someone is daydreaming or not paying attention to reality.
क्लास में वह अक्सर सपनों में खो जाता है।
— A formal way of saying a dream has come true or materialized.
कड़ी मेहनत से ही सपना साकार होता है।
— Dreams getting wings. Used when someone gets an opportunity to pursue their ambitions.
स्कॉलरशिप मिलने से उसके सपनों को पंख लग गए।
— To sell a dream. Used negatively to describe someone making false promises.
नेता चुनाव से पहले सिर्फ सपने बेचते हैं।
— The flight of dreams. A poetic phrase describing the pursuit of high ambitions.
उसकी सपनों की उड़ान बहुत ऊँची है।
— To decorate a dream. Means to build hopes and plan for a beautiful future.
उसने अपनी शादी के लिए बहुत से सपने सजाए थे।
— A palace of dreams. Refers to grand, sometimes unrealistic, plans for the future.
हवा में सपनों का महल मत बनाओ।
— A dream shattering completely. A stronger version of 'सपना टूटना'.
हादसे के बाद उसका सपना चकनाचूर हो गया।
— To appear in someone's dreams. Often used romantically or when missing someone.
तुम रोज़ मेरे सपनों में आती हो।
Often Confused With
Learners often say 'I had a good dream' when they mean 'I had a good sleep' (मुझे अच्छी नींद आई).
While 'सपना' can mean goal, 'लक्ष्य' is strictly professional/academic and not used for sleep visions.
Imagination is conscious thought, while a dream is unconscious. Do not confuse 'कल्पना करना' (to imagine) with 'सपना देखना' (to dream).
Idioms & Expressions
— To see stars during the day. While not using the word 'सपना', it relates to seeing illusions or facing extreme hardship that makes one dizzy.
परीक्षा के पेपर ने उसे दिन में तारे दिखा दिए।
Informal— Beautiful dreams of Mungerilal. Refers to a person who daydreams about great success but does nothing to achieve it (based on a classic TV show).
तुम्हारी योजनाएँ मुंगेरीलाल के हसीन सपने हैं।
Cultural/Informal— To build castles in the air. Having unrealistic dreams or plans without a solid foundation.
हवा में महल बनाना छोड़ो और ज़मीन पर काम करो।
Neutral— Dreams of Sheikh Chilli. Similar to Mungerilal, refers to foolish, impractical daydreams (based on a folklore character).
यह सब शेखचिल्ली के सपने हैं, सच नहीं होंगे।
Cultural/Informal— To weave dreams in the eyes. To have deep hopes and aspirations for the future.
वह अपनी आँखों में कई सपने बुन रही है।
Poetic— Merchant of dreams. A person who gives false hopes or unrealistic promises to people.
वह नेता नहीं, बस एक सपनों का सौदागर है।
Formal/Journalistic— To ruin sleep. Related to dreams, it means causing someone so much worry that they cannot sleep or dream peacefully.
इस समस्या ने मेरी नींद हराम कर दी है।
Informal— Water washing over dreams. Means all hopes and dreams being ruined or destroyed.
बारिश ने किसानों के सपनों पर पानी फेर दिया।
Neutral— To see a daydream. A formal translation of daydreaming, having unrealistic fantasies.
सफलता के लिए मेहनत चाहिए, दिवास्वप्न नहीं।
Formal— Bed of dreams. A highly comfortable or idealized situation, often an illusion.
जीवन कोई सपनों की सेज नहीं है, यहाँ संघर्ष है।
LiteraryEasily Confused
Both relate to the state of resting at night.
'नींद' is the physical state of sleep. 'सपना' is the mental imagery during sleep. You get sleep (नींद आना), but you see a dream (सपना देखना).
मुझे नींद आ रही है (I am feeling sleepy) vs मैं सपना देख रहा हूँ (I am dreaming).
Both refer to thoughts in the mind.
'ख्याल' means a thought or idea while awake. 'सपना' is a dream while asleep or a major life goal.
मेरे मन में एक ख्याल आया (A thought came to my mind).
Both relate to hoping for the future.
'आशा' is hope or expectation. 'सपना' is a specific vision or grand ambition.
मुझे आशा है कि तुम आओगे (I hope you will come).
It is the exact synonym of 'सपना'.
'स्वप्न' is highly formal and Sanskritized. 'सपना' is everyday Hindi. Use 'सपना' in daily conversation.
यह एक बुरा स्वप्न था (Formal).
Rhymes perfectly and often used together in songs.
