सिलसिला (silsilaa)
noun
A noun meaning a chain, series, or ongoing sequence of connected events -- literal or figurative -- and by extension a connection or ongoing affair between people.
Sense
1
:
a series or sequence of connected events
noun, masculine
Synonyms: क्रम (kram), शृंखला (shrinkhlaa, literary), दौर (daur, round/phase)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You will hear this word constantly in news Hindi: बारिश का सिलसिला (baarish kaa silsilaa, 'the spell/run of rain') or हादसों का सिलसिला (haadson kaa silsilaa, 'a string of accidents'). It has a slightly narrative, almost cinematic feel -- like watching one thing lead to another -- which is part of why it turns up so often in song and film titles.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for क्रम (kram) when सिलसिला (silsilaa) is more natural and conversational for talking about a run of events like a string of bad luck or a series of meetings -- क्रम (kram) leans more formal/procedural (order, sequence). 2) The common phrase सिलसिला शुरू होना (silsilaa shuroo honaa, 'for a series/chain to begin') or सिलसिला चलना (silsilaa chalnaa, 'for a series to continue') use होना (honaa) and चलना (chalnaa) as the natural pairing verbs -- learners sometimes force करना (karnaa) here, which sounds odd.
Sample Sentences:
पिछले हफ्ते बारिश का सिलसिला रुक ही नहीं रहा था।
Last week the spell of rain just wouldn't stop.
(pichhle haphte baarish kaa silsilaa ruk hii nahiin rahaa thaa।)
शहर में हादसों का सिलसिला थमने का नाम नहीं ले रहा है।
The string of accidents in the city shows no sign of stopping.
(shahar men haadson kaa silsilaa thamne kaa naam nahiin le rahaa hai।)
क्या यह सिलसिला कभी खत्म होगा?
Will this chain of events ever end?
(kyaa yah silsilaa kabhii khatm hogaa?)
इस सिलसिले को यहीं रोक दो।
Stop this chain of events right here.
(is silsile ko yahiin rok do।)
अगर वह पहला झूठ न बोलता, तो यह पूरा सिलसिला शुरू ही न होता।
If he hadn't told that first lie, this whole chain of events would never have started.
(agar vah pahlaa jhooth n boltaa, to yah pooraa silsilaa shuroo hii n hotaa।)
उस साल इस्तीफों का एक अजीब सिलसिला चल पड़ा था।
That year, a strange series of resignations had set off.
(us saal istiiphon kaa ek ajiib silsilaa chal padaa thaa।)
यह सिलसिला कई पीढ़ियों से चला आ रहा है।
This chain of events has been continuing for many generations.
(yah silsilaa kaii piidhiyon se chalaa aa rahaa hai।)
उम्मीद है कि जीत का यह सिलसिला बना रहे।
One hopes this winning streak continues.
(ummiid hai ki jiit kaa yah silsilaa banaa rahe।)
इस पूरे सिलसिले पर एक फिल्म बनाई जा रही है।
A film is being made about this whole chain of events.
(is poore silsile par ek philm banaaii jaa rahii hai।)
घटनाओं का यह सिलसिला किसी फिल्मी कहानी से कम नहीं लगता।
This sequence of events feels no less than a cinematic story.
(ghatnaaon kaa yah silsilaa kisii philmii kahaanii se kam nahiin lagtaa।)
भूकंप के बाद झटकों का सिलसिला दो दिन तक जारी रहा।
After the earthquake, the series of tremors continued for two days.
(bhookamp ke baad jhatkon kaa silsilaa do din tak jaarii rahaa।)
Sense
2
:
an ongoing connection, affair, or relationship between people
noun, masculine Often used with रखना (rakhnaa) or होना (honaa): सिलसिला रखना (silsilaa rakhnaa, 'to keep up a connection/affair').
Synonyms: रिश्ता (rishtaa), ताल्लुक़ (taalluq, formal), संबंध (sambandh, formal)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This sense is famous partly because of the 1981 film 'Silsila,' about a tangled, ongoing romantic entanglement -- the title itself trades on this exact meaning of a relationship that keeps unfolding rather than being a single event.
Common Mistakes: 1) In this sense सिलसिला (silsilaa) usually implies something ongoing or repeated (a long-running affair or dealing), not a one-time meeting -- learners sometimes misuse it for a single encounter, where मुलाक़ात (mulaaqaat) or रिश्ता (rishtaa) fits better.
Sample Sentences:
उन दोनों के बीच का सिलसिला अभी तक चल रहा है।
The affair between the two of them is still going on.
(un donon ke biich kaa silsilaa abhii tak chal rahaa hai।)
उसका और मेरा सिलसिला कॉलेज के दिनों से शुरू हुआ था।
My connection with her started back in college days.
(uskaa aur meraa silsilaa kolej ke dinon se shuroo huaa thaa।)
यह सिलसिला अब बंद कर दो, इसमें कुछ अच्छा नहीं है।
End this affair now, there's nothing good in it.
(yah silsilaa ab band kar do, ismen kuchh achchhaa nahiin hai।)
पता नहीं यह सिलसिला कब तक चलेगा।
Who knows how long this relationship will keep going.
(pataa nahiin yah silsilaa kab tak chalegaa।)
अगर वह सिलसिला बना रहता, तो शायद हम अब भी साथ होते।
If that relationship had continued, maybe we would still be together.
(agar vah silsilaa banaa rahtaa, to shaayad ham ab bhii saath hote।)
फ़िल्म 'सिलसिला' में एक उलझे हुए प्रेम-संबंध की कहानी दिखाई गई है।
The film 'Silsila' shows the story of a tangled love affair.
(film 'silsilaa' men ek uljhe hue prem-sambandh kii kahaanii dikhaaii gaii hai।)
काश यह सिलसिला यहीं खत्म हो जाए।
I wish this affair would end right here.
(kaash yah silsilaa yahiin khatm ho jaae।)
मुझे नहीं पता था कि उन दोनों का ऐसा सिलसिला भी था।
I didn't know those two even had that kind of relationship.
(mujhe nahiin pataa thaa ki un donon kaa aisaa silsilaa bhii thaa।)
उनका सिलसिला शादी के बावजूद टूटा नहीं था।
Their affair had not broken off despite the marriage.
(unkaa silsilaa shaadii ke baavjood tootaa nahiin thaa।)
लोग कहते हैं कि उन दोनों के बीच अब भी कोई पुराना सिलसिला है।
People say there's still some old connection between the two of them.
(log kahte hain ki un donon ke biich ab bhii koii puraanaa silsilaa hai।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
सिलसिला
(silsilaa)
(sg.m.oblique):
सिलसिले
(silsile)
(pl.m.direct):
सिलसिले
(silsile)
(pl.m.oblique):
सिलसिलों
(silsilon)