धागा (dhaagaa)
noun
A concrete noun meaning 'thread/string,' with a common figurative extension for a bond or connection between people.
Sense
1
:
thread, string
noun, masculine
Synonyms: डोरी (dorii, thinner or twine-like), सूत (soot, spun yarn)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Every Indian household has a सुई-धागा (suii-dhaagaa, 'needle and thread') box tucked away for quick repairs -- a button popping off is met with 'धागा ला (dhaagaa laa, 'bring the thread')' rather than any fuss. The raakhii thread tied on Raksha Bandhan and the sacred जनेऊ (janeoo) thread both draw on this same everyday word for their symbolic power.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes confuse धागा (dhaagaa) with डोरी (dorii) -- डोरी tends to be used for a slightly thicker cord or string (like a kite string), while धागा is the everyday word for sewing thread. 2) In tailoring and craft contexts, सुई-धागा (suii-dhaagaa, 'needle and thread') is a set phrase, always in that order.
Sample Sentences:
सुई में धागा डालना मुश्किल हो रहा है।
Threading the needle is proving difficult.
(suii men dhaagaa daalnaa mushkil ho rahaa hai।)
मेरी कमीज़ का बटन टूट गया, धागा ला।
My shirt button came off, bring the thread.
(merii kamiiz kaa batan toot gayaa, dhaagaa laa।)
घर में सुई-धागा हमेशा दराज़ में रखा रहता है।
The needle and thread are always kept in the drawer at home.
(ghar men suii-dhaagaa hameshaa daraaz men rakhaa rahtaa hai।)
उसने पतंग के लिए मज़बूत धागा खरीदा।
He bought strong thread for the kite.
(usne patang ke lie mazboot dhaagaa khariidaa।)
यह धागा कमज़ोर है, टूट जाएगा।
This thread is weak, it will break.
(yah dhaagaa kamzor hai, toot jaaegaa।)
अगर धागा मोटा होता तो सिलाई आसान होती।
If the thread were thicker, the stitching would be easier.
(agar dhaagaa motaa hotaa to silaaii aasaan hotii।)
कारीगर हाथ से धागा बुन रहा है।
The craftsman is weaving thread by hand.
(kaariigar haath se dhaagaa bun rahaa hai।)
दुकान में हर रंग का धागा मिलता है।
Thread of every color is available at the shop.
(dukaan men har rang kaa dhaagaa miltaa hai।)
धागा इतना उलझ गया है कि सुलझाना नामुमकिन लग रहा है।
The thread has gotten so tangled that untangling it seems impossible.
(dhaagaa itnaa ulajh gayaa hai ki suljhaanaa naamumkin lag rahaa hai।)
कृपया धागे को कैंची से मत काटिए, इसे खींच कर तोड़िए।
Please don't cut the thread with scissors, break it by pulling.
(kripyaa dhaage ko kainchii se mat kaatie, ise khiinch kar todie।)
क्या तुम्हारे पास सफ़ेद धागा है?
Do you have white thread?
(kyaa tumhaare paas safed dhaagaa hai?)
Sense
2
:
bond, connection (figurative)
noun, masculine Used with verbs like जुड़ा होना (judaa honaa, 'to be connected') or टूटना (tootnaa, 'to break') to describe an emotional or relational bond, much like English 'thread' of connection.
Synonyms: रिश्ता (rishtaa, relationship/bond), नाता (naataa, tie/link)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This is the same mental image English speakers use in 'hanging by a thread,' but Hindi extends it warmly to relationships too -- रिश्तों का धागा (rishton kaa dhaagaa, 'the thread of relationships') is a common way to talk about family ties that hold people together across distance.
Sample Sentences:
रिश्तों का धागा हमें हमेशा जोड़े रखता है।
The thread of relationships always keeps us connected.
(rishton kaa dhaagaa hamen hameshaa jode rakhtaa hai।)
इतने सालों बाद भी हमारी दोस्ती का धागा नहीं टूटा।
Even after so many years, the thread of our friendship did not break.
(itne saalon baad bhii hamaarii dostii kaa dhaagaa nahiin tootaa।)
उम्मीद करता हूँ कि हमारे बीच का यह धागा कभी न टूटे।
I hope that this thread between us never breaks.
(ummiid kartaa hoon ki hamaare biich kaa yah dhaagaa kabhii n toote।)
उनका रिश्ता एक धागे से लटका हुआ है।
Their relationship is hanging by a thread.
(unkaa rishtaa ek dhaage se latkaa huaa hai।)
अगर वह चिट्ठी न लिखता, तो हमारे बीच का धागा कब का टूट गया होता।
If he had not written that letter, the thread between us would have broken long ago.
(agar vah chitthii n likhtaa, to hamaare biich kaa dhaagaa kab kaa toot gayaa hotaa।)
इस त्योहार से पुराने दोस्तों के बीच का धागा फिर से जुड़ जाता है।
Through this festival, the thread between old friends gets reconnected again.
(is tyohaar se puraane doston ke biich kaa dhaagaa phir se jud jaataa hai।)
उस छोटी सी गलतफहमी से रिश्ते का धागा कमजोर पड़ गया।
That small misunderstanding weakened the thread of the relationship.
(us chhotii sii galatphahmii se rishte kaa dhaagaa kamjor pad gayaa।)
इस बंधन के धागे को कमज़ोर मत पड़ने दो।
Don't let the thread of this bond weaken.
(is bandhan ke dhaage ko kamzor mat padne do।)
दादी कहती थीं कि परिवार का धागा प्यार से ही बुना जाता है।
Grandmother used to say that the thread of family is woven only with love.
(daadii kahtii thiin ki parivaar kaa dhaagaa pyaar se hii bunaa jaataa hai।)
क्या तुम्हारे और उसके बीच अब भी वह पुराना धागा बचा है?
Is that old thread between you and him still left?
(kyaa tumhaare aur uske biich ab bhii vah puraanaa dhaagaa bachaa hai?)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
धागा
(dhaagaa)
(sg.m.oblique):
धागे
(dhaage)
(pl.m.direct):
धागे
(dhaage)
(pl.m.oblique):
धागों
(dhaagon)