इशारा (ishaaraa)
noun
A noun meaning a gesture, hint, or signal -- covers both physical signaling (a wave, a nod) and verbal/situational hinting. Used heavily in the idiom इशारा करना (ishaaraa karnaa, 'to signal/hint').
Sense
1
:
physical gesture or signal
noun, masculine
Synonyms: संकेत (sanket), इंगित (ingit, literary)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Picture a crowded Delhi bazaar -- a rickshaw-wallah doesn't shout, he just gives an इशारा (ishaaraa) with his hand to say 'move' or 'wait.' The word carries that flavor of quick, wordless communication that's second nature in daily Indian life.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for संकेत (sanket) by default from textbooks, but इशारा (ishaaraa) is the word people actually reach for in speech, especially with हाथ का इशारा (haath kaa ishaaraa, 'a hand gesture') or आँख का इशारा (aankh kaa ishaaraa, 'a wink/glance signal').
Sample Sentences:
उसने हाथ के इशारे से मुझे रुकने को कहा।
He told me to stop with a hand gesture.
(usne haath ke ishaare se mujhe rukne ko kahaa।)
कंडक्टर इशारा करता है और बस चल पड़ती है।
The conductor gives a signal and the bus starts moving.
(kandaktar ishaaraa kartaa hai aur bas chal padtii hai।)
इशारा करो, मैं समझ जाऊँगा।
Just give me a sign, I'll understand.
(ishaaraa karo, main samajh jaaoongaa।)
पुलिसवाला सड़क पर खड़ा गाड़ियों को इशारे से रोक रहा था।
The policeman was standing on the road, stopping vehicles with a gesture.
(pulisvaalaa sadak par khadaa gaadiyon ko ishaare se rok rahaa thaa।)
अगर वह इशारा न करता तो मैं गाड़ी रोकता ही नहीं।
If he hadn't given the signal, I wouldn't have stopped the car at all.
(agar vah ishaaraa n kartaa to main gaadii roktaa hii nahiin।)
बच्चे ने अपनी माँ को उँगली से इशारा करके वह खिलौना दिखाया।
The child pointed with his finger to show his mother that toy.
(bachche ne apnii maan ko unglii se ishaaraa karke vah khilaunaa dikhaayaa।)
रिक्शेवाले ने हाथ के इशारे से बता दिया कि रास्ता बंद है।
The rickshaw-puller signaled with his hand that the road was closed.
(rikshevaale ne haath ke ishaare se bataa diyaa ki raastaa band hai।)
अगर आपको मदद चाहिए हो तो सिर्फ इशारा कीजिए।
If you need any help, just give a signal.
(agar aapko madad chaahie ho to sirph ishaaraa kiijie।)
मूक-बधिर बच्चे इशारों से आपस में बात करते हैं।
Deaf-mute children talk to each other with gestures.
(mook-badhir bachche ishaaron se aapas men baat karte hain।)
इशारों-इशारों में ही सारी बात समझ ली गई।
The whole matter was understood entirely through gestures.
(ishaaron-ishaaron men hii saarii baat samajh lii gaii।)
मैं चाहता था कि वह कोई इशारा करे ताकि मुझे पता चले कि गाड़ी कब निकलनी है।
I wanted him to make some gesture so I would know when the vehicle was leaving.
(main chaahtaa thaa ki vah koii ishaaraa kare taaki mujhe pataa chale ki gaadii kab nikalnii hai।)
Sense
2
:
hint, indirect suggestion
noun, masculine
Synonyms: संकेत (sanket), आशय (aashay, formal)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Hindi speakers often prize इशारा (ishaaraa) over blunt speech, especially with elders or in-laws -- dropping a hint rather than stating something outright is considered polite. If someone says कुछ इशारा तो दो (kuchh ishaaraa to do, 'at least give me a hint'), they're asking you to ease into a topic rather than blurt it out.
Common Mistakes: 1) इशारे में बात करना (ishaare men baat karnaa, 'to speak in hints') is a common set phrase for someone being deliberately indirect, e.g. avoiding a topic in front of elders or in a delicate conversation -- learners tend to translate this too literally instead of recognizing it as an idiom for tact/indirectness.
Sample Sentences:
कम से कम कुछ इशारा तो दो कि बात क्या है।
At least give me a hint about what the matter is.
(kam se kam kuchh ishaaraa to do ki baat kyaa hai।)
उसने अपनी बात में शादी का इशारा दिया था।
He had dropped a hint about marriage in what he said.
(usne apnii baat men shaadii kaa ishaaraa diyaa thaa।)
मुझे उसकी बातों से इशारा मिल गया कि वह नाराज़ है।
I got the hint from what she said that she's upset.
(mujhe uskii baaton se ishaaraa mil gayaa ki vah naaraaz hai।)
सास-बहू के रिश्ते में अक्सर इशारों में ही बात होती है।
In a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law's relationship, things are often said only in hints.
(saas-bahoo ke rishte men aksar ishaaron men hii baat hotii hai।)
काश वह साफ़ बता देता, यूँ इशारों में न उलझाता।
If only he would have said it clearly, instead of tangling it up in hints like this.
(kaash vah saaf bataa detaa, yoon ishaaron men n uljhaataa।)
अगर वह इशारा समझ जाए तो हमें साफ़-साफ़ कहना नहीं पड़ेगा।
If she understands the hint, we won't have to say it outright.
(agar vah ishaaraa samajh jaae to hamen saaf-saaf kahnaa nahiin padegaa।)
मैं तो सिर्फ़ इशारा दे रहा था, तुम इतना बुरा क्यों मान गए?
I was only giving a hint, why did you take it so badly?
(main to sirf ishaaraa de rahaa thaa, tum itnaa buraa kyon maan gae?)
उनके भाषण में सरकार की नई योजना का इशारा साफ़ झलक रहा था।
In his speech, a clear hint of the government's new plan was showing through.
(unke bhaashan men sarkaar kii naii yojnaa kaa ishaaraa saaf jhalak rahaa thaa।)
कवि की पंक्तियों में विरह का गहरा इशारा छिपा है।
A deep hint of separation lies hidden in the poet's lines.
(kavi kii panktiyon men virah kaa gahraa ishaaraa chhipaa hai।)
क्या यह महज़ इत्तेफ़ाक़ है, या इसमें कोई इशारा छिपा है?
Is this just a coincidence, or is there some hint hidden in it?
(kyaa yah mahaz ittefaaq hai, yaa ismen koii ishaaraa chhipaa hai?)
बड़ों के सामने सीधे मुँह पर कहने के बजाय इशारा देना ज़्यादा उचित समझा जाता है।
In front of elders, giving a hint is considered more proper than saying it straight to their face.
(badon ke saamne siidhe munh par kahne ke bajaay ishaaraa denaa zyaadaa uchit samjhaa jaataa hai।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
इशारा
(ishaaraa)
(sg.m.oblique):
इशारे
(ishaare)
(pl.m.direct):
इशारे
(ishaare)
(pl.m.oblique):
इशारों
(ishaaron)