Universal Core Vocabulary · Episode 22
Pick the English-only version or the Hindi version (English lesson with Hindi meanings) above; the video keeps your place when you switch.
Below in teaching order, as in the video: related words sit side by side so you can compare them.
doubtful; probably not true or honest
संदिग्ध, संदेहास्पद
Usage
The website made dubious claims about curing diabetes.
Her parents were dubious about the new coaching centre.
Common mistake
Experts are dubious on the new plan.
Experts are dubious about the new plan.
We are dubious about something.
Remember: Dubious comes from doubt.
to make something seem bigger or worse than it is
बढ़ा-चढ़ाकर कहना
Usage
He exaggerated the size of the fish he caught.
Don't exaggerate: the traffic was not that bad.
Common mistake
The news exagerated the damage from the storm.
The news exaggerated the damage from the storm.
Exaggerate is spelt with a double g.
Remember: Exaggerate even exaggerates its g: two of them!
causing death, or leading to failure
घातक, जानलेवा
Usage
Two people died in a fatal accident on the highway.
Dropping that catch was a fatal mistake for the team.
Common mistake
It was a fatal day for us: we won the cup!
It was a fateful day for us: we won the cup!
Fateful means important; fatal means deadly.
Remember: Fatal: fate with a final, bad end.
to grow well, or to be very successful
फलना-फूलना, समृद्ध होना
Usage
Tea gardens flourish in the hills of Assam.
Her small bakery flourished after the festival season.
Common mistake
The plants flourished up after the rain.
The plants flourished after the rain.
Flourish needs no 'up'.
Remember: Flourish sounds like flower: it blooms.
easily broken or damaged
नाज़ुक, भंगुर
Usage
Pack the glass bangles carefully; they are fragile.
After the war, the peace was fragile.
Common mistake
This box is fragility, so carry it gently.
This box is fragile, so carry it gently.
Fragile is the adjective; fragility is the noun.
Remember: Fragile: handle with care.
to make it harder for something to happen or move
बाधा डालना, रुकावट डालना
Usage
Heavy rain hampered the rescue work in Kerala.
A weak internet connection can hamper online classes.
Common mistake
Noise hampered to my studies.
Noise hampered my studies.
Hamper takes an object directly, with no 'to'.
Remember: To hamper is to hold back.
a set of ideas that a political group or system holds
विचारधारा
Usage
Every party has its own political ideology.
Gandhi's ideology was built on truth and non-violence.
Common mistake
The idealogy of the party is clear.
The ideology of the party is clear.
It is spelt ideo-logy.
Remember: Ideology: the logic of a group's ideas.
how often something happens, such as a disease
घटना-दर, प्रकोप
Usage
The incidence of dengue rises after the monsoon.
The town has a low incidence of crime.
Common mistake
There was a strange incidence at the station today.
There was a strange incident at the station today.
An incident is one event; incidence is a rate.
Remember: Incidence counts how often incidents happen.
to slow down or stop something from happening
रोकना, बाधित करना
Usage
Salt inhibits the growth of bacteria in pickles.
Fear of mistakes can inhibit students from speaking.
Common mistake
Shyness inhibits him to speak in class.
Shyness inhibits him from speaking in class.
We inhibit someone from doing something.
Remember: Inhibit: hold it in.
to tell someone what to do, or to teach them
निर्देश देना, सिखाना
Usage
The teacher instructed us to close our books.
Passengers were instructed to keep their tickets ready.
Common mistake
The coach instructed us run faster.
The coach instructed us to run faster.
We instruct someone to do something.
Remember: An instructor instructs.