नम (nam)
adjective
A single-sense adjective meaning 'damp/moist'; also carries a common figurative extension for eyes welling up with emotion.
Sense
1
:
damp, moist
adjective
Synonyms: गीला (giilaa), भीगा (bhiigaa, slightly wet/soaked), तर (tar, literary)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You'll hear नम (nam) used for the air or soil, as in नम हवा (nam havaa, 'moist air'), especially describing the monsoon season or early mornings in Delhi when there's dew on the grass.
Common Mistakes: 1) Do not confuse with गीला (giilaa) -- नम (nam) suggests a slight, often pleasant or natural dampness (morning air, soil after dew), while गीला (giilaa) means properly wet, as after being soaked or rained on.
Sample Sentences:
सुबह घास पर पड़ी नम मिट्टी अच्छी लगती है।
The moist soil on the grass in the morning feels nice.
(subah ghaas par padii nam mittii achchhii lagtii hai।)
बारिश के बाद हवा नम हो गई है।
The air has become moist after the rain.
(baarish ke baad havaa nam ho gaii hai।)
मानसून में दिल्ली की हवा हफ्तों तक नम रहती है।
During the monsoon, Delhi's air stays moist for weeks.
(maansoon men dillii kii havaa haphton tak nam rahtii hai।)
कपड़े अभी नम हैं, धूप में सूखने दो।
The clothes are still damp, let them dry in the sun.
(kapde abhii nam hain, dhoop men sookhne do।)
अगर दीवार नम रहेगी तो उस पर फफूंदी लग जाएगी।
If the wall stays damp, mold will grow on it.
(agar diivaar nam rahegii to us par phaphoondii lag jaaegii।)
तहखाने की दीवारें हमेशा नम रहती हैं।
The basement walls always stay damp.
(tahkhaane kii diivaaren hameshaa nam rahtii hain।)
बीज बोने से पहले मिट्टी को नम कर लीजिए।
Please moisten the soil before sowing the seeds.
(biij bone se pahle mittii ko nam kar liijie।)
अगर छत नम न होती तो सीलन की समस्या न होती।
If the ceiling weren't damp, there wouldn't be a dampness problem.
(agar chhat nam n hotii to siilan kii samasyaa n hotii।)
पहाड़ों की तराई में जंगल की जमीन सदा नम रहती है।
In the foothills, the forest floor always stays moist.
(pahaadon kii taraaii men jangal kii jamiin sadaa nam rahtii hai।)
फूलों को नियमित रूप से नम रखा जाना चाहिए।
The flowers should be kept moist regularly.
(phoolon ko niymit roop se nam rakhaa jaanaa chaahie।)
Sense
2
:
moist with tears, welling up (of eyes)
adjective Almost always used with आँखें (aankhen, 'eyes') as in आँखें नम होना (aankhen nam honaa, 'eyes to well up') -- the eyes are the grammatical subject, not the person.
Synonyms: भीगा (bhiigaa, of eyes, poetic)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This is a favorite phrase in Hindi film dialogue and news reporting for describing suppressed emotion -- आँखें नम हो गईं (aankhen nam ho gaiin, 'eyes welled up') is a gentler, more literary way to say someone got emotional than saying they cried outright.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often try to say 'I became नम (nam)' -- but the word attaches to आँखें (aankhen), so you say आँखें नम हो गईं (aankhen nam ho gaiin, 'the eyes became moist'), not a construction centered on the person directly.
Sample Sentences:
उसकी बात सुनकर मेरी आँखें नम हो गईं।
Hearing what he said, my eyes welled up.
(uskii baat sunkar merii aankhen nam ho gaiin।)
बेटी की शादी में पिता की आँखें नम हो जाती हैं।
At a daughter's wedding, a father's eyes tend to well up.
(betii kii shaadii men pitaa kii aankhen nam ho jaatii hain।)
पुराने दोस्तों को याद करते हुए उसकी आँखें नम थीं।
Remembering his old friends, his eyes were misty.
(puraane doston ko yaad karte hue uskii aankhen nam thiin।)
जब उन्होंने शहीदों को श्रद्धांजलि दी, तो सबकी आँखें नम हो उठीं।
When they paid tribute to the martyrs, everyone's eyes welled up.
(jab unhonne shahiidon ko shraddhaanjli dii, to sabkii aankhen nam ho uthiin।)
इतनी भावुक कहानी सुनकर आँखें नम हो जाएँगी।
Hearing such an emotional story, one's eyes will well up.
(itnii bhaavuk kahaanii sunkar aankhen nam ho jaaengii।)
अगर वह वहाँ होता, तो उसकी आँखें भी नम हो जातीं।
If he had been there, his eyes would have welled up too.
(agar vah vahaan hotaa, to uskii aankhen bhii nam ho jaatiin।)
काश उसकी आँखें नम न होतीं, इतनी तकलीफ़ में भी वह हँस रही थी।
If only her eyes hadn't welled up -- even in so much pain, she was laughing.
(kaash uskii aankhen nam n hotiin, itnii takliif men bhii vah hans rahii thii।)
एंकर की आवाज़ भर्रा गई और आँखें नम दिखीं जब उन्होंने हादसे की खबर सुनाई।
The anchor's voice choked and their eyes looked misty as they reported the news of the accident.
(enkar kii aavaaz bharraa gaii aur aankhen nam dikhiin jab unhonne haadse kii khabar sunaaii।)
फ़िल्म का आखिरी सीन देखकर पूरे थिएटर की आँखें नम हो गई थीं।
Watching the film's final scene, the whole theater's eyes had welled up.
(film kaa aakhirii siin dekhkar poore thietar kii aankhen nam ho gaii thiin।)
माँ की चिट्ठी पढ़ते ही उसकी नम आँखों से आँसू टपक पड़े।
As soon as he read his mother's letter, tears dripped from his misty eyes.
(maan kii chitthii padhte hii uskii nam aankhon se aansoo tapak pade।)
Morphology
Adjective (invariant)
invariant:
नम
(nam)