Say Most Common Words in Urdu
Urdu is the national language of Pakistan and State language in the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir, Telangana, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh & Delhi. More than 300 million in Pakistan and India alone speak Urdu. Urdu is language that combines Persian, Arabic, Turkish, English and Sanskrit terms together. Learning to speak common Urdu words and phrases can help you communicate with millions of people.
Contents
Steps
Common Words and Phrases
- Know what to say when you greet or converse with someone:
- Hello: Assalaam-o-Alaikum (if you are first to say Hello)
- Hello: "Wa'alaikum Salaam" (reply to Assalaam-o-Alaikum)
- How are you?: Kya haal hey?
- Who are you?: Aap kaon hain?
- I don`t know.: Main nahin janta
- What is your name?: Aap ka naam kya hai?"
- My name is Adam: Mera naam Adam hai
- My name is Sophia: Mera naam Sophia hai
- Goodbye: "Allah hafez" OR "Khuda hafez"
- Take care: "Fee aman'nillah" OR "Apna khiyal rakhna"
- Welcome: "Khush'aamdid"
- Thanks: "Shukriya"
- Thank you so much: "Boht Boht Shukriya" OR "Barhi mehrbani" OR "Barhiaa mehrbani"
- I got you: "Me samajh giya"
- Okay!: "Jee" OR "Jee Haan" OR "Theek hai!" OR "Sahih!" OR "Achha!"
- Good morning: "Subb bakhair"
- Good night: "Shabb bakhair"
- Where do you live?: "Aap rehtay kidhar hain?" OR "Aap kahan rehtay hain?"
- I'm from London: "Me London say hoo" OR "Me London ka hoo"
- Where are you? "Aap Kahaan ho"
- Where is Hospital (or any location)? "Hospital Kahaan hai"
Family
- Identify people using these common words, in almost any situation:
- Human: Insaan
- Man: "Mard"
- Woman: Orat
- People: Logg OR "Avaam" OR "Khalqat"
- Friend: Dost OR "Yaar" (close friend)
- Boy: Larhka
- Girl: Larhkee
- Daughter: Beti
- Son: Beta"
- Mother: Ammi, Formal: Walida
- Father: Abba OR "Abbu" OR Baba, Formal: Waalid
- Wife: Bivee OR "Zaoja"
- Husband: Shaohar OR "Miaan"
- Brother: Bhai (formal and informal) or Bhaiya (informal)
- Sister: Behn (formal) OR Baji, Apa, Api, "Apiya" (informal)
Grandparents and Grandchildren
- Ways to refer to grandparents and grandchildren.
- Paternal Grandmother: Daadi
- Paternal Grandfather: Daada
- Maternal Grandmother: Nani
- Maternal Grandfather: Nana
- Granddaughter:
- Daughter's daughter: Nawasi
- Son's daughter: Poti
- Daughter's son: Nawasa
- Son's son: Pota
Extended Family
- Niece:
- Sister's daughter: Bhaanji
- Brother's daughter: Bhaatiji
- Nephew:
- Sister's son: Bhaanja
- Brother's son: Bhaatija
- Dad's Sister: Phuppo
- Dad's Sister's Husband: Phuppa
- Dad's Sister's Kids: Khala-zad Bhai (male) and Khala-zad Bahen (female)
- Dad's Brother: Taya (father's older brother) and Chacha (father's younger brother)
- Dad's Brother's Wife: Tai (if brother is older) and Chachi (if brother is younger)
- Dad's Brother's Kids (older): Taya-zad Bhai (male) and Taya-zad Bahen (female)
- Dad's Brother's Kids (younger): Chacha-zad Bhai (male) and Chacha-zad Bahen (female)
- Mother's Sister: Khala
- Mother's Sister's Husband: Khalu
- Mother's Sister's Kids: Khala-zad Bhai (male) and Khala-zad Bahen (female)
- Mother's Brother: Mamu
- Mother's Brother's Wife: Mumani
- Mother's Brother's Kids: Mamu-zad Bhai (male) and Mamu-zad Bahen (female)
In-Laws
- Ways to refer to in-laws.
