थामना (thaamnaa)
verb
A transitive verb meaning to hold, grasp, or steady something, physically or emotionally; also extends to figurative senses like 'holding onto' composure or a position.
Sense
1
:
to hold, grasp, catch hold of
verb, transitive
Synonyms: पकड़ना (pakadnaa), संभालना (sambhaalnaa, often overlaps in the steadying sense)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Picture someone grabbing a friend's arm as they stumble on the stairs -- that steadying grip is exactly the flavor of थामना (thaamnaa), distinct from a plain, neutral grab. It shows up often in the phrase हाथ थामना (haath thaamnaa, 'to hold someone's hand'), which carries a slightly tender or protective undertone, as in a parent guiding a child or a partner offering support.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for पकड़ना (pakadnaa) by default; थामना (thaamnaa) is the better choice when the holding is meant to steady or support something (a falling person, a shaking hand, a railing) rather than just grip it. 2) थामना (thaamnaa) takes a direct object with ने in the past (usne haath thaamaa, 'he/she held the hand') -- it behaves as a regular transitive verb, no surprises there, but learners sometimes intransitivize it by analogy with संभलना (sambhalnaa).
Sample Sentences:
उसने गिरते हुए बच्चे को थाम लिया।
He caught hold of the falling child.
(usne girte hue bachche ko thaam liyaa।)
पिता अपने बेटे का हाथ थामे हुए सड़क पार कर रहा था।
The father was crossing the road while holding his son's hand.
(pitaa apne bete kaa haath thaame hue sadak paar kar rahaa thaa।)
सीढ़ियों पर मेरा हाथ थाम लो, फिसलन बहुत है।
Hold my hand on the stairs, it's very slippery.
(siidhiyon par meraa haath thaam lo, phislan bahut hai।)
वह हमेशा अपनी पत्नी का हाथ थामकर चलता है।
He always walks holding his wife's hand.
(vah hameshaa apnii patnii kaa haath thaamkar chaltaa hai।)
अगर वह रेलिंग थाम लेता, तो नहीं गिरता।
If he had grabbed the railing, he wouldn't have fallen.
(agar vah reling thaam letaa, to nahiin girtaa।)
नर्स ने बूढ़े आदमी की बाँह थाम ली ताकि वह लड़खड़ाकर न गिरे।
The nurse took hold of the old man's arm so he wouldn't stumble and fall.
(nars ne boodhe aadmii kii baanh thaam lii taaki vah ladakhdaakar n gire।)
मुझे डर लग रहा था, इसलिए मैंने उसकी बाँह थाम ली।
I was scared, so I held onto his arm.
(mujhe dar lag rahaa thaa, islie mainne uskii baanh thaam lii।)
मंडप में दुल्हन का हाथ थामते हुए दुल्हे की आँखों में चमक थी।
There was a sparkle in the groom's eyes as he held the bride's hand at the wedding altar.
(mandap men dulhan kaa haath thaamte hue dulhe kii aankhon men chamak thii।)
क्या तुम मेरा हाथ थामोगे, चाहे कुछ भी हो जाए?
Will you hold my hand, no matter what happens?
(kyaa tum meraa haath thaamoge, chaahe kuchh bhii ho jaae?)
उसका हाथ इतनी कसकर थामा गया कि उसे दर्द होने लगा।
His hand was held so tightly that it started to hurt.
(uskaa haath itnii kaskar thaamaa gayaa ki use dard hone lagaa।)
कृपया रेलिंग थामकर चढ़ें, यह सीढ़ी टूटी हुई है।
Please hold the railing while climbing, this staircase is broken.
(kripyaa reling thaamkar chadhen, yah siidhii tootii huii hai।)
Sense
2
:
to hold back, restrain, or steady (emotions, tears, a situation)
verb, transitive
Synonyms: रोकना (roknaa), काबू में रखना (kaaboo men rakhnaa)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This is the same physical image of gripping something tightly, just turned inward -- steadying your own emotions as if they were a shaking hand. You'll hear जिगर थामना (jigar thaamnaa, 'to steady one's heart/nerve') in more dramatic or filmy speech when someone braces for bad news.
Common Mistakes: 1) This figurative sense is easy to miss -- आँसू थामना (aansoo thaamnaa, 'to hold back tears') or खुद को थामना (khud ko thaamnaa, 'to steady/control oneself') don't translate literally as 'holding' in English, so learners under-use this verb here and default to रोकना (roknaa) instead.
