सलाह (salaah)

noun A single-sense noun meaning 'advice' or 'consultation' -- almost always seen with देना (denaa, 'to give') or लेना (lenaa, 'to take') to mean 'advise' or 'consult.'
Sense 1 : advice, counsel
noun, feminine Commonly used in the fixed frames सलाह देना (salaah denaa, 'to give advice') and सलाह लेना (salaah lenaa, 'to take advice/consult'), with the advice-giver/receiver marked by से (se) or को (ko) depending on the verb.
Synonyms: राय (raay), नसीहत (nasiihat, often means moralizing advice), मशवरा (mashavraa)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: In Delhi households, सलाह (salaah) carries a certain weight -- elders 'giving सलाह (salaah)' is practically a cultural institution, from marriage decisions to which mobile phone to buy. The phrase सलाह-मशवरा (salaah-mashavraa) pairs सलाह (salaah) with its Urdu-origin near-synonym मशवरा (mashavraa) for emphasis, a common Hindi-Urdu doubling pattern you'll hear in everyday speech.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for सलाह (salaah) when they mean 'suggestion' in a casual sense -- राय (raay) is frequently more natural for a quick personal opinion, while सलाह (salaah) leans toward considered, often solicited, advice. 2) To say 'consult someone,' Hindi uses सलाह लेना (salaah lenaa) with से (se) marking the person consulted -- e.g., डॉक्टर से सलाह लेना (doktar se salaah lenaa, 'to consult a doctor') -- not को (ko), which is a common learner slip.
Sample Sentences:
मुझे तुमसे एक सलाह चाहिए। I need some advice from you.
(mujhe tumse ek salaah chaahie।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
पापा हमेशा अच्छी सलाह देते हैं। Dad always gives good advice.
(paapaa hameshaa achchhii salaah dete hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उसने अपने वकील से सलाह ली। He took advice from his lawyer.
(usne apne vakiil se salaah lii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
पहले घर वालों से सलाह-मशवरा कर लो, फिर फ़ैसला करना। First consult with the family, then make the decision.
(pahle ghar vaalon se salaah-mashavraa kar lo, phir faislaa karnaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
काश मैंने उनकी सलाह मानी होती। I wish I had listened to their advice.
(kaash mainne unkii salaah maanii hotii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Perfective -- Voice: Active
क्या आप मुझे कोई सलाह दे सकते हैं? Could you give me some advice?
(kyaa aap mujhe koii salaah de sakte hain?)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
समिति ने यह सलाह दी कि नई नीति अगले महीने लागू की जाए। The committee advised that the new policy be implemented next month.
(samiti ne yah salaah dii ki naii niiti agle mahiine laagoo kii jaae।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
यह सलाह उसे उसके दादा जी ने दी थी, जो अब इस दुनिया में नहीं हैं। This advice was given to him by his grandfather, who is no longer in this world.
(yah salaah use uske daadaa jii ne dii thii, jo ab is duniyaa men nahiin hain।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
अगर तुम मुझसे सलाह मशवरा किए बिना कोई काम करोगे, तो पछताओगे। If you do anything without consulting me, you'll regret it.
(agar tum mujhse salaah mashavraa kie binaa koii kaam karoge, to pachhtaaoge।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
डॉक्टर की सलाह के बिना यह दवा मत लो। Don't take this medicine without a doctor's advice.
(doktar kii salaah ke binaa yah davaa mat lo।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
अगर मुझे उनकी सलाह मिल जाती, तो मैं यह ग़लती न करता। If I had gotten their advice, I wouldn't have made this mistake.
(agar mujhe unkii salaah mil jaatii, to main yah ghaltii n kartaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): सलाह (salaah)
(sg.f.oblique): सलाह (salaah)
(pl.f.direct): सलाहें (salaahen)
(pl.f.oblique): सलाहों (salaahon)