इस्पात (ispaat)

noun A single-sense noun meaning 'steel', used both literally (the metal) and figuratively (strength of character, resolve).
Sense 1 : steel (the metal)
noun, masculine
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will see this word on factory signboards and in the names of steel plants and companies (like the public-sector Steel Authority of India, called इस्पात प्राधिकरण (ispaat praadhikran) in Hindi), so it has a slightly formal, industrial-technical flavor rather than being kitchen-table vocabulary.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes reach for लोहा (lohaa) when they mean इस्पात (ispaat) -- लोहा (lohaa) is 'iron', the raw metal, while इस्पात (ispaat) is the refined, harder alloy 'steel'; in casual speech लोहा (lohaa) sometimes gets used loosely for both, but इस्पात (ispaat) itself always means steel specifically.
Sample Sentences:
यह पुल इस्पात से बना है। This bridge is made of steel.
(yah pul ispaat se banaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
भारत सरकार ने इस्पात उद्योग को बढ़ावा देने के लिए नई नीति बनाई। The Indian government formulated a new policy to promote the steel industry.
(bhaarat sarkaar ne ispaat udyog ko badhaavaa dene ke lie naii niiti banaaii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
इस कारखाने में हर महीने हज़ारों टन इस्पात बनाया जाता है। Thousands of tons of steel are manufactured in this factory every month.
(is kaarkhaane men har mahiine hazaaron tan ispaat banaayaa jaataa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
मज़दूर भट्टी में इस्पात पिघला रहे थे। The workers were melting steel in the furnace.
(mazdoor bhattii men ispaat pighlaa rahe the।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अगर कच्चा माल समय पर मिलता, तो हम और इस्पात बना पाते। If the raw material had arrived on time, we would have been able to make more steel.
(agar kachchaa maal samay par miltaa, to ham aur ispaat banaa paate।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
इस्पात प्राधिकरण की रिपोर्ट के अनुसार उत्पादन में वृद्धि हुई है। According to the report of the Steel Authority, production has increased.
(ispaat praadhikran kii riport ke anusaar utpaadan men vriddhi huii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
कृपया सुनिश्चित करें कि निर्माण में केवल गुणवत्तापूर्ण इस्पात का प्रयोग हो। Please ensure that only high-quality steel is used in the construction.
(kripyaa sunishchit karen ki nirmaan men keval gunvattaapoorn ispaat kaa prayog ho।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
अगली पंचवर्षीय योजना में इस्पात उत्पादन दोगुना हो जाएगा। Steel production will double in the next five-year plan.
(aglii panchvarshiiy yojnaa men ispaat utpaadan dogunaa ho jaaegaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
उम्मीद है कि इस्पात की कीमतें जल्द स्थिर हो जाएँ। It is hoped that steel prices will stabilize soon.
(ummiid hai ki ispaat kii kiimten jald sthir ho jaaen।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
जमशेदपुर को इस्पात नगरी के नाम से जाना जाता है। Jamshedpur is known by the name Steel City.
(jamshedpur ko ispaat nagrii ke naam se jaanaa jaataa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
Sense 2 : unyielding strength, iron will (figurative)
noun, masculine Used attributively in phrases like इस्पात का इरादा (ispaat kaa iraadaa, 'a will of steel') or इस्पात जैसा (ispaat jaisaa, 'steel-like') to describe a person's resolve or nerve.
Synonyms: फ़ौलाद (faulaad)
Frequency: low
Cultural Note: This is the same move English makes with 'nerves of steel' or 'an iron will' -- Hindi speakers reach for इस्पात (ispaat) (or its close cousin फ़ौलाद (faulaad)) in speeches and motivational contexts to praise someone's grit, especially soldiers, athletes, or leaders.
Sample Sentences:
उसके इरादे इस्पात के बने हैं। His resolve is made of steel.
(uske iraade ispaat ke bane hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
सैनिकों के हौसले इस्पात की तरह मज़बूत थे। The soldiers' morale was as strong as steel.
(sainikon ke hausle ispaat kii tarah mazboot the।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
मुश्किलों ने उसे इस्पात बना दिया है। Hardships have turned him into steel.
(mushkilon ne use ispaat banaa diyaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
काश उसका मन भी इस्पात जैसा होता, तो वह हार न मानता। If only his mind were made of steel too, he wouldn't have given up.
(kaash uskaa man bhii ispaat jaisaa hotaa, to vah haar n maantaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
नेता जी ने कहा, हमें इस्पात जैसा दृढ़ बनना होगा। The leader said, we must become as firm as steel.
(netaa jii ne kahaa, hamen ispaat jaisaa dridh bannaa hogaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
क्या तुम्हारे अंदर इतना इस्पात है कि इस चुनौती का सामना कर सको? Do you have enough steel in you to face this challenge?
(kyaa tumhaare andar itnaa ispaat hai ki is chunautii kaa saamnaa kar sako?)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
खिलाड़ी के इस्पाती जज़्बे की सब तारीफ़ कर रहे थे। Everyone was praising the athlete's steely spirit.
(khilaadii ke ispaatii jazbe kii sab taariif kar rahe the।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
हे प्रभु, मुझे इस्पात-सा साहस दो कि मैं इस अग्निपरीक्षा से गुज़र सकूँ। O Lord, give me steel-like courage so that I may pass through this trial by fire.
(he prabhu, mujhe ispaat-saa saahas do ki main is agnipriikshaa se guzar sakoon।)
Register: Devotional -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
उसकी आवाज़ काँप रही थी, पर संकल्प इस्पात-सा अटल था। Her voice was trembling, but her resolve was as unshakeable as steel.
(uskii aavaaz kaamp rahii thii, par sankalp ispaat-saa atal thaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): इस्पात (ispaat)
(sg.m.oblique): इस्पात (ispaat)
(pl.m.direct): इस्पात (ispaat)
(pl.m.oblique): इस्पातों (ispaaton)