Universal Core Vocabulary · Episode 26
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.
a disease that spreads quickly to many people
महामारी
Usage
A cholera epidemic hit the city in the 1800s.
Doctors warn of an epidemic of diabetes in India.
Common mistake
Malaria is epidemic in some areas all year round.
Malaria is endemic in some areas all year round.
Endemic is always present; an epidemic spreads suddenly.
Remember: Epidemic: epi means upon, demos means people.
unfair use of people or things for profit
शोषण; दोहन
Usage
The law protects workers from exploitation.
The exploitation of forests has hurt wildlife.
Common mistake
The workers faced exploit by the owner.
The workers faced exploitation by the owner.
Exploit is a verb; exploitation is the noun.
Remember: Exploitation: taking more than is fair.
spending too much money, or too much in style
फ़िज़ूलख़र्च, अत्यधिक
Usage
They had an extravagant wedding with five hundred guests.
Buying a new phone every year is extravagant.
Common mistake
He is extravagant with money, so he saves a lot.
He is careful with money, so he saves a lot.
Extravagant means spending too much, not saving.
Remember: Extravagant: extra spending.
supporting equal rights for women
नारीवादी
Usage
Savitribai Phule is seen as an early feminist leader.
The novel has a strong feminist message.
Common mistake
A feminist believes women are better than men.
A feminist believes women and men should be equal.
Feminism is about equal rights.
Remember: Feminist: for women's equal rights.
cruel, severe, or unpleasantly rough
कठोर, सख़्त
Usage
The judge gave a harsh punishment.
Ladakh has very harsh winters.
Common mistake
Don't be so harsh to your little brother.
Don't be so harsh on your little brother.
We are harsh on or harsh with someone.
Remember: Harsh: hard and rough.
a system of ranks from the highest to the lowest
पदानुक्रम
Usage
The army has a strict hierarchy of ranks.
She rose quickly in the company hierarchy.
Common mistake
The office has a clear higherarchy.
The office has a clear hierarchy.
It is spelt hier-archy.
Remember: Hierarchy: who is higher, who is lower.
unfriendly and ready to fight or argue
शत्रुतापूर्ण, विरोधी
Usage
The crowd turned hostile when the match was cancelled.
Some villagers were hostile to the new factory.
Common mistake
The villagers were hostile against the plan.
The villagers were hostile to the plan.
We are hostile to something.
Remember: Hostile: acting like an enemy army.
someone who does what they tell others not to do
पाखंडी, ढोंगी
Usage
He preaches saving water but wastes it: a hypocrite!
Don't be a hypocrite: follow your own advice.
Common mistake
It is hypocrite to preach what you don't practise.
It is hypocritical to preach what you don't practise.
Hypocrite is a person; the adjective is hypocritical.
Remember: A hypocrite wears a mask.
to do with a set of political beliefs
वैचारिक
Usage
The two parties have deep ideological differences.
They split on ideological grounds, not personal ones.
Common mistake
The party's ideology differences are clear.
The party's ideological differences are clear.
Before a noun, use the adjective ideological.
Remember: Ideology gives ideological.
to cause something, or to persuade someone to act
प्रेरित करना, उत्पन्न करना
Usage
Some cough syrups can induce sleep.
Nothing could induce her to leave Varanasi.
Common mistake
The offer induced him for buying the car.
The offer induced him to buy the car.
We induce someone to do something.
Remember: Induce: lead someone into it.