- In-laws: Susraal
- Mother-in-law: Saas OR "Khush'daman" (name showing respect)
- Father-in-law: Sussar
- Daughter-in-law: Bahu
- Son-in-law: Damaad
- Brother's wife: Bhaabi
- Sister's husband: Behn'oi
- Wife's sister: Saali
- Wife's sister's husband: Hum-zulf
- Husband's sister: Nand
- Husband's sister's husband: Nand'oi
- Wife's brother: Saala
- Wife's brother's wife: Salhaj
- Husband's older brother: Jaayth
- Husband's older brother's wife: Jaythani
- Husband's younger brother: Daywar
- Husband's younger brother's wife: Daywrani
Animals
- Names of different animals.
- Animal: "Haiwaan" OR Janwaar
- Dog: Kutta
- Cat: Billi
- Bird: Parinda
- Parrot: Tota
- Duck: Bathakh
- Snake: Saanp
- Rat: Chuha
- Horse: " Ghorha "
- Pigeon: " Kabutar"
- Crow: "Kawwa"
- Fox: "Loomrhi"
- Goat: "Bakri"
- Predator: "Darinda"
- Lion: "Sher"
Numbers
- Saying numbers.
- One: Aik
- Two: Dou
- Three: Teen
- Four: Chaar
- Five: Paanch
- Six: Chhay
- Seven: Saat
- Eight: Aatth
- Nine: Nau
- Ten: Dus
- Hundred: Sao
- Thousand: Hazaar
- Hundred Thousand: Laakh
- Ten Million: Crore
Around town
- Know what to say when you are getting out and going places:
- Road: Sarhak OR "Raah"
- Hospital: Haspatal or Dawa-Khana
- Bathroom: Ghusl-khana
- Balcony: Deewan-Khana
- Room: Kamra
- You: Tum, formal: Aap
- We: Ham
- Where: Kahaan
- How: Kaise
- How Much: Kitnaa
- When: Kab
- Money: Paisaa
- Way or Path: Raasta OR "Ravish"
- Correct direction: Saheeh Raasta
- Why: Kyoon
- What are you doing?: Kyaa kar rahe ho?
- Have your lunch/dinner: Khaana khaa lo
- Today: Aaj
- Yesterday and Tomorrow: Kal
Tips
- Urdu speakers love to hear a different accents, so even if you're new to the language, don't be shy! No one is going to laugh at you.
- It is proper to say "ji" (pronounced "g") following someones name. Especially a person older than you.
- Sometimes in Urdu, the 'w' is pronounced as 'v'.
- You can describe your problem by mixing some Urdu with English words.
- If you desperately need help, approach a student. Chances are that they speak English with fluency.
- Urdu speaking people use a lot of English terms for modern devices, like "TV, radio, computer, modem, cable and microwave". The pronunciation is usually the same in Urdu as it is in English.
- English is practically the second official language in Pakistan and India, so you should not have any problem communicating with local Pakistanis.
- You can use nouns in English terms, most of the people understand the words like School, College, Hospital, Car, Wallet, Keys, Table, Pen, Phone, Door, Shoes, Shirt
- The 'suffix' "Bhai" isn't only used for older brothers! It is commonly added after the name of an older male (cousins,upperclassmen e.t.c) when addressing as a sign of respect!
Warnings
- It's best to speak slowly if you're traveling to a new area, as that not only prevents any mishaps in communication, but the other person is better likely to understand you, especially if Urdu is not their mother tongue (e.g. in villages, etc).
- There are many different accents within Pakistan and India; saying something while you're in Kashmir could sound like an insult in Mumbai.
- Don't be rude to any Urdu speakers because, usually, these people are good and didn't mean to insult. Maybe you misinterpreted what they said to you.
