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Archive for the 'Urdu Phrases' Category

How Hard is it to Learn the Urdu Language?

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Some people say that Urdu is easy to learn, while others claim that Urdu is difficult. 

Who are these people, and why should you believe them? Is it hard to learn Urdu, or easy? 

Ask yourself these fundamental questions, and you may discover that the answers aren’t so straightforward. 

At this stage, say goodbye to assumptions and taking others at their word. Instead, figure out the answers to these questions yourself as you begin your Urdu language-learning journey. It’s very likely that you’ll find some aspects of the language quite difficult and others much easier—this is normal when you start learning a language. 

Due to its completely different writing script, Urdu tends to be a struggle for native English-speakers and Europeans, especially when they first start learning. Conversely, Arabic and Persian natives will find Urdu much easier to master. This is because the Urdu language contains a handful of words from these two languages, as well as Punjabi, Pashto, Turkish, Sindhi, Sanskrit, etc. This particularity of the Urdu language provides speakers of these other languages with a fairly easy Urdu-learning experience. 

That said, is Urdu worth learning? And if so, why?

Urdu is a rapidly growing language. The total number of Urdu-speakers across the globe exceeds 170 million, and Urdu is also the official language of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The constitution of India also recognizes it as one of the country’s twenty-two official languages. So if you plan on visiting these countries, doing business there, or even relocating, you should absolutely learn Urdu! 

In this article, we’ll guide you through the easy and hard tracks of the Urdu language. We anticipate that after reading this article, you’ll be better placed to accept the truth that Urdu is the language of civilized and courteous people, and anyone can master it with enough practice and dedication.

A Smart Student Studying with Closed Eyes and a Smile on His Face

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Learning Urdu Table of Contents
  1. What is the Hardest—and Easiest—Part of Learning Urdu?
  2. I Want to Learn Urdu. Where Should I Start?
  3. Advice for New Learners
  4. Why is UrduPod101.com Great for Learning Urdu?
  5. Conclusion

1. What is the Hardest—and Easiest—Part of Learning Urdu?

You can’t learn any language until you overcome its challenges. In this section, we’ll unfold some of the hardest and easiest parts of Urdu language-learning for you.

A- Why Urdu is Easy

When you set out to learn Urdu, you’re going to hear a lot of false myths and misconceptions concerning the language’s difficulty. Well, we’re here to let you know that Urdu isn’t that hard. At least, not all of it. Following is a list of things about Urdu that make it surprisingly easy for foreigners to learn.

1.  لشکری زبان

Although historians of the Urdu language are divided on its origin and its label as a لشکری زبان (lashkri zuban) camp language, it’s clear that Urdu uses an abundance of words from other languages. Some critics say that Urdu possesses this rich abundance of words because the language came into being as a shared language for soldiers of different ethnicities in a common war camp. Irrespective of this belief’s authenticity, it emphasizes the fact that non-natives were able to pick up the language easily due to shared vocabulary.

2+2=4 on a Chalkboard

2. Similarities with other languages

If you’re familiar with Oriental languages—such as Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, Balochi, or Turkish—you’ll start to see similarities with Urdu right away. The majority of Oriental languages have common writing scripts or sounds, usually with a little bit of variation. Most of the alphabets present in one Oriental language can be identified in the others too, with a few exceptions. 

That said, it’s true that there are a couple of unique alphabets and sounds in Urdu which are missing in the other Oriental languages altogether. Also note that Urdu has the capacity to assimilate new words from other languages. For example, Urdu has borrowed a number of English words and molded them for use in Urdu-speaking countries: 

  • فریج (fridge) — fridge
  • ٹیلیویژن (television) — television
  • ڈاکٹر (doctor