बाज़ार
bāzār
/ˈbaː.zaːr/
Definition
A market or marketplace where goods are bought and sold.
Example
वह हर रोज़ बाज़ार से सब्ज़ियाँ लाती है।
Show translation
She brings vegetables from the market every day.
Etymology
From Persian بازار (bāzār), meaning "market." The word spread widely across South Asia, the Middle East, and even into European languages (e.g., English "bazaar") via trade routes. Its Persian root is thought to derive from a Proto-Iranian word meaning "the master of prices" or "the place of prices."
Cultural note
In India, the बाज़ार is far more than a shopping destination — it is a social hub. From the famous Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi to local neighbourhood sabzi mandis (vegetable markets), bazaars buzz with haggling, street food, and community life. The word is also used figuratively: "शादी का बाज़ार" (the marriage market) or "विचारों का बाज़ार" (marketplace of ideas). Note for English speakers: the English word "bazaar" is a direct borrowing of this very word.