Universal Core Vocabulary · Episode 25
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.
the story of a person's life, written by another
जीवनी
Usage
I am reading a biography of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
The film is based on a biography of Milkha Singh.
Common mistake
Gandhi wrote his own biography in Gujarati.
Gandhi wrote his autobiography in Gujarati.
Your own life story is an autobiography.
Remember: Bio means life; graphy means writing.
a formal paper that sets out rights or aims
चार्टर, अधिकार-पत्र
Usage
The university received a charter to award degrees.
The UN Charter was signed in 1945.
Common mistake
The teacher drew a charter of our marks.
The teacher drew a chart of our marks.
A chart is a diagram; a charter is a document.
Remember: A charter writes down rights.
a strong feeling of sympathy and a wish to help
करुणा, दया
Usage
Mother Teresa served the poor with great compassion.
The doctor spoke to the family with compassion.
Common mistake
She felt compassion to the flood victims.
She felt compassion for the flood victims.
We feel compassion for someone.
Remember: Compassion: feeling others' pain with them.
a statement or proof that something is true or fixed
पुष्टि
Usage
I got a confirmation message for my train ticket.
We are waiting for confirmation of the exam date.
Common mistake
Please send the confirm of your booking.
Please send the confirmation of your booking.
Confirm is the verb; confirmation is the noun.
Remember: Confirm it, and you get a confirmation.
opposite in meaning, direction or opinion
विपरीत, उल्टा
Usage
Contrary to popular belief, bats are not blind.
Was the paper easy? On the contrary, it was very hard.
Common mistake
Contrary of the forecast, it did not rain.
Contrary to the forecast, it did not rain.
We say contrary to, not contrary of.
Remember: Contrary: on the opposite side.
an informal word for a police officer
पुलिसवाला (अनौपचारिक)
Usage
The cop stopped the car and asked for the licence.
The children were playing cops and robbers.
Common mistake
Dear Cop, I wish to report a theft.
Dear Officer, I wish to report a theft.
Cop is informal; don't use it in a formal letter.
Remember: Cop: a short, casual word for the police.
a person with no opinion in a survey or poll
अनिर्णीत व्यक्ति (सर्वे में)
Usage
In the poll, 17 percent of voters were don't-knows.
The don't-knows may decide the election.
Common mistake
Ten people in the survey said don't-knows.
Ten people in the survey were don't-knows.
A don't-know is a person, so they were don't-knows.
Remember: A don't-know says: I don't know.
money that a person or a company earns
कमाई, आय
Usage
His earnings doubled after he joined the new firm.
The company's earnings rose this quarter.
Common mistake
Her earning is enough for the family.
Her earnings are enough for the family.
Earnings, meaning money, is plural.
Remember: Earnings: everything you earn.
based on what is seen or tested, not on theory
अनुभवजन्य, प्रयोगसिद्ध
Usage
There is empirical evidence that yoga lowers stress.
Scientists need empirical data, not guesses.
Common mistake
The study gave imperial evidence for the claim.
The study gave empirical evidence for the claim.
Imperial means of an empire.
Remember: Empirical: proved by experiment.
a serious effort to do something
प्रयास, कोशिश
Usage
Chandrayaan was a great scientific endeavour.
We will make every endeavour to finish on time.
Common mistake
He made an endeavour for climbing the peak.
He made an endeavour to climb the peak.
We make an endeavour to do something.
Remember: Endeavour: try your best to the end.