Dilemma in Hindi

© Abhishek Avtans

The word for dilemma in Hindi is दुविधा duvidhā which is related to Sanskrit word द्विविधा dvividhā . In Sanskrit द्विविधा dvividhā means two of a kind, types or options, it is made of dvi (two) + vidhā (kind). There are other related words in Sanskrit such as त्रिविधा, चतुर्विधा, बहुविधा trividhā, caturvidhā, bahuvidhā etc. signifying three, four or multiple kinds respectively.

An example sentence with the word दुविधा duvidhā in Hindi :
दो प्रसिद्ध मेडिकल कॉलेजों में एक ही साथ चयन हो जाने के कारण अर्चित कुमार दुविधा में पड़ गया था। आख़िरकार उसने दिल्ली स्थित एम्स में दाख़िला लेने का निर्णय लिया। [Archit Kumar was in a dilemma due to simultaneous selection in two famous medical colleges. Ultimately he decided to take admission in AIIMS, Delhi.]

Merriam-Webster dictionary defines ‘trilemma’ as an argument analogous to a dilemma but presenting three instead of two alternatives in the premises. Following दुविधा duvidhā , one can use तिविधा tividhā for trilemma in Hindi which would be the Tadbhava form of Sanskrit word त्रिविधा trividhā.

Interestingly, unlike English dilemma, Hindi दुविधा duvidhā is not necessarily a choice between two undesirable options. Both options could be equally good. In fact, in English too, as per Merriam Webster’s dictionary, this undesirability of two options is misplaced. This can be observed in usage of adjectives such as terrible, painful, and irreconcilable with the word dilemma.

References

Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Trilemma. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved December 14, 2023, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trilemma

Apte, Vaman Shivaram. Revised and enlarged edition of Prin. V. S. Apte’s The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary. Poona: Prasad Prakashan, 1957-1959

Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Dilemma. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved December 14, 2023, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dilemma