आशा (aashaa)

noun A feminine noun meaning 'hope' or 'expectation'; also used as a common Hindu girl's given name. The verb sense you'll actually hear most is the phrase आशा है (aashaa hai), 'it is hoped', used to express a wish politely.

Sense 1 : hope, expectation

noun, feminine Frequently appears in the frame X से आशा है (X se aashaa hai, 'there is hope from X') or आशा है कि... (aashaa hai ki, 'it is hoped that...') to politely voice an expectation.

Synonyms: उम्मीद (ummiid), आस (aas, everyday, slightly poetic)

Frequency: high

Cultural Note: You'll see आशा है (aashaa hai) at the start or end of letters and emails in Hindi, much like 'I hope this finds you well' -- it has that same formal, wishing-well flavor. Note also that आशा (aashaa) is one of the most common Hindu girls' names in North India, so context will tell you quickly whether someone is talking about hope or talking about their friend Asha.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for उम्मीद (ummiid) by default since it is more common in casual speech; आशा (aashaa) is not wrong but sits a notch more formal, so it shows up often in written wishes, speeches, and letters rather than everyday chit-chat. 2) The polite closing formula आशा है ((aashaa hai, 'I hope...')) taking कि (ki) plus a full clause can trip up learners who try to use a direct object instead.

Sample Sentences:

मुझे आशा है कि आप ठीक होंगे। I hope you are doing well.

(mujhe aashaa hai ki aap thiik honge।)

आशा है कि यह पत्र आपको सकुशल मिलेगा। I hope this letter finds you safe and well.

(aashaa hai ki yah patr aapko sakushal milegaa।)

उसे अब भी अपने बेटे के लौटने की आशा है। She still has hope that her son will return.

(use ab bhii apne bete ke lautne kii aashaa hai।)

हमें कभी आशा नहीं छोड़नी चाहिए। We should never give up hope.

(hamen kabhii aashaa nahiin chhodnii chaahie।)

जब सब कुछ बिखर गया, तब भी उसने आशा नहीं छोड़ी। Even when everything fell apart, she did not give up hope.

(jab sab kuchh bikhar gayaa, tab bhii usne aashaa nahiin chhodii।)

आशा करते हैं कि हालात जल्दी सुधरेंगे। We hope that things will improve soon.

(aashaa karte hain ki haalaat jaldii sudhrenge।)

काश मुझे भी थोड़ी आशा होती। If only I had a little hope too.

(kaash mujhe bhii thodii aashaa hotii।)

अगर उसे आशा होती, तो वह हार नहीं मानता। If he had had hope, he would not have accepted defeat.

(agar use aashaa hotii, to vah haar nahiin maantaa।)

निराश मत हो, आशा बनाए रखो। Don't lose heart, keep your hope alive.

(niraash mat ho, aashaa banaae rakho।)

डॉक्टरों ने कहा कि अभी भी सुधार की आशा बनी हुई है। The doctors said that there is still hope for improvement.

(doktron ne kahaa ki abhii bhii sudhaar kii aashaa banii huii hai।)

मानव मन में आशा एक दीपक की तरह सदा जलती रहती है। In the human heart, hope burns on forever like a lamp.

(maanav man men aashaa ek diipak kii tarah sadaa jaltii rahtii hai।)

Sense 2 : given name Asha

noun, feminine

Frequency: medium

Cultural Note: As a name, आशा (aashaa) carries the same hopeful meaning as the common noun -- parents choosing it are literally naming their daughter 'Hope.' Singer Asha Bhosle is probably the most famous bearer of this name in India.

Sample Sentences:

आशा मेरी सबसे अच्छी दोस्त है। Asha is my best friend.

(aashaa merii sabse achchhii dost hai।)

आशा कल दिल्ली से आई थी। Asha arrived from Delhi yesterday.

(aashaa kal dillii se aaii thii।)

आशा, क्या तुम कल पार्टी में आओगी? Asha, will you come to the party tomorrow?

(aashaa, kyaa tum kal paartii men aaogii?)

आशा हर रविवार अपनी नानी से मिलने जाती है। Asha goes to visit her grandmother every Sunday.

(aashaa har ravivaar apnii naanii se milne jaatii hai।)

आशा इस समय अपने कमरे में गाना गा रही है। Asha is singing a song in her room right now.

(aashaa is samay apne kamre men gaanaa gaa rahii hai।)

आशा, दरवाज़ा बंद कर दो। Asha, close the door.

(aashaa, darvaazaa band kar do।)

अगर आशा समय पर आती तो हम फिल्म नहीं छूटती। If Asha had come on time, we wouldn't have missed the film.

(agar aashaa samay par aatii to ham philm nahiin chhoottii।)

श्रीमती आशा शर्मा को इस समारोह में सम्मानित किया जाएगा। Mrs. Asha Sharma will be honored at this ceremony.

(shriimtii aashaa sharmaa ko is samaaroh men sammaanit kiyaa jaaegaa।)

गायिका आशा भोसले का नाम हर भारतीय जानता है। Every Indian knows the name of singer Asha Bhosle.

(gaayikaa aashaa bhosle kaa naam har bhaartiiy jaantaa hai।)

काश आशा भी हमारे साथ यात्रा पर होती। If only Asha were also with us on the trip.

(kaash aashaa bhii hamaare saath yaatraa par hotii।)

Morphology

Noun

(sg.f.direct): आशा (aashaa)

(sg.f.oblique): आशा (aashaa)

(pl.f.direct): आशाएँ (aashaaen)

(pl.f.oblique): आशाओं (aashaaon)