सहसा (sahsaa)

adverb A single-sense adverb meaning 'suddenly, all at once' -- a bookish, literary alternative to the everyday अचानक (achaanak).

Sense 1 : suddenly, all of a sudden

adverb

Synonyms: अचानक (achaanak), एकदम (ekdam), अकस्मात (akasmaat, literary)

Frequency: literary

Cultural Note: You will meet सहसा (sahsaa) far more in a novel, a news report, or a poem than in kitchen or market chat -- it has a slightly literary, narrative flavor, like saying 'all of a sudden' in a story rather than 'suddenly' in conversation. For everyday speech, अचानक (achaanak) is what people actually reach for.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for this word in casual speech where अचानक (achaanak) is what a native speaker would actually say; सहसा (sahsaa) shows up mainly in writing, narration, or slightly formal speech. 2) It is invariant -- it never changes form regardless of the gender or number of the subject.

Sample Sentences:

सहसा बिजली चली गई और कमरा अंधकार में डूब गया। Suddenly the power went out and the room was plunged into darkness.

(sahsaa bijlii chalii gaii aur kamraa andhkaar men doob gayaa।)

सहसा उसे अपने बचपन की एक घटना याद आ गई। Suddenly a memory from his childhood came back to him.

(sahsaa use apne bachpan kii ek ghatnaa yaad aa gaii।)

सहसा दरवाजा खुलता है और एक अजनबी भीतर आता है। Suddenly the door opens and a stranger walks in.

(sahsaa darvaajaa khultaa hai aur ek ajanbii bhiitar aataa hai।)

आकाश में सहसा बिजली कड़क उठी और सब चौंक गए। Lightning suddenly cracked across the sky and everyone was startled.

(aakaash men sahsaa bijlii kadak uthii aur sab chaunk gae।)

यदि सहसा तूफान आ जाए, तो नाव को किनारे लगा लेना। If a storm should suddenly arise, moor the boat at the shore.

(yadi sahsaa toophaan aa jaae, to naav ko kinaare lagaa lenaa।)

उसकी आँखों में सहसा आँसू भर आए, जैसे कोई बादल फट पड़ा हो। Her eyes suddenly filled with tears, as if a cloud had burst.

(uskii aankhon men sahsaa aansoo bhar aae, jaise koii baadal phat padaa ho।)

कवि लिखता है कि सहसा रात्रि के सन्नाटे में एक स्वर गूँज उठा। The poet writes that suddenly a voice echoed through the silence of the night.

(kavi likhtaa hai ki sahsaa raatri ke sannaate men ek svar goonj uthaa।)

यह समाचार सहसा सारे नगर में फैला दिया गया। This news was suddenly spread throughout the whole city.

(yah samaachaar sahsaa saare nagar men phailaa diyaa gayaa।)

यदि वह सहसा वापस आ जाता, तो सब कुछ बदल जाता। If he had suddenly returned, everything would have changed.

(yadi vah sahsaa vaapas aa jaataa, to sab kuchh badal jaataa।)