ख़ामोशी (khaamoshii)
noun
A single-sense noun meaning silence or quietness, used both literally (absence of sound) and figuratively (an emotional or reproachful silence between people).
Sense
1
:
silence, quietness
noun, feminine
Synonyms: शांति (shaanti, also 'peace/calm'), सन्नाटा (sannaataa, eerie or total silence), चुप्पी (chuppii, everyday word for staying silent)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This word carries a certain poetic weight in Hindi/Urdu -- you'll hear it in ghazals and film dialogues describing the silence between lovers or the tense quiet after an argument, in a way that plain चुप्पी (chuppii) doesn't quite capture. It comes from Persian ख़ामोश (khaamosh, 'silent'), which is itself a common adjective you'll hear as a sharp command -- ख़ामोश! (khaamosh, 'Silence!') -- in courtroom or classroom scenes.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for चुप्पी (chuppii) and ख़ामोशी (khaamoshii) as if fully interchangeable; ख़ामोशी (khaamoshii) leans slightly more literary/emotional (a heavy, meaningful silence), while चुप्पी (chuppii) is the plain, everyday 'keeping quiet.' 2) Note the nuqta under ख़ (kh) -- dropping it (writing खामोशी) is common in casual writing and still understood, but the dotted form is the standard spelling.
Sample Sentences:
कमरे में एक अजीब ख़ामोशी थी।
There was a strange silence in the room.
(kamre men ek ajiib khaamoshii thii।)
उसकी ख़ामोशी मुझे कुछ कह रही थी।
Her silence was telling me something.
(uskii khaamoshii mujhe kuchh kah rahii thii।)
झगड़े के बाद दोनों के बीच लंबी ख़ामोशी छा गई।
After the fight, a long silence descended between the two of them.
(jhagde ke baad donon ke biich lambii khaamoshii chhaa gaii।)
कृपया इस ख़ामोशी को तोड़ो, कुछ तो बोलो।
Please break this silence, say something at least.
(kripyaa is khaamoshii ko todo, kuchh to bolo।)
अगर वह चुप न होता तो यह ख़ामोशी न बनती।
If he hadn't gone quiet, this silence wouldn't have formed.
(agar vah chup n hotaa to yah khaamoshii n bantii।)
शायद उसकी ख़ामोशी ही उसका जवाब हो।
Perhaps her silence itself is her answer.
(shaayad uskii khaamoshii hii uskaa javaab ho।)
रात की ख़ामोशी में सिर्फ़ घड़ी की टिक-टिक सुनाई देती है।
In the silence of the night, only the ticking of the clock is heard.
(raat kii khaamoshii men sirf ghadii kii tik-tik sunaaii detii hai।)
उनकी ख़ामोशी से साफ़ पता चलता था कि कुछ गड़बड़ है।
It was clear from their silence that something was wrong.
(unkii khaamoshii se saaf pataa chaltaa thaa ki kuchh gadbad hai।)
इस ग़ज़ल में शायर ने ख़ामोशी को इश्क़ की ज़बान बताया है।
In this ghazal, the poet has called silence the language of love.
(is ghazal men shaayar ne khaamoshii ko ishq kii zabaan bataayaa hai।)
फ़ोन पर उसकी ख़ामोशी टूटी और वह रो पड़ी।
Her silence broke on the phone and she burst into tears.
(fon par uskii khaamoshii tootii aur vah ro padii।)
जज के कमरे में जाते ही एक भारी ख़ामोशी फैल गई थी।
The moment the judge entered the room, a heavy silence had spread.
(jaj ke kamre men jaate hii ek bhaarii khaamoshii phail gaii thii।)
कभी-कभी ख़ामोशी शब्दों से ज़्यादा कह जाती है।
Sometimes silence says more than words.
(kabhii-kabhii khaamoshii shabdon se zyaadaa kah jaatii hai।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
ख़ामोशी
(khaamoshii)
(sg.f.oblique):
ख़ामोशी
(khaamoshii)
(pl.f.direct):
ख़ामोशियाँ
(khaamoshiyaan)
(pl.f.oblique):
ख़ामोशियों
(khaamoshiyon)