रिश्ता (rishtaa)

noun Mainly means 'relationship/relation' between people, and by extension a 'marriage proposal/match' -- a very common word in the context of arranged marriage discussions.

Sense 1 : relationship, bond (between people)

noun, masculine

Synonyms: संबंध (sambandh), नाता (naataa)

Frequency: high

Cultural Note: Family is often described through रिश्ते (rishte) -- you'll hear खून का रिश्ता (khoon kaa rishtaa, 'blood relation') to stress that a bond runs deeper than mere friendship. This sense is the emotional root from which the 'marriage proposal' sense below extends.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes use रिश्ता (rishtaa) for casual friendships or professional ties where संबंध (sambandh) or ताल्लुक़ (taalluq) sounds more natural; रिश्ता (rishtaa) leans toward family, kinship, or emotionally significant bonds. 2) The phrase रिश्ता रखना (rishtaa rakhnaa, 'to maintain a relationship') and रिश्ता तोड़ना (rishtaa todnaa, 'to break off a relationship') are set collocations worth learning as chunks.

Sample Sentences:

हमारा रिश्ता बहुत गहरा है। Our relationship is very deep.

(hamaaraa rishtaa bahut gahraa hai।)

यह सिर्फ दोस्ती नहीं, खून का रिश्ता है। This isn't just friendship, it's a blood relation.

(yah sirph dostii nahiin, khoon kaa rishtaa hai।)

उन दोनों भाइयों का रिश्ता झगड़े के बाद टूट गया। The relationship between the two brothers broke after the fight.

(un donon bhaaiyon kaa rishtaa jhagde ke baad toot gayaa।)

हम सालों से इस रिश्ते को निभाते आ रहे हैं। We have been maintaining this relationship for years.

(ham saalon se is rishte ko nibhaate aa rahe hain।)

काश हमारा रिश्ता इतना उलझा हुआ न होता। I wish our relationship weren't so complicated.

(kaash hamaaraa rishtaa itnaa uljhaa huaa n hotaa।)

रिश्तों को समय और भरोसे से सींचना पड़ता है। Relationships have to be nurtured with time and trust.

(rishton ko samay aur bharose se siinchnaa padtaa hai।)

अपने रिश्तों की कदर करो, ये हमेशा नहीं रहते। Value your relationships, they don't last forever.

(apne rishton kii kadar karo, ye hameshaa nahiin rahte।)

अगर तुम सच बोलोगे तो शायद रिश्ता बच जाए। If you tell the truth, maybe the relationship can be saved.

(agar tum sach bologe to shaayad rishtaa bach jaae।)

इंसानों के बीच रिश्ते भरोसे की नींव पर बनते हैं। Relationships between people are built on the foundation of trust.

(insaanon ke biich rishte bharose kii niinv par bante hain।)

उसका अपने पिता से रिश्ता कभी अच्छा नहीं रहा। His relationship with his father was never good.

(uskaa apne pitaa se rishtaa kabhii achchhaa nahiin rahaa।)

क्या आप दोनों का कोई पारिवारिक रिश्ता है? Do you two have any family relationship?

(kyaa aap donon kaa koii paarivaarik rishtaa hai?)

Sense 2 : marriage proposal, match

noun, masculine

Synonyms: शादी का प्रस्ताव (shaadii kaa prastaav, multi-word)

Frequency: high

Cultural Note: In the context of arranged marriage, families say रिश्ता देखना (rishtaa dekhnaa, 'to consider/vet a match') or रिश्ता तय होना (rishtaa tay honaa, 'for a match to be finalized'). This extended sense treats a prospective marriage as itself a 'relationship' being proposed -- a natural outgrowth of the first sense.

Common Mistakes: 1) रिश्ता आना (rishtaa aanaa, 'a proposal to arrive') and रिश्ता भेजना (rishtaa bhejnaa, 'to send a proposal') are the standard verb pairings; learners sometimes reach for शादी (shaadii) alone when they specifically mean the proposal stage, before the wedding itself.

Sample Sentences:

उसके लिए एक अच्छा रिश्ता आया है। A good marriage proposal has come for her.

(uske lie ek achchhaa rishtaa aayaa hai।)

हम कल शर्मा जी के बेटे के लिए रिश्ता देखने जा रहे हैं। We are going tomorrow to consider a match for Sharma ji's son.

(ham kal sharmaa jii ke bete ke lie rishtaa dekhne jaa rahe hain।)

उनका रिश्ता आखिरकार तय हो गया। Their match was finally finalized.

(unkaa rishtaa aakhirkaar tay ho gayaa।)

अगर लड़का पसंद आ जाए तो रिश्ता आगे बढ़ाया जाएगा। If they like the boy, the proposal will be taken forward.

(agar ladkaa pasand aa jaae to rishtaa aage badhaayaa jaaegaa।)

पहले तो हमें भी यह रिश्ता ठीक ही लगा था। At first, this proposal seemed fine to us too.

(pahle to hamen bhii yah rishtaa thiik hii lagaa thaa।)

काश उस वक्त वह रिश्ता ठुकराया न होता। I wish that proposal hadn't been rejected back then.

(kaash us vakt vah rishtaa thukraayaa n hotaa।)

बेटी के लिए रिश्ता ढूँढ़ते वक्त माँ-बाप बहुत सोच-विचार करते हैं। While searching for a match for their daughter, parents think it over very carefully.

(betii ke lie rishtaa dhoondhte vakt maan-baap bahut soch-vichaar karte hain।)

पहले घर वालों से मिलिए, फिर रिश्ते की बात कीजिए। First meet the family, then talk about the proposal.

(pahle ghar vaalon se milie, phir rishte kii baat kiijie।)

क्या पता, शायद यही रिश्ता उसकी किस्मत में लिखा हो। Who knows, perhaps this very match is written in her destiny.

(kyaa pataa, shaayad yahii rishtaa uskii kismat men likhaa ho।)

रिश्ता तय होने से पहले दोनों परिवारों की कुंडली मिलाई गई। Before the match was finalized, both families' horoscopes were matched.

(rishtaa tay hone se pahle donon parivaaron kii kundlii milaaii gaii।)

अरे, उनके यहाँ से भी एक रिश्ता आया था, पर बात नहीं बनी। Oh, a proposal had come from their side too, but it didn't work out.

(are, unke yahaan se bhii ek rishtaa aayaa thaa, par baat nahiin banii।)

Morphology

Noun

(sg.m.direct): रिश्ता (rishtaa)

(sg.m.oblique): रिश्ता (rishtaa)

(pl.m.direct): रिश्ता (rishtaa)

(pl.m.oblique): रिश्ताओं (rishtaaon)