आहिस्ता (aahistaa)
adverb
A single-sense adverb meaning 'slowly' or 'gently' -- often doubled as आहिस्ता आहिस्ता (aahistaa aahistaa) for extra emphasis, much like 'slowly, slowly' in English.
Sense
1
:
slowly, gently, softly
adverb
Synonyms: धीरे (dhiire), धीरे-धीरे (dhiire-dhiire, reduplicated form), धीमे (dhiime)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This word has a soft, almost tender feel to it -- you will hear a mother telling a child आहिस्ता चलो (aahistaa chalo, 'walk carefully/slowly') or a rickshaw passenger asking the driver to ease up. It carries a slightly gentler, more affectionate tone than the more neutral धीरे (dhiire), and shows up often in Urdu-influenced Hindi film dialogue and songs about tenderness or caution.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach only for धीरे (dhiire) and miss that आहिस्ता (aahistaa) is just as common in speech, especially when asking someone to slow down or lower their voice, e.g. आहिस्ता बोलो (aahistaa bolo, 'speak softly'). 2) The doubled form आहिस्ता आहिस्ता (aahistaa aahistaa) is not just for emphasis of speed -- it is also used for gradual processes, like a slow, steady change, similar to धीरे-धीरे (dhiire-dhiire).
Sample Sentences:
आहिस्ता चलो, यहाँ फिसलन है।
Walk slowly, it's slippery here.
(aahistaa chalo, yahaan phislan hai।)
माँ ने बच्चे से आहिस्ता बोलने को कहा।
The mother told the child to speak softly.
(maan ne bachche se aahistaa bolne ko kahaa।)
वह आहिस्ता-आहिस्ता दरवाज़ा खोलती है ताकि किसी की नींद न टूटे।
She opens the door very slowly so that no one's sleep breaks.
(vah aahistaa-aahistaa darvaazaa kholtii hai taaki kisii kii niind n toote।)
भैया, थोड़ा आहिस्ता चलाइए, बच्चे बैठे हैं।
Brother, please drive a little slower, there are children in the back.
(bhaiyaa, thodaa aahistaa chalaaie, bachche baithe hain।)
अगर तुम आहिस्ता बोलते तो शायद वह सुन ही न पाता।
If you had spoken softly, he probably wouldn't have even been able to hear.
(agar tum aahistaa bolte to shaayad vah sun hii n paataa।)
नर्स ने घाव पर आहिस्ता से पट्टी बाँधी।
The nurse gently bandaged the wound.
(nars ne ghaav par aahistaa se pattii baandhii।)
उसने चाहा कि सब कुछ आहिस्ता से निपट जाए, कोई शोर न हो।
He wished that everything would be settled quietly, without any noise.
(usne chaahaa ki sab kuchh aahistaa se nipat jaae, koii shor n ho।)
गाड़ी आहिस्ता-आहिस्ता स्टेशन की ओर बढ़ रही थी।
The train was moving slowly towards the station.
(gaadii aahistaa-aahistaa steshan kii or badh rahii thii।)
आहिस्ता आहिस्ता चलती है हवा, उसकी ज़ुल्फ़ों को छूती हुई।
Slowly, slowly the breeze moves, touching her tresses.
(aahistaa aahistaa chaltii hai havaa, uskii zulfon ko chhootii huii।)
डॉक्टर ने सलाह दी कि दवा आहिस्ता-आहिस्ता कम की जाए।
The doctor advised that the medicine be reduced slowly.
(doktar ne salaah dii ki davaa aahistaa-aahistaa kam kii jaae।)
क्या तुम ज़रा आहिस्ता बोल सकते हो? बच्चा सो रहा है।
Can you speak a bit softer? The baby is sleeping.
(kyaa tum zaraa aahistaa bol sakte ho? bachchaa so rahaa hai।)