वहाँ (vahaan)

adverb A basic locative adverb meaning 'there', paired naturally with यहाँ (yahaan, 'here') and used constantly to point to a place already established in the conversation.

Sense 1 : in/at that place (physical location)

adverb

Synonyms: उस जगह (us jagah, 'that place'), उधर (udhar, 'that direction/side')

Frequency: high

Cultural Note: वहाँ (vahaan) and यहाँ (yahaan) form the basic 'here/there' pair every beginner learns early, and Delhi speakers use वहाँ (vahaan) constantly in daily direction-giving, like वहाँ रख दो (vahaan rakh do, 'put it there') when pointing at a spot in a room or shop.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for उधर (udhar) when they mean वहाँ (vahaan): उधर (udhar) points toward a direction or general area ('that way'), while वहाँ (vahaan) names a specific place already mentioned or understood. 2) वहाँ (vahaan) is invariant and never changes form for gender, number, or case, unlike many other words a learner has been drilling.

Sample Sentences:

किताब वहाँ रख दो। Put the book there.

(kitaab vahaan rakh do।)

वहाँ मेरा भाई खड़ा है। My brother is standing there.

(vahaan meraa bhaaii khadaa hai।)

हम कल वहाँ गए थे। We went there yesterday.

(ham kal vahaan gae the।)

वहाँ भीड़ बहुत होती है, इसलिए जल्दी पहुँचना। There's usually a big crowd there, so try to arrive early.

(vahaan bhiid bahut hotii hai, islie jaldii pahunchnaa।)

वहाँ मत जाओ, रास्ता बंद है। Don't go there, the road is closed.

(vahaan mat jaao, raastaa band hai।)

अगर मैं वहाँ होता, तो तुम्हारी मदद करता। If I were there, I would have helped you.

(agar main vahaan hotaa, to tumhaarii madad kartaa।)

वहाँ खड़े लोग कौन हैं? Who are those people standing there?

(vahaan khade log kaun hain?)

हो सकता है कि वह अभी भी वहाँ बैठा हो। It's possible he's still sitting there.

(ho saktaa hai ki vah abhii bhii vahaan baithaa ho।)

समारोह में मेज़ वहाँ लगाई जाएगी, मंच के पास। The table for the ceremony will be set up there, near the stage.

(samaaroh men mez vahaan lagaaii jaaegii, manch ke paas।)

वहाँ जाकर मुझे फ़ोन करना, भूलना मत। Once you get there, call me, don't forget.

(vahaan jaakar mujhe fon karnaa, bhoolnaa mat।)

वहाँ इतना अच्छा खाना मिलता है कि लोग दूर से आते हैं। The food there is so good that people come from far away.

(vahaan itnaa achchhaa khaanaa miltaa hai ki log door se aate hain।)

Sense 2 : in that situation/context (figurative/abstract 'there')

adverb Used to refer back to a topic, situation, or point already under discussion rather than a physical location, e.g. वहाँ मुझे लगता है कि... (vahaan mujhe lagtaa hai ki..., 'there [on that point] I think that...').

Synonyms: उस मामले में (us maamle men, 'in that matter')

Frequency: medium

Cultural Note: This is simply the same spatial word वहाँ (vahaan) stretched to cover an abstract 'place' in a conversation or argument, much like English speakers say 'there' when they mean 'on that point' -- the mental leap from physical to abstract space works almost identically in both languages.

Sample Sentences:

अब बात पैसों की है, और वहाँ मैं तुम्हारी मदद नहीं कर सकता। Now it's a matter of money, and there I can't help you.

(ab baat paison kii hai, aur vahaan main tumhaarii madad nahiin kar saktaa।)

उसकी योजना अच्छी है, लेकिन वहाँ एक दिक्कत है। His plan is good, but there's a problem there.

(uskii yojnaa achchhii hai, lekin vahaan ek dikkat hai।)

अगर बहस राजनीति पर जाए, तो वहाँ मत उलझना। If the argument turns to politics, don't get tangled up there.

(agar bahas raajniiti par jaae, to vahaan mat ulajhnaa।)

उसने अपनी गलती मान ली, और वहाँ मुझे उसकी इज़्ज़त करनी पड़ी। He admitted his mistake, and there I had to respect him.

(usne apnii galtii maan lii, aur vahaan mujhe uskii izzat karnii padii।)

काम की गुणवत्ता में वे कभी समझौता नहीं करते, वहाँ वे बहुत सख्त हैं। They never compromise on the quality of work; there, they are very strict.

(kaam kii gunvattaa men ve kabhii samjhautaa nahiin karte, vahaan ve bahut sakht hain।)

यदि सवाल उसकी नीयत का होता, तो वहाँ मुझे शक होता। If the question were about his intentions, there I would have doubts.

(yadi savaal uskii niiyat kaa hotaa, to vahaan mujhe shak hotaa।)

शायद वहाँ मामला थोड़ा पेचीदा हो जाए। Perhaps things might get a bit complicated there.

(shaayad vahaan maamlaa thodaa pechiidaa ho jaae।)

कंपनी की नई नीति में कई खामियाँ बताई गई हैं, वहाँ सुधार ज़रूरी है। Several flaws have been pointed out in the company's new policy; there, improvement is necessary.

(kampnii kii naii niiti men kaii khaamiyaan bataaii gaii hain, vahaan sudhaar zaroorii hai।)

जब उसने अपने बचपन का ज़िक्र किया, वहाँ उसकी आँखें भर आईं। When he mentioned his childhood, there his eyes welled up.

(jab usne apne bachpan kaa zikr kiyaa, vahaan uskii aankhen bhar aaiin।)

उसकी बात में सच्चाई कम और दिखावा ज़्यादा है, वहीं मुझे एतराज़ है। There's little truth and a lot of show in what he says, and that's exactly where I object.

(uskii baat men sachchaaii kam aur dikhaavaa zyaadaa hai, vahiin mujhe etraaz hai।)