रियाज़ (riyaaz)
noun
Practice or rehearsal, most often of music, singing, or a skill that requires daily discipline; also used more loosely for any regular practice routine.
Sense
1
:
musical/vocal practice, daily rehearsal
noun, masculine
Synonyms: अभ्यास (abhyaas), साधना (saadhnaa, suggests devotional/spiritual intensity)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: Ask any Hindustani classical music student in Delhi and they will tell you about their guru's insistence on subah ka riyaaz (subah kaa riyaaz, 'morning practice') -- there's a whole ethos in Indian classical training that riyaaz done in the early morning hours, when the voice and mind are fresh, is especially valuable. The word carries a sense of devotion and discipline, not just casual practice, so it's often used with real respect: 'saalon ka riyaaz' (saalon kaa riyaaz, 'years of practice') implies hard-earned mastery.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for अभ्यास (abhyaas) for all kinds of practice, but रियाज़ (riyaaz) is specifically the word used for music, singing, or instrument practice -- a tabla player or a singer does रियाज़ (riyaaz), not अभ्यास (abhyaas), even though both are grammatically fine. 2) The common verb pairing is रियाज़ करना (riyaaz karnaa, 'to practice'), not रियाज़ होना (riyaaz honaa) -- you do the riyaaz, it doesn't happen to you.
Sample Sentences:
उस्ताद जी कहते हैं कि सुबह का रियाज़ सबसे असरदार होता है।
Ustad ji says that morning practice is the most effective.
(ustaad jii kahte hain ki subah kaa riyaaz sabse asardaar hotaa hai।)
वह रोज़ सुबह चार बजे उठकर रियाज़ करती है।
She wakes up at four every morning and practices.
(vah roz subah chaar baje uthkar riyaaz kartii hai।)
यह उनके सालों का रियाज़ है, तभी आवाज़ में ऐसी पकड़ है।
This is years of practice -- that's why there's such command in the voice.
(yah unke saalon kaa riyaaz hai, tabhii aavaaz men aisii pakad hai।)
कल रात मैं बहुत थक गया था, इसलिए रियाज़ नहीं कर पाया।
I was very tired last night, so I couldn't do my practice.
(kal raat main bahut thak gayaa thaa, islie riyaaz nahiin kar paayaa।)
गुरुजी, आज मुझे रियाज़ के लिए थोड़ा समय दीजिए।
Guruji, please give me a little time for practice today.
(gurujii, aaj mujhe riyaaz ke lie thodaa samay diijie।)
अगर तुम रोज़ रियाज़ करते तो अब तक राग पूरी तरह पक्का हो जाता।
If you had practiced daily, the raga would have been fully mastered by now.
(agar tum roz riyaaz karte to ab tak raag poorii tarah pakkaa ho jaataa।)
क्या तुमने आज सुबह का रियाज़ कर लिया?
Did you finish your morning practice today?
(kyaa tumne aaj subah kaa riyaaz kar liyaa?)
संगीत में महारत हासिल करने के लिए निरंतर रियाज़ ज़रूरी है।
Constant practice is essential to attain mastery in music.
(sangiit men mahaarat haasil karne ke lie nirantar riyaaz zaroorii hai।)
जब तक तबले पर उंगलियाँ ठीक से न बैठें, रियाज़ जारी रखो।
Keep practicing until your fingers settle properly on the tabla.
(jab tak table par ungliyaan thiik se n baithen, riyaaz jaarii rakho।)
पंडित जी का मानना था कि रियाज़ के बिना कोई भी सुर सच्चा नहीं लगता।
Pandit ji believed that without practice, no note sounds true.
(pandit jii kaa maannaa thaa ki riyaaz ke binaa koii bhii sur sachchaa nahiin lagtaa।)
Sense
2
:
practice or regular exercise of any skill (extended sense)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: अभ्यास (abhyaas)
Frequency: low
Cultural Note: Beyond music, you'll hear riyaaz used for other disciplines that need daily upkeep, like language or calligraphy -- 'Hindi bolne ka riyaaz' (hindii bolne kaa riyaaz, 'practice speaking Hindi') is a completely natural thing for a teacher to say to a learner like you. It still carries that flavor of devoted, repeated effort rather than a one-off drill.
Sample Sentences:
हिंदी बोलने का रियाज़ करते रहो, फर्क खुद दिखेगा।
Keep practicing speaking Hindi, you'll see the difference yourself.
(hindii bolne kaa riyaaz karte raho, phark khud dikhegaa।)
खत लिखने का रियाज़ करने से उसकी लिखाई बहुत सुधर गई है।
Because of practicing calligraphy regularly, his handwriting has improved a lot.
(khat likhne kaa riyaaz karne se uskii likhaaii bahut sudhar gaii hai।)
अगर रोज़ नई भाषा बोलने का रियाज़ करते, तो अब तक धाराप्रवाह बोल पाते।
If you had practiced speaking the new language every day, you would have been fluent by now.
(agar roz naii bhaashaa bolne kaa riyaaz karte, to ab tak dhaaraaprvaah bol paate।)
क्या तुम शतरंज की चालों का रियाज़ करते हो?
Do you practice chess moves regularly?
(kyaa tum shatranj kii chaalon kaa riyaaz karte ho?)
उर्दू शायरी पढ़ने का रियाज़ किया जाता है ताकि लफ़्ज़ों की समझ गहरी हो।
Regular practice of reading Urdu poetry is done so that one's understanding of words deepens.
(urdoo shaayrii padhne kaa riyaaz kiyaa jaataa hai taaki lafzon kii samajh gahrii ho।)
गुरुजी कहते थे कि किसी भी हुनर में महारत के लिए बरसों का रियाज़ चाहिए।
The teacher used to say that mastery of any skill requires years of practice.
(gurujii kahte the ki kisii bhii hunar men mahaarat ke lie barson kaa riyaaz chaahie।)
बच्चे को गणित के सवालों का रियाज़ करने दो, वरना परीक्षा में मुश्किल होगी।
Let the child practice math problems regularly, otherwise the exam will be difficult.
(bachche ko ganit ke savaalon kaa riyaaz karne do, varnaa pariikshaa men mushkil hogii।)
शायद रियाज़ की कमी की वजह से उसका उच्चारण अब भी कमज़ोर है।
Perhaps because of a lack of practice, his pronunciation is still weak.
(shaayad riyaaz kii kamii kii vajah se uskaa uchchaaran ab bhii kamzor hai।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
रियाज़
(riyaaz)
(sg.m.oblique):
रियाज़
(riyaaz)
(pl.m.direct):
रियाज़
(riyaaz)
(pl.m.oblique):
रियाज़ों
(riyaazon)