साहस (saahas)

noun A single-sense noun meaning courage or boldness -- the inner nerve to face something difficult or frightening.
Sense 1 : courage, boldness
noun, masculine
Synonyms: हिम्मत (himmat), हौसला (hauslaa), जुर्रत (jurrat, less common), शौर्य (shaury, literary)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: साहस (saahas) and हिम्मत (himmat) are near-twins in meaning, but you will hear हिम्मत (himmat) more in everyday pep talks -- a mother telling her child हिम्मत रखो (himmat rakho, 'keep your courage up') -- while साहस (saahas) shows up more in speeches, editorials, and formal praise, like calling a soldier or a whistleblower साहसी (saahsii, 'courageous').
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for हिम्मत (himmat) in speech and साहस (saahas) in writing without realizing both are common; साहस (saahas) simply leans slightly more formal/written, so using it in casual chat is not wrong, just a touch bookish. 2) The common verb pairing is साहस करना (saahas karnaa, 'to muster courage/dare to do') or साहस दिखाना (saahas dikhaanaa, 'to show courage') -- learners sometimes try to use साहस (saahas) directly as a verb, which it is not.
Sample Sentences:
उसने बहुत साहस दिखाया। He showed a lot of courage.
(usne bahut saahas dikhaayaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
सच बोलने के लिए साहस चाहिए। It takes courage to speak the truth.
(sach bolne ke lie saahas chaahie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
सैनिकों का साहस देखकर सब गर्व से भर गए। Seeing the soldiers' courage, everyone was filled with pride.
(sainikon kaa saahas dekhkar sab garv se bhar gae।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
काश मुझमें भी इतना साहस होता। I wish I had that much courage too.
(kaash mujhmen bhii itnaa saahas hotaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
इस अन्याय के विरुद्ध खड़े होने के लिए साहस जुटाओ। Gather your courage to stand against this injustice.
(is anyaay ke viruddh khade hone ke lie saahas jutaao।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
पत्रकार का साहस उसके लेखों में साफ झलकता है। The journalist's courage is clearly reflected in his writings.
(patrkaar kaa saahas uske lekhon men saaph jhalaktaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
शायद उसमें भी वैसा साहस हो जैसा उसके पिता में था। Perhaps he too has the kind of courage his father had.
(shaayad usmen bhii vaisaa saahas ho jaisaa uske pitaa men thaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उस भ्रष्टाचार का पर्दाफाश करने का साहस किसी में नहीं था। No one had the courage to expose that corruption.
(us bhrashtaachaar kaa pardaaphaash karne kaa saahas kisii men nahiin thaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
उन साहसी नागरिकों को हर कोई याद करता है जिन्होंने अपनी जान की परवाह नहीं की। Everyone remembers those courageous citizens who did not care for their own lives.
(un saahsii naagrikon ko har koii yaad kartaa hai jinhonne apnii jaan kii parvaah nahiin kii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उसके साहस की प्रशंसा पूरे देश में की गई। His courage was praised throughout the country.
(uske saahas kii prashansaa poore desh men kii gaii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): साहस (saahas)
(sg.m.oblique): साहस (saahas)
(pl.m.direct): साहस (saahas)
(pl.m.oblique): साहसों (saahson)