आग्रह (aagrah)
noun
A noun meaning an insistent request or urging -- the warm, persistent pressing that a host applies when offering food, or more broadly a firm insistence on something.
Sense
1
:
insistent request, urging (especially to eat/accept something)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: ज़िद (zid, stubborn insistence), विनती (vintii, polite request)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This word captures a very Indian hosting ritual: the host says खाइए, थोड़ा और लीजिए (khaaie, thodaa aur liijie, 'eat, take a little more') and keeps insisting even after you politely decline -- that repeated, affectionate pressure is आग्रह (aagrah). It is considered warm and caring, not rude, unlike overly persistent urging might seem in English.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for अनुरोध (anurodh) when they mean a simple request -- आग्रह (aagrah) carries more warmth and pressure, especially in the context of hospitality, like insisting a guest take a second helping. 2) The verb pairing is करना (karnaa) -- आग्रह करना (aagrah karnaa) -- not a direct verb form of its own.
Sample Sentences:
मेज़बान के आग्रह पर मैंने एक कटोरी और खीर खा ली।
At the host's insistence, I ate one more bowl of kheer.
(mezbaan ke aagrah par mainne ek katorii aur khiir khaa lii।)
आंटी बहुत आग्रह कर रही थीं कि मैं थोड़ा और खाना खाऊँ।
Aunty was insistently urging me to eat a little more food.
(aantii bahut aagrah kar rahii thiin ki main thodaa aur khaanaa khaaoon।)
उनके बार-बार के आग्रह के बावजूद मैंने मिठाई नहीं ली।
Despite their repeated insistence, I didn't take the sweets.
(unke baar-baar ke aagrah ke baavjood mainne mithaaii nahiin lii।)
कृपया आग्रह न करें, मेरा पेट सच में भर गया है।
Please don't insist, my stomach is really full.
(kripyaa aagrah n karen, meraa pet sach men bhar gayaa hai।)
अगर वे इतना आग्रह न करते, तो मैं शायद मना कर देता।
If they hadn't insisted so much, I might have declined.
(agar ve itnaa aagrah n karte, to main shaayad manaa kar detaa।)
मेहमानों से आग्रह किया जाता है कि वे खुलकर खाएँ।
Guests are urged to eat without hesitation.
(mehmaanon se aagrah kiyaa jaataa hai ki ve khulkar khaaen।)
दादी हमेशा आग्रह करती हैं कि पहले घर का बना खाना चखो।
Grandma always insists that you first taste the homemade food.
(daadii hameshaa aagrah kartii hain ki pahle ghar kaa banaa khaanaa chakho।)
उसने इतने प्यार से आग्रह किया कि मना करना मुश्किल हो गया।
She insisted with such affection that it became hard to refuse.
(usne itne pyaar se aagrah kiyaa ki manaa karnaa mushkil ho gayaa।)
काश वह इतना आग्रह न करता, मुझे शर्मिंदगी महसूस हो रही थी।
I wish he hadn't insisted so much, I was feeling embarrassed.
(kaash vah itnaa aagrah n kartaa, mujhe sharmindgii mahsoos ho rahii thii।)
मैं चाहता हूँ कि तुम मेरे आग्रह को मान लो और रुक जाओ।
I want you to accept my request and stay a while longer.
(main chaahtaa hoon ki tum mere aagrah ko maan lo aur ruk jaao।)
शादी में मेज़बानों का आग्रह देखकर लगा जैसे वे खिलाए बिना मानेंगे ही नहीं।
Seeing the hosts' insistence at the wedding, it seemed they wouldn't relent until they'd fed you.
(shaadii men mezbaanon kaa aagrah dekhkar lagaa jaise ve khilaae binaa maanenge hii nahiin।)
Sense
2
:
firm insistence, adamant stance (on an idea, opinion, or condition)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: हठ (hath, stubbornness), दुराग्रह (duraagrah, obstinate/unreasonable insistence)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: Here आग्रह (aagrah) shifts from hospitality to attitude -- someone who has an आग्रह (aagrah) about doing things a certain way is holding firm, though usually still seen as principled rather than unreasonable. Compare with its harsher cousin दुराग्रह (duraagrah), which crosses into stubbornness for its own sake.
Sample Sentences:
उसका आग्रह है कि सच्चाई से कभी समझौता नहीं करना चाहिए।
His firm stance is that one should never compromise on the truth.
(uskaa aagrah hai ki sachchaaii se kabhii samjhautaa nahiin karnaa chaahie।)
मेरा आग्रह रहा है कि हर फैसला नियमों के अनुसार ही लिया जाए।
It has been my firm insistence that every decision be made strictly according to the rules.
(meraa aagrah rahaa hai ki har phaislaa niymon ke anusaar hii liyaa jaae।)
वह अपने आग्रह पर अड़ी रही, चाहे कोई कुछ भी कहे।
She kept standing firm on her position, no matter what anyone said.
(vah apne aagrah par adii rahii, chaahe koii kuchh bhii kahe।)
अगर तुम अपने आग्रह पर टिके रहते तो शायद बात बन जाती।
If you had held firm to your position, things might have worked out.
(agar tum apne aagrah par tike rahte to shaayad baat ban jaatii।)
शिक्षक का यह आग्रह था कि हर छात्र अपनी भाषा में लिखे।
The teacher's firm stance was that every student should write in their own language.
(shikshak kaa yah aagrah thaa ki har chhaatr apnii bhaashaa men likhe।)
इतना आग्रह मत करो, हर बात में जिद ठीक नहीं होती।
Don't be so insistent -- stubbornness isn't good in every matter.
(itnaa aagrah mat karo, har baat men jid thiik nahiin hotii।)
कंपनी का आग्रह है कि सारे कर्मचारी समय पर दफ्तर पहुँचें।
The company's firm insistence is that all employees arrive at the office on time.
(kampnii kaa aagrah hai ki saare karmchaarii samay par daphtar pahunchen।)
उसके आग्रह के कारण ही यह नियम अब तक बदला नहीं गया है।
It is precisely because of his firm insistence that this rule hasn't been changed even now.
(uske aagrah ke kaaran hii yah niyam ab tak badlaa nahiin gayaa hai।)
पंडित जी का यही आग्रह रहता है कि यज्ञ की विधि में कोई त्रुटि न हो।
It is always the priest's firm insistence that there be no error in the ritual's procedure.
(pandit jii kaa yahii aagrah rahtaa hai ki yagy kii vidhi men koii truti n ho।)
क्या तुम अब भी अपने उसी पुराने आग्रह पर कायम हो?
Are you still holding on to that same old position of yours?
(kyaa tum ab bhii apne usii puraane aagrah par kaayam ho?)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
आग्रह
(aagrah)
(sg.m.oblique):
आग्रह
(aagrah)
(pl.m.direct):
आग्रह
(aagrah)
(pl.m.oblique):
आग्रहों
(aagrahon)