पहिया (pahiyaa)
noun
Basically means 'wheel' -- a solid, everyday noun with one core sense; it also shows up figuratively for cyclical processes like the wheel of a machine or system.
Sense
1
:
wheel (of a vehicle, cart, machine)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: चक्का (chakkaa), चक्र (chakr, literary/technical)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You will hear this constantly around cycle-repair stalls and auto workshops: पहिया पंचर हो गया (pahiyaa panchar ho gayaa, 'the wheel/tire got punctured') is a classic line every scooter or cycle rider in Delhi has said at some point. Note the related word चक्का (chakkaa), which overlaps closely and is common in idioms like चक्का जाम (chakkaa jaam, 'traffic jam/wheels stuck'), whereas पहिया (pahiyaa) stays more literal and physical.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes reach for चक्र (chakr) in casual speech about a bicycle or car tire, but that word sounds bookish or technical (as in 'chakra' contexts) -- पहिया (pahiyaa) is what you'd actually say pointing at a flat tire or a cart wheel.
Sample Sentences:
मेरी साइकिल का पहिया पंचर हो गया।
My bicycle's wheel got punctured.
(merii saaikil kaa pahiyaa panchar ho gayaa।)
स्कूटर का पिछला पहिया घिस गया है।
The scooter's back wheel is worn out.
(skootar kaa pichhlaa pahiyaa ghis gayaa hai।)
मिस्त्री गाड़ी का पहिया बदल रहा है।
The mechanic is changing the car's wheel.
(mistrii gaadii kaa pahiyaa badal rahaa hai।)
ट्रक का पहिया रास्ते में ही निकल गया।
The truck's wheel came off right in the middle of the road.
(trak kaa pahiyaa raaste men hii nikal gayaa।)
पहिया ठीक से कस दो, वरना खुल जाएगा।
Tighten the wheel properly, otherwise it will come loose.
(pahiyaa thiik se kas do, varnaa khul jaaegaa।)
अगर पहिया समय पर बदल दिया जाता, तो यह हादसा नहीं होता।
If the wheel had been changed on time, this accident wouldn't have happened.
(agar pahiyaa samay par badal diyaa jaataa, to yah haadsaa nahiin hotaa।)
हर हफ्ते वह अपनी बाइक के पहियों की हवा चेक करता है।
Every week he checks the air in his bike's wheels/tires.
(har haphte vah apnii baaik ke pahiyon kii havaa chek kartaa hai।)
पुरानी बैलगाड़ी के पहिये लकड़ी के बने होते थे।
The wheels of old bullock carts used to be made of wood.
(puraanii bailgaadii ke pahiye lakdii ke bane hote the।)
मशीन का यह पहिया इंजन से जुड़ा हुआ है।
This wheel of the machine is connected to the engine.
(mashiin kaa yah pahiyaa injan se judaa huaa hai।)
क्या तुमने कभी पहिये को हाथ से बदलने की कोशिश की है?
Have you ever tried changing a wheel by hand?
(kyaa tumne kabhii pahiye ko haath se badalne kii koshish kii hai?)
काश मेरे पास एक स्पेयर पहिया होता।
I wish I had a spare wheel.
(kaash mere paas ek speyar pahiyaa hotaa।)
Sense
2
:
wheel as a cyclical process or driving mechanism (figurative)
noun, masculine Used in set phrases like विकास का पहिया (vikaas kaa pahiyaa, 'the wheel of development') or ज़िंदगी का पहिया (zindgii kaa pahiyaa, 'the wheel of life'), always with an oblique possessor before it.
Synonyms: चक्र (chakr)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This figurative use turns up a lot in speeches, news headlines, and motivational talk -- politicians love saying things like विकास का पहिया घूमने लगा है (vikaas kaa pahiyaa ghoomne lagaa hai, 'the wheel of development has started turning'). It is a natural, common extension of the physical wheel image, not a separate borrowed idiom.
Sample Sentences:
विकास का पहिया अब घूमने लगा है।
The wheel of development has now started turning.
(vikaas kaa pahiyaa ab ghoomne lagaa hai।)
अर्थव्यवस्था का पहिया थम गया है।
The wheel of the economy has come to a halt.
(arthavyvasthaa kaa pahiyaa tham gayaa hai।)
जीवन का पहिया कभी नहीं रुकता।
The wheel of life never stops.
(jiivan kaa pahiyaa kabhii nahiin ruktaa।)
अगर सबका साथ मिले, तो प्रगति का पहिया और तेज़ चले।
If everyone cooperates, the wheel of progress could turn even faster.
(agar sabkaa saath mile, to pragti kaa pahiyaa aur tez chale।)
समय का पहिया किसी के लिए नहीं रुकता।
The wheel of time stops for no one.
(samay kaa pahiyaa kisii ke lie nahiin ruktaa।)
नई नीतियों से उद्योग का पहिया फिर से घुमाया जाएगा।
The new policies will set the wheel of industry turning again.
(naii niitiyon se udyog kaa pahiyaa phir se ghumaayaa jaaegaa।)
अगर सरकार समय पर फैसले लेती, तो बदलाव का पहिया कब का घूम चुका होता।
If the government had made decisions on time, the wheel of change would have already been turning long ago.
(agar sarkaar samay par phaisle letii, to badlaav kaa pahiyaa kab kaa ghoom chukaa hotaa।)
उम्मीद है कि सुधार का पहिया अब पीछे न हटे।
Hopefully, the wheel of reform does not now move backward.
(ummiid hai ki sudhaar kaa pahiyaa ab piichhe n hate।)
इस गाँव में रोज़गार का पहिया सालों से जाम पड़ा था।
In this village, the wheel of employment had been jammed for years.
(is gaanv men rozgaar kaa pahiyaa saalon se jaam padaa thaa।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
पहिया
(pahiyaa)
(sg.m.oblique):
पहिये
(pahiye)
(pl.m.direct):
पहिये
(pahiye)
(pl.m.oblique):
पहियों
(pahiyon)