'अपना' means 'one's own' (mine/yours/ours depending on subject). 'सपना' means dream.
यह मेरा अपना सपना है (This is my own dream).
Sentence Patterns
[Subject] + [Adjective] + सपना + देखता/देखती + है।
वह बुरा सपना देखता है।
मैंने + [Adjective] + सपना + देखा।
मैंने अच्छा सपना देखा।
मेरा सपना + [Infinitive Verb] + है।
मेरा सपना उड़ना है।
[Subject] + का सपना + सच हो गया।
राम का सपना सच हो गया।
मैं + अपने सपनों + को + पूरा करूँगा/करूँगी।
मैं अपने सपनों को पूरा करूँगा।
अगर + सपना + सच हुआ, + तो + [Result]।
अगर सपना सच हुआ, तो मैं खुश हूँगा।
वह सपना + जो + [Clause], + [Result]।
वह सपना जो मैंने देखा था, सच हो गया।
[Noun] + के सपनों + पर + पानी फिर गया।
किसानों के सपनों पर पानी फिर गया।
Word Family
Nouns
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How to Use It
Top 1000 most common words in spoken and written Hindi.
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मेरी सपना बहुत बड़ी है।
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मेरा सपना बहुत बड़ा है।
Learners often treat 'सपना' as feminine because it ends in 'आ'. It is a masculine noun, so adjectives and pronouns must be masculine (मेरा, बड़ा).
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मेरे पास कल रात एक सपना था।
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मैंने कल रात एक सपना देखा।
Directly translating 'I had a dream' leads to using 'पास था' (possessed). In Hindi, you 'see' (देखना) a dream.
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मेरे सपने में वह आई।
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मेरे सपनों में वह आई।
When referring to 'dreams' in general with a postposition (में), you must use the oblique plural 'सपनों', not the direct plural 'सपने'.
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मैं सपना कर रहा हूँ।
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मैं सपना देख रहा हूँ।
Using 'करना' (to do) with 'सपना' is incorrect. The action of dreaming is always expressed with 'देखना' (to see).
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मुझे अच्छी सपना आई।
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मुझे अच्छी नींद आई।
Confusing the concept of 'sleep' with 'dream'. If you rested well, you had good sleep (नींद), not a good dream (सपना).
Tips
Masculine Gender
Always remember that 'सपना' is masculine. Say 'मेरा सपना' (mera sapna), never 'मेरी सपना' (meri sapna).
Use 'Dekhna'
You don't 'have' a dream in Hindi; you 'see' it. Always pair 'सपना' with the verb 'देखना' (dekhna).
Oblique Plural
When saying 'in my dreams', use the oblique plural 'सपनों' (sapnon) because of the postposition 'में' (mein). 'मेरे सपनों में'.
Drop the Pronoun
In casual speech, you can just say 'कल एक सपना देखा' instead of 'मैंने कल एक सपना देखा'. The 'मैंने' is implied.
Bollywood Trope
Listen to Hindi songs. You will frequently hear 'सपना' rhymed with 'अपना' (apna - mine) to express romantic possession.
Broken Dreams
Use the verb 'टूटना' (to break) to describe a failed ambition. 'सपना टूट गया' is highly expressive.
Dreams Coming True
Use 'सच होना' (to become true) for fulfilled goals. 'सपना सच हुआ' is the standard phrase.
Formal Writing
If you are writing an essay or a formal speech, consider using 'स्वप्न' (svapn) instead of 'सपना' to sound more educated.
Past Tense Rule
Because 'देखना' is transitive, always use 'मैंने' (main-ne) in the past tense when saying 'I saw a dream'.
Not Sleep
Don't confuse dreaming with sleeping. Use 'नींद' (neend) for sleep and 'सपना' (sapna) for the dream itself.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Imagine drinking 'SAP' from a tree and suddenly falling asleep to have a beautiful 'NA'ture dream. SAP-NA = Dream.
Visual Association
Visualize a thought bubble above a sleeping person's head containing a bottle of tree SAP. The SAP makes them dream.
Word Web
Challenge
Before going to bed tonight, say 'मैं एक अच्छा सपना देखूँगा' (I will see a good dream). When you wake up, try to describe your 'सपना' in Hindi.
Word Origin
The word 'सपना' (sapna) is a Tadbhava word, meaning it evolved from a Sanskrit root. It is derived from the ancient Sanskrit word 'स्वप्न' (svapna), which means sleep or dream.
Original meaning: In ancient texts, 'svapna' referred to both the state of sleep itself and the illusions experienced during it.
