धमाका (dhamaakaa)
noun
Primarily means a literal 'explosion' or 'bang' (a bomb blast, a loud noise), and by extension a figurative 'sensation' or 'blockbuster' impact -- something that creates a stir.
Sense
1
:
explosion, loud bang
noun, masculine
Synonyms: विस्फोट (visphot, formal), धड़ाका (dhadaakaa, variant form/onomatopoeic)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You will hear this word constantly around Diwali -- पटाकों का धमाका (pataakon kaa dhamaakaa, 'the bang of firecrackers') -- and just as often in grim news reports about bomb blasts, so context does a lot of work in telling you which flavor is meant.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes reach for विस्फोट (visphot) by default because it looks more 'dictionary-official,' but धमाका (dhamaakaa) is what people actually say in the news and on the street for bomb blasts, firecrackers, or any loud bang.
Sample Sentences:
कल रात बाजार में एक जोरदार धमाका हुआ।
Last night there was a loud explosion in the market.
(kal raat baajaar men ek jordaar dhamaakaa huaa।)
दिवाली पर पटाकों का धमाका पूरी रात सुनाई देता है।
On Diwali, the bang of firecrackers can be heard all night.
(divaalii par pataakon kaa dhamaakaa poorii raat sunaaii detaa hai।)
पुलिस को शक है कि यह धमाका बम से हुआ था।
The police suspect that this explosion was caused by a bomb.
(pulis ko shak hai ki yah dhamaakaa bam se huaa thaa।)
अगर गैस सिलेंडर फटता तो कितना बड़ा धमाका होता!
If the gas cylinder had burst, what a huge explosion there would have been!
(agar gais silendar phattaa to kitnaa badaa dhamaakaa hotaa!)
इमारत के पास मत जाओ, वहाँ धमाका हो सकता है।
Don't go near the building, there might be an explosion there.
(imaarat ke paas mat jaao, vahaan dhamaakaa ho saktaa hai।)
धमाके की आवाज़ इतनी तेज़ थी कि पूरा मोहल्ला हिल गया।
The sound of the explosion was so loud that the whole neighborhood shook.
(dhamaake kii aavaaz itnii tez thii ki pooraa mohallaa hil gayaa।)
समाचारों में बताया गया कि धमाके में कई लोग घायल हो गए।
It was reported in the news that many people were injured in the explosion.
(samaachaaron men bataayaa gayaa ki dhamaake men kaii log ghaayal ho gae।)
फैक्ट्री में धमाका होते ही मज़दूर बाहर भागने लगे।
As soon as the explosion happened in the factory, the workers started running outside.
(phaiktrii men dhamaakaa hote hii mazdoor baahar bhaagne lage।)
कृपया धमाके की स्थिति में शांति से बाहर निकलें।
Please exit calmly in the event of an explosion.
(kripyaa dhamaake kii sthiti men shaanti se baahar niklen।)
पिछले साल इस इलाके में तीन धमाके हो चुके हैं।
Three explosions have already occurred in this area last year.
(pichhle saal is ilaake men tiin dhamaake ho chuke hain।)
बच्चे धमाके की तेज़ आवाज़ सुनकर डर गए।
The children got scared upon hearing the loud sound of the explosion.
(bachche dhamaake kii tez aavaaz sunkar dar gae।)
Sense
2
:
sensation, blockbuster impact
noun, masculine Common in the phrase धमाका करना (dhamaakaa karnaa, 'to create a sensation'), used for a hit film, a shocking announcement, or a big splashy success.
Synonyms: सनसनी (sanasnii)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: Bollywood posters and TV promos love this word -- a film's first-day collection or a surprise plot twist gets called a धमाका (dhamaakaa), the same word used for a literal blast, so the metaphor of 'explosive impact' carries over neatly into English too.
Common Mistakes: 1) This figurative sense is almost always paired with करना (karnaa) as a light-verb frame -- learners sometimes try to use धमाका (dhamaakaa) alone as if it were an adjective meaning 'sensational,' but it stays a noun and needs the verb.
Sample Sentences:
इस फिल्म ने बॉक्स ऑफिस पर धमाका कर दिया।
This film created a sensation at the box office.
(is philm ne boks ophis par dhamaakaa kar diyaa।)
उसकी नई एल्बम ने संगीत जगत में धमाका मचा दिया है।
Her new album has created a sensation in the music world.
(uskii naii elbam ne sangiit jagat men dhamaakaa machaa diyaa hai।)
देखना, अगली रिलीज़ जरूर धमाका करेगी।
You'll see, the next release will definitely be a blockbuster hit.
(dekhnaa, aglii riliiz jaroor dhamaakaa karegii।)
अगर वह डेब्यू फिल्म फ्लॉप न होती, तो निर्देशक अपना पहला धमाका कर चुका होता।
If that debut film hadn't flopped, the director would have already scored his first sensational hit.
(agar vah debyoo philm phlop n hotii, to nirdeshak apnaa pahlaa dhamaakaa kar chukaa hotaa।)
पहले दिन की कमाई ने तो पूरे इंडस्ट्री में धमाका मचा दिया।
The first-day collection created an absolute sensation across the whole industry.
(pahle din kii kamaaii ne to poore indastrii men dhamaakaa machaa diyaa।)
क्या यह ट्विस्ट सच में इतना बड़ा धमाका है जितना प्रोमो में दिखाया गया?
Is this twist really as big a bombshell as it was shown to be in the promo?
(kyaa yah tvist sach men itnaa badaa dhamaakaa hai jitnaa promo men dikhaayaa gayaa?)
निर्माता चाहते हैं कि सीक्वल पहले वाले से भी बड़ा धमाका करे।
The producers want the sequel to create an even bigger sensation than the first one.
(nirmaataa chaahte hain ki siikval pahle vaale se bhii badaa dhamaakaa kare।)
समीक्षकों के मुताबिक इस सीज़न का सबसे बड़ा धमाका यही शो है।
According to critics, this show is the biggest sensation of the season.
(samiikshkon ke mutaabik is siizan kaa sabse badaa dhamaakaa yahii sho hai।)
पत्रकार सम्मेलन में निर्देशक ने कहा, "अगली फिल्म से धमाका मचाना ही हमारा लक्ष्य है।"
At the press conference, the director said, "Creating a sensation with our next film is our only goal."
(patrkaar sammelan men nirdeshak ne kahaa, "aglii philm se dhamaakaa machaanaa hii hamaaraa lakshy hai।")
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
धमाका
(dhamaakaa)
(sg.m.oblique):
धमाके
(dhamaake)
(pl.m.direct):
धमाके
(dhamaake)
(pl.m.oblique):
धमाकों
(dhamaakon)