Sample Sentences:
उसने बड़ी मुश्किल से अपने आँसू थामे।
She held back her tears with great difficulty.
(usne badii mushkil se apne aansoo thaame।)
खबर सुनने से पहले अपना जिगर थाम लो।
Steady your heart before you hear the news.
(khabar sunne se pahle apnaa jigar thaam lo।)
वह अपनी हँसी नहीं थाम पाया।
He couldn't hold back his laughter.
(vah apnii hansii nahiin thaam paayaa।)
प्रधानमंत्री ने बिगड़ती स्थिति को थामने की कोशिश की।
The prime minister tried to steady the deteriorating situation.
(pradhaanmantrii ne bigadtii sthiti ko thaamne kii koshish kii।)
अगर वह अपना गुस्सा थाम लेता तो झगड़ा नहीं होता।
If he had held back his anger, there wouldn't have been a fight.
(agar vah apnaa gussaa thaam letaa to jhagdaa nahiin hotaa।)
वह हर बार गिरती अर्थव्यवस्था को थामने की बात करते हैं।
He talks every time about steadying the falling economy.
(vah har baar girtii arthavyvasthaa ko thaamne kii baat karte hain।)
मुझसे उम्मीद मत रखो कि मैं अपनी भावनाएँ थाम लूँगी।
Don't expect me to hold back my feelings.
(mujhse ummiid mat rakho ki main apnii bhaavnaaen thaam loongii।)
जिगर थाम कर बैठो, फैसला अभी आने वाला है।
Brace yourself, the verdict is about to come.
(jigar thaam kar baitho, phaislaa abhii aane vaalaa hai।)
क्या तुम उस दर्द को थाम सकोगी जब सच्चाई सामने आएगी?
Will you be able to steady yourself against the pain when the truth comes out?
(kyaa tum us dard ko thaam sakogii jab sachchaaii saamne aaegii?)
इस सदमे को थामने के लिए बड़े जिगर की ज़रूरत है।
Steadying oneself against this shock requires a strong heart.
(is sadme ko thaamne ke lie bade jigar kii zaroorat hai।)
काश मैं उस पल अपनी घबराहट थाम पाता।
I wish I could have steadied my nervousness in that moment.
(kaash main us pal apnii ghabraahat thaam paataa।)
Morphology
Verb
infinitive:
थामना
(thaamnaa)
infinitive oblique:
थामने
(thaamne)
habitual/simple (sg.m):
थामता
(thaamtaa)
habitual/simple (pl.m):
थामते
(thaamte)
habitual/simple (sg.f):
थामती
(thaamtii)
habitual/simple (pl.f):
थामतीं
(thaamtiin)
continuous (sg.m):
थाम रहा
(thaam rahaa)
continuous (pl.m):
थाम रहे
(thaam rahe)
continuous (sg.f):
थाम रही
(thaam rahii)
continuous (pl.f):
थाम रहीं
(thaam rahiin)
perfective (sg.m):
थामा
(thaamaa)
perfective (pl.m):
थामे
(thaame)
perfective (sg.f):
थामी
(thaamii)
perfective (pl.f):
थामीं
(thaamiin)
imperative (informal):
थाम
(thaam)
imperative (neutral):
थामो
(thaamo)
imperative (formal):
थामिए
(thaamie)
future (1sg.m):
थामूँगा
(thaamoongaa)
future (1sg.f):
थामूँगी
(thaamoongii)
future (1pl.m):
थामेंगे
(thaamenge)
future (1pl.f):
थामेंगी
(thaamengii)
future (2sg.m):
थामेगा
(thaamegaa)
future (2sg.f):
थामेगी
(thaamegii)
future (2pl.m):
थामोगे
(thaamoge)
future (2pl.f):
थामोगी
(thaamogii)
future (3sg.m):
थामेगा
(thaamegaa)
future (3sg.f):
थामेगी
(thaamegii)
future (3pl.m):
थामेंगे
(thaamenge)
future (3pl.f):
थामेंगी
(thaamengii)
subjunctive (1sg):
थामूँ
(thaamoon)
subjunctive (1pl):
थामें
(thaamen)
subjunctive (2sg):
थामे
(thaame)
subjunctive (2pl):
थामो
(thaamo)
subjunctive (3sg):
थामे
(thaame)
subjunctive (3pl):
थामें
(thaamen)