Indo-European > Indo-Iranian > Indo-Aryan > Sanskrit > Prakrit > Hindi.Cultural Context
When discussing someone's 'सपना' (ambition), be respectful. Dismissing a young person's career dream is considered highly discouraging in Indian family dynamics.
English speakers say 'I had a dream', treating the dream as a possession. Hindi speakers say 'I saw a dream' (मैंने सपना देखा), treating it as a visual experience.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Morning Conversations
- क्या सपना देखा? (What dream did you see?)
- बुरा सपना (Bad dream)
- अजीब सपना (Weird dream)
- सपना याद नहीं (Don't remember the dream)
Career Planning
- मेरा सपना है (It is my dream)
- सपना पूरा करना (To fulfill a dream)
- बड़ा सपना (Big dream)
- सपनों की नौकरी (Dream job)
Romantic Conversations
- सपनों की रानी (Queen of dreams)
- सपनों में आना (To come in dreams)
- सपनों का राजकुमार (Prince of dreams)
- हसीन सपने (Beautiful dreams)
Motivational Speeches
- सपने सच होते हैं (Dreams come true)
- सपने देखो (Dream big)
- सपनों के लिए लड़ना (Fight for dreams)
- अधूरे सपने (Unfulfilled dreams)
Real Estate/Shopping
- सपनों का घर (Dream house)
- सपनों की कार (Dream car)
- सपना साकार करें (Make the dream a reality)
- अपना सपना (Your own dream)
Conversation Starters
"कल रात आपने क्या सपना देखा? क्या आपको याद है?"
"बचपन में आपका सबसे बड़ा सपना क्या था?"
"क्या आपको लगता है कि सपने सच होते हैं?"
"अगर आपका हर सपना सच हो जाए, तो आप क्या करेंगे?"
"क्या आपने कभी खुली आँखों से सपने देखे हैं?"
Journal Prompts
अपने जीवन के सबसे बड़े सपने के बारे में विस्तार से लिखें।
कल रात देखे गए किसी अजीब सपने का वर्णन करें।
क्या आपको लगता है कि सपनों का कोई गहरा अर्थ होता है? अपने विचार लिखें।
एक ऐसा सपना जो टूट गया, उससे आपने क्या सीखा?
दस साल बाद आप खुद को कहाँ देखते हैं? अपने सपनों का भविष्य लिखें।
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions'सपना' is strictly a masculine singular noun in Hindi. This means adjectives and pronouns modifying it must be in the masculine form. For example, you must say 'मेरा सपना' (my dream) and 'बड़ा सपना' (big dream). Never use 'मेरी' or 'बड़ी' with it.
Do not translate 'had' literally. In Hindi, you 'see' a dream. The correct translation is 'मैंने एक सपना देखा' (Main-ne ek sapna dekha). Using verbs like 'करना' (to do) or 'होना' (to have) is incorrect for this context.
The direct plural is 'सपने' (sapne). For example, 'मेरे दो सपने हैं' (I have two dreams). However, if a postposition like 'में' (in) or 'का' (of) follows it, it changes to the oblique plural 'सपनों' (sapnon), as in 'सपनों में' (in dreams).
Yes, absolutely. Just like in English, 'सपना' is extensively used to describe ambitions, career goals, and deep desires. For example, 'डॉक्टर बनना मेरा सपना है' (Becoming a doctor is my dream).
They mean the same thing, but 'सपना' is of Sanskrit origin and is the standard Hindi word. 'ख़्वाब' is of Persian/Urdu origin and is used more in poetry, romantic contexts, and Bollywood songs to sound more emotional or artistic.
The most common and natural phrase is 'मेरा सपना सच हो गया' (Mera sapna sach ho gaya). 'सच होना' literally means 'to become true'.
Hindi uses a very physical verb for this. You say 'मेरा सपना टूट गया' (Mera sapna toot gaya). 'टूटना' means to break. It paints a vivid picture of a broken aspiration.
Yes, 'Sapna' is a very common female first name in India. When used as a name, it is treated as a feminine noun grammatically (e.g., सपना आ रही है - Sapna is coming).
It translates to 'house of dreams' or 'dream house'. It is a very common phrase used in real estate and personal planning to describe the ideal home one wishes to own.
No, 'सपना' is only a noun. To express the action of dreaming, you must use the compound verb 'सपना देखना' (to see a dream).
Test Yourself 200 questions
Write a sentence in Hindi saying 'I saw a good dream'.
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Translate: 'This is my dream.'
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Write a sentence saying your dream is to become a doctor.
