आहट (aahat)
noun
A single-sense noun for a faint, often unseen sound -- footsteps, a rustle, a stir -- that signals someone or something's presence before it is confirmed.
Sense
1
:
faint sound signaling approach or presence
noun, feminine
Synonyms: आवाज़ (aavaaz, broader: any sound), खटपट (khatpat, clattering noise), सरसराहट (sarasraahat, rustling specifically)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This word carries a lovely suspenseful quality -- think of a mother in the kitchen who hears कदमों की आहट (kadmon kii aahat, 'the sound of footsteps') and knows her child is home before he even calls out. It shows up often in Hindi film songs and poetry to evoke someone's presence being felt just before they arrive, almost like a sixth sense.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for आवाज़ (aavaaz) by default, but आहट (aahat) is specifically a faint, half-heard sound that tips you off to someone's presence -- a loud noise like a car horn is आवाज़ (aavaaz), not आहट (aahat). 2) It is almost always paired with the verb सुनना (sunnaa, 'to hear') or पाना (paanaa, 'to sense/get') via the common phrase आहट पाना (aahat paanaa, 'to sense/detect [someone approaching]') -- learners sometimes try देखना (dekhnaa, 'to see') instead, which does not fit since आहट (aahat) is heard or sensed, not seen.
Sample Sentences:
दरवाज़े के बाहर किसी की आहट सुनाई दी।
A faint sound of someone's presence was heard outside the door.
(darvaaze ke baahar kisii kii aahat sunaaii dii।)
माँ रसोई में काम करते-करते कदमों की आहट पहचान लेती है।
While working in the kitchen, mother recognizes the sound of footsteps.
(maan rasoii men kaam karte-karte kadmon kii aahat pahchaan letii hai।)
सीढ़ियों पर हल्की आहट हो रही थी, जैसे कोई धीरे-धीरे ऊपर आ रहा हो।
There was a faint sound on the stairs, as if someone was slowly coming up.
(siidhiyon par halkii aahat ho rahii thii, jaise koii dhiire-dhiire oopar aa rahaa ho।)
ज़रा सी भी आहट मत करना, बच्चा सो रहा है।
Don't make even the slightest sound, the baby is sleeping.
(zaraa sii bhii aahat mat karnaa, bachchaa so rahaa hai।)
अगर उसकी आहट न होती, तो हमें पता ही नहीं चलता कि वह कमरे में है।
If there hadn't been the faint sound of his presence, we wouldn't have known he was in the room at all.
(agar uskii aahat n hotii, to hamen pataa hii nahiin chaltaa ki vah kamre men hai।)
रात के सन्नाटे में उसकी साँसों की आहट भी सुनाई दे रही थी।
In the silence of the night, even the faint sound of his breathing could be heard.
(raat ke sannaate men uskii saanson kii aahat bhii sunaaii de rahii thii।)
शायद वह आ गया हो, कोई आहट सी लग रही है।
Maybe he has arrived, there seems to be some faint sound.
(shaayad vah aa gayaa ho, koii aahat sii lag rahii hai।)
प्रेमी अपनी प्रेयसी की आहट को दूर से ही पहचान लेता है, यह गीतों में अक्सर कहा जाता है।
A lover recognizes his beloved's faint approaching presence from a distance -- this is often said in songs.
(premii apnii preysii kii aahat ko door se hii pahchaan letaa hai, yah giiton men aksar kahaa jaataa hai।)
जंगल में हर आहट पर शिकारी चौकन्ना हो जाता था।
In the forest, the hunter would become alert at every faint sound.
(jangal men har aahat par shikaarii chaukannaa ho jaataa thaa।)
पत्तों की आहट से पता चल गया कि कोई पास ही खड़ा है।
The rustle of leaves revealed that someone was standing nearby.
(patton kii aahat se pataa chal gayaa ki koii paas hii khadaa hai।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
आहट
(aahat)
(sg.f.oblique):
आहट
(aahat)
(pl.f.direct):
आहटें
(aahten)
(pl.f.oblique):
आहटों
(aahton)