इसलिए (islie)
conjunction
A single-sense connector meaning 'so, therefore, for this reason' -- links a cause to its consequence. Literally built from इस (is, 'this') + लिए (lie, 'for'), so it means something like 'for this (reason)'.
Sense
1
:
so, therefore, for this reason
conjunction Typically appears at the start of the consequence clause, often paired with a preceding क्योंकि (kyonki, 'because') clause: क्योंकि...इसलिए... (kyonki...isliye..., 'because...therefore...').
Synonyms: इस कारण (is kaaran, for this reason), अतः (atah, literary), लिहाज़ा (lihaazaa, less common)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You'll hear this constantly in everyday explanations -- a mother explaining why dinner is late, a friend justifying why they're skipping a wedding. The क्योंकि...इसलिए (kyonki...islie) pairing is the default Hindi way of narrating cause and effect, much more common in speech than trying to cram both ideas into one English-style clause.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes place इसलिए (islie) mid-sentence like English 'so' can be, but in Hindi it almost always opens the clause it introduces. 2) Confusing it with क्योंकि (kyonki): क्योंकि introduces the reason, इसलिए introduces the result -- they point in opposite directions and are often used together in the same sentence.
Sample Sentences:
बारिश हो रही थी, इसलिए मैं घर पर रुक गया।
It was raining, so I stayed home.
(baarish ho rahii thii, islie main ghar par ruk gayaa।)
मुझे देर हो गई थी, इसलिए मैंने ऑटो ले लिया।
I was running late, so I took an auto.
(mujhe der ho gaii thii, islie mainne oto le liyaa।)
क्योंकि उसे बुखार था, इसलिए वह स्कूल नहीं गई।
Because she had a fever, that's why she didn't go to school.
(kyonki use bukhaar thaa, islie vah skool nahiin gaii।)
खाना अभी बन रहा है, इसलिए थोड़ी देर और रुक जाओ।
The food is still being cooked, so wait a little longer.
(khaanaa abhii ban rahaa hai, islie thodii der aur ruk jaao।)
अगर तुम मेहनत करते, तो पास हो जाते, इसलिए अब पछतावा मत करो।
If you had worked hard, you would have passed, so don't regret it now.
(agar tum mehnat karte, to paas ho jaate, islie ab pachhtaavaa mat karo।)
कीमतें बढ़ती जा रही हैं, इसलिए लोग परेशान हैं।
Prices keep rising, so people are worried.
(kiimten badhtii jaa rahii hain, islie log pareshaan hain।)
कल मुझे जल्दी उठना है, इसलिए मैं अभी सो जाऊँगा।
I have to wake up early tomorrow, so I'll go to sleep now.
(kal mujhe jaldii uthnaa hai, islie main abhii so jaaoongaa।)
समय कम है, इसलिए कृपया जल्दी अपनी सीट ले लें।
Time is short, so please take your seats quickly.
(samay kam hai, islie kripyaa jaldii apnii siit le len।)
हो सकता है ट्रैफ़िक ज़्यादा हो, इसलिए हमें थोड़ा पहले निकलना चाहिए।
There might be a lot of traffic, so we should leave a bit early.
(ho saktaa hai traifik zyaadaa ho, islie hamen thodaa pahle nikalnaa chaahie।)
मंत्री जी अस्वस्थ हैं, इसलिए बैठक स्थगित कर दी गई है।
The minister is unwell, so the meeting has been postponed.
(mantrii jii asvasth hain, islie baithak sthagit kar dii gaii hai।)