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Translate: 'His dream came true.'
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Write a sentence using 'सपनों में' (in dreams).
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Translate: 'I will fulfill my dreams.'
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Write a sentence using the idiom 'दिन में सपने देखना'.
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Translate: 'My dream shattered.'
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Write a formal sentence using 'स्वप्न'.
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Translate: 'Come out of the dream world.'
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Write a sentence contrasting dream and reality using formal words.
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Translate: 'Dreams are not reality.'
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Write a sentence asking someone what dream they saw.
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Translate: 'I have two dreams.'
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Write a sentence about a 'dream house'.
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Translate: 'Dreams get wings.'
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Write a sentence using 'ख़्वाब'.
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Translate: 'Merchant of dreams.'
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Write a sentence using 'दिवास्वप्न'.
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Translate: 'Mirage of dreams.'
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Say 'I saw a dream' in Hindi.
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Ask someone 'Did you see a dream?'
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Say 'My dream is to become a doctor.'
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Say 'My dream came true.'
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Say 'In my dreams' using the oblique plural.
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Say 'I will fulfill my dream.'
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Say 'My dream shattered' using the verb for break.
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Tell someone to 'stop daydreaming' (idiom).
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Say 'This is a bad dream' using the formal word 'स्वप्न'.
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Say 'Come out of the dream world and face reality (हकीकत)'.
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Pronounce 'सपना' correctly, focusing on the first vowel.
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Say 'Big dream' ensuring gender agreement.
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Say 'I didn't get a dream' using the verb 'आना'.
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Say 'House of dreams'.
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Say 'Dreams got wings'.
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Say 'Merchant of dreams'.
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Use 'ख़्वाब' in a short poetic sentence.
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Say 'Conflict between dream and reality' using formal vocabulary.
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Say 'Mirage of dreams'.
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Use the idiom 'मुंगेरीलाल के हसीन सपने' in a sentence.
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Listen to 'मैंने सपना देखा'. What is the tense?
Listen to 'मेरा सपना'. What gender is indicated?
Listen to 'सपना सच हो गया'. What happened?
Listen to 'मुझे सपना आया'. Who is the subject receiving the dream?
Listen to 'सपनों में'. What form is 'सपनों'?
Listen to 'सपना पूरा करना'. What is the action?
Listen to 'सपना टूट गया'. What is the emotion conveyed?
Listen to 'दिन में सपने देखना'. What is the context?
Listen to 'स्वप्न'. What register is this word?
Listen to 'ख़्वाब'. What register is this word?
Listen to 'हकीकत'. What does this word mean in relation to 'सपना'?
Listen to 'दिवास्वप्न'. What does it mean?
Listen to 'यथार्थ'. What is it contrasting with?
Listen to 'मृगमरीचिका'. What is the metaphorical meaning?
Listen to 'सपनों पर पानी फिरना'. What happened to the dreams?
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Summary
In Hindi, you do not 'have' a dream; you 'see' a dream (सपना देखना). It is a masculine noun used for both sleep visions and life goals.
- Refers to the images and stories seen during sleep.
- Represents life goals, ambitions, and deep desires.
- Always a masculine singular noun in Hindi grammar.
- Commonly paired with the verb 'देखना' (to see).
Masculine Gender
Always remember that 'सपना' is masculine. Say 'मेरा सपना' (mera sapna), never 'मेरी सपना' (meri sapna).
Use 'Dekhna'
You don't 'have' a dream in Hindi; you 'see' it. Always pair 'सपना' with the verb 'देखना' (dekhna).
Oblique Plural
When saying 'in my dreams', use the oblique plural 'सपनों' (sapnon) because of the postposition 'में' (mein). 'मेरे सपनों में'.
Drop the Pronoun
In casual speech, you can just say 'कल एक सपना देखा' instead of 'मैंने कल एक सपना देखा'. The 'मैंने' is implied.
Example
सपना देखा।
Related Content
Related Phrases
More general words
आभार व्यक्त करना
B1To express gratitude or thankfulness.
आचरण करना
C1To conduct oneself; behave in a particular way.
आगे
A1Forward; ahead.
आगे बढ़ना
A2To move forward or progress.
आगामी
B1Happening in the near future; upcoming or next.
आह्वान करना
B1To call, to summon, to request someone's presence.
आज रात
A2The night of the present day; tonight.
आजमाना
A2To make an attempt or effort to do something; to test.
आक्रमण करना
B2To begin military operations against a country or group.
आखिरी
A2Last, final.