सिलवट (silvat)
noun
A concrete noun meaning a crease, wrinkle, or fold -- used for cloth, skin, paper, and by extension for troubles or complications in a situation.
Sense
1
:
crease or wrinkle (in cloth, paper, skin)
noun, feminine
Synonyms: शिकन (shikan)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: Ask any Delhi mother getting ready for a wedding and she'll tell you to iron out the सिलवटें (silavten) before you leave the house -- a crumpled kurta is a small social embarrassment here. The same word covers the fine lines that appear on skin with age, so you'll hear it in beauty-product ads too, promising to smooth away चेहरे की सिलवटें (chehre kii silavten, 'wrinkles on the face').
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes reach for शिकन (shikan) only -- both words are common, but सिलवट (silvat) is the more everyday choice for clothes fresh out of a bag or suitcase.
Sample Sentences:
इस कुर्ते में बहुत सिलवटें पड़ गई हैं।
This kurta has gotten a lot of wrinkles.
(is kurte men bahut silavten pad gaii hain।)
जाने से पहले साड़ी की सिलवटें इस्त्री से निकाल लो।
Iron out the creases in the sari before you go.
(jaane se pahle saadii kii silavten istrii se nikaal lo।)
यह क्रीम चेहरे की सिलवटों को कम करती है।
This cream reduces wrinkles on the face.
(yah kriim chehre kii silavton ko kam kartii hai।)
उम्र के साथ माथे पर सिलवटें पड़ने लगती हैं।
With age, wrinkles start appearing on the forehead.
(umr ke saath maathe par silavten padne lagtii hain।)
अगर तुम कपड़े ठीक से न तहो, तो सिलवटें पड़ जाएँगी।
If you don't fold the clothes properly, they'll get creased.
(agar tum kapde thiik se n taho, to silavten pad jaaengii।)
कागज़ में सिलवट पड़ जाने से अक्षर पढ़ना मुश्किल हो गया।
Because of the crease in the paper, it became hard to read the letters.
(kaagaz men silvat pad jaane se akshar padhnaa mushkil ho gayaa।)
बिस्तर की चादर पर सिलवटें पड़ी थीं क्योंकि उसे सही से नहीं बिछाया गया था।
There were creases on the bedsheet because it hadn't been spread properly.
(bistar kii chaadar par silavten padii thiin kyonki use sahii se nahiin bichhaayaa gayaa thaa।)
अगर वह रोज़ धूप में न बैठती, तो उसकी त्वचा पर इतनी सिलवटें न होतीं।
If she hadn't sat in the sun every day, her skin wouldn't have had so many wrinkles.
(agar vah roz dhoop men n baithtii, to uskii tvachaa par itnii silavten n hotiin।)
दर्जी ने पैंट की हर सिलवट को बड़ी बारीकी से इस्त्री किया।
The tailor ironed out every crease of the trousers with great care.
(darjii ne paint kii har silvat ko badii baariikii se istrii kiyaa।)
बूढ़ी दादी के हाथों पर सिलवटें उनकी पूरी ज़िंदगी की कहानी कहती थीं।
The wrinkles on the old grandmother's hands used to tell the story of her whole life.
(boodhii daadii ke haathon par silavten unkii poorii zindgii kii kahaanii kahtii thiin।)
Sense
2
:
figurative: a complication, snag, or wrinkle in a plan/situation
noun, feminine Used in phrases like मामले में सिलवट पड़ना (maamle men silvat padnaa, 'for a snag to appear in a matter') -- the physical image of a crumpled cloth extended to a plan or relationship running into trouble.
Synonyms: उलझन (uljhan), पेच (pech, informal)
Frequency: low
Cultural Note: Just as in English we speak of 'ironing out' a problem, Hindi speakers picture a difficulty as a सिलवट (silvat) that needs smoothing -- so you'll hear रिश्ते में सिलवट आ गई (rishte men silvat aa gaii, 'a wrinkle has appeared in the relationship') when things get slightly tense between two people.
Sample Sentences:
उनके रिश्ते में एक सिलवट आ गई है।
A wrinkle has appeared in their relationship.
(unke rishte men ek silvat aa gaii hai।)
योजना में एक छोटी सी सिलवट थी, जिसे हमने वक्त रहते सुलझा लिया।
There was a small hitch in the plan, which we sorted out in time.
(yojnaa men ek chhotii sii silvat thii, jise hamne vakt rahte suljhaa liyaa।)
बातचीत के दौरान कोई सिलवट न आए, इसका ध्यान रखना।
Make sure no complication arises during the conversation.
(baatchiit ke dauraan koii silvat n aae, iskaa dhyaan rakhnaa।)
अगर उस वक्त थोड़ी सी भी सिलवट होती, तो पूरा सौदा बिगड़ जाता।
If there had been even the slightest hitch at that time, the whole deal would have fallen apart.
(agar us vakt thodii sii bhii silvat hotii, to pooraa saudaa bigad jaataa।)
हर बड़ी योजना में कहीं न कहीं कोई सिलवट रह ही जाती है।
In every big plan, some wrinkle or other always remains somewhere.
(har badii yojnaa men kahiin n kahiin koii silvat rah hii jaatii hai।)
क्या तुम्हें लगता है कि उनके बीच अब भी कोई सिलवट बाकी है?
Do you think there is still some wrinkle left between them?
(kyaa tumhen lagtaa hai ki unke biich ab bhii koii silvat baakii hai?)
समझौते की शर्तों में एक नई सिलवट डाल दी गई है।
A new complication has been introduced into the terms of the agreement.
(samjhaute kii sharton men ek naii silvat daal dii gaii hai।)
काश ये सिलवट बातचीत से ही सुलझ जाए, अदालत तक बात न पहुँचे।
I wish this snag would get resolved through talk alone, without the matter reaching the court.
(kaash ye silvat baatchiit se hii sulajh jaae, adaalat tak baat n pahunche।)
दोनों परिवारों के बीच वर्षों पुरानी एक सिलवट अब तक बनी हुई है।
A years-old rift still persists between the two families.
(donon parivaaron ke biich varshon puraanii ek silvat ab tak banii huii hai।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
सिलवट
(silvat)
(sg.f.oblique):
सिलवट
(silvat)
(pl.f.direct):
सिलवटें
(silavten)
(pl.f.oblique):
सिलवटों
(silavton)