Maharashtra SSC Telugu L2/L3 (MSBSHSE) key terms

A metrical Telugu verse with fixed syllable count, rhyme, and prosodic rules, used in poetry lessons. Candidates must identify its metre, meaning, and poetic devices in comprehension questions.

A prose passage in Telugu, as opposed to verse. Reading comprehension often asks for the main idea, character details, or inference from a gadyam extract.

The central idea or main theme of a passage or poem. Questions may ask you to state it in one sentence after reading the extract carefully.

A summary or gist of a longer text, compressed into a few sentences. Summarising tasks test whether you can separate important points from supporting detail.

The inner or implied meaning of a verse, beyond its literal wording. Explaining bhaavaartham shows understanding of the poet's intent and emotional tone.

A word-by-word meaning of a verse or line, given in the same order as the original. It is the first step before writing a full explanation.

Telugu prosody: the system of metres, syllable weights (laghu and guru), and line structure. Recognising the metre of a given verse is a common poetry question.

A metrical foot made of three syllables, each either laghu (short) or guru (long). Combinations such as భ, ర, య, న are named and counted in chandassu.

A heavy or long syllable in Telugu metre, counted as two matras. It usually contains a long vowel or a short vowel followed by a consonant cluster.

A light or short syllable in Telugu metre, counted as one matra. It normally has a short vowel with no following consonant cluster.

A figure of speech or poetic ornament, such as simile (upama) or metaphor (roopaka). Identifying alankaarams is a standard poetry comprehension task.

Simile: an explicit comparison of one thing to another using words like వలె, లాగా, or పోలి. Both compared objects are stated and share a common quality.

Metaphor: an implied comparison in which one thing is described as if it were another, without words of comparison. The identification is direct, not stated with వలె.

The joining of two adjacent sounds or words, with a defined change at the junction. Grammar questions ask you to name the sandhi type and split the joined form.

A sandhi in which a short or long vowel meets its own class vowel and the result is a single long vowel. For example, రామ + ఆలయం becomes రామాలయం.

A sandhi where అ, ఆ, or అ్ meet ఇ, ఈ, ఉ, ఊ, or ఋ and produce a gunam vowel: ఎ, ఏ, ఒ, ఓ, or అర్. Example: దేవ + ఇంద్రుడు gives దేవేంద్రుడు.

A compound word formed by joining two or more words, often with a case ending dropped. Questions ask you to split the compound and name its type.

A compound in which the first member qualifies the second, and the second is the main word. The case relation between the parts is understood, not stated.

A compound joining two or more words of equal status, both of which remain equally important. Example: రామలక్ష్మణులు, meaning Rama and Lakshmana together.

A verb: the word that expresses an action or state in a sentence. Telugu verbs carry tense, person, and number marking, and agree with the subject.

The subject of a sentence, the doer of the action. In Telugu the subject usually comes first and determines the person and number ending of the verb.

The object of a sentence, the thing affected by the action. Telugu marks objects with case suffixes such as ని or ను depending on the noun.

A grammatical case, shown by a suffix attached to a noun. Telugu has eight cases, covering nominative, accusative, instrumental, dative, ablative, genitive, locative, and vocative.

A suffix added to a root or stem to form a new word or show grammatical function. Recognising pratyayams helps in splitting and analysing word forms.

A synonym: a word with the same or nearly the same meaning as another. Synonym questions ask you to pick the equivalent word from the options.

An antonym: a word with the opposite meaning to another. These questions test whether you know pairs such as గెలుపు and ఓటమి.

A single word carrying several distinct meanings depending on context. Dictionaries list such words with multiple senses, and questions ask which meaning fits a sentence.

A proverb or traditional saying that carries folk wisdom in fixed wording. Questions ask for the meaning or the appropriate situation in which a saameta is used.

An idiom: a fixed phrase whose meaning cannot be worked out from its individual words. Understanding jaateeyams is tested through matching or sentence-completion items.

The etymology or derivation of a word, showing the root and how the present form developed. Vyutpatti questions ask you to identify the root of a given word.

An essay: a structured piece of writing on a topic, with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The exam asks for a short essay of a set length.

A letter written for a purpose, either personal or official. Formal letters follow a fixed layout: sender address, date, receiver address, salutation, body, and closing.

A formal application, usually addressed to an authority requesting something. It states the request clearly, gives reasons, and ends with a polite closing and signature.

A formal petition or representation submitted to an official or institution. It opens with the addressee's designation and presents the matter in respectful, numbered points.

Narrative writing that tells a story or recounts events in sequence. Good kathanam uses clear order, character detail, and a definite beginning and ending.

An outline or plan drawn up before writing, listing the points to be covered in order. A short pranaalika keeps an essay organised and prevents repetition.

An article written for a newspaper or magazine, with a headline and a clear viewpoint. It is more concise and current-affairs oriented than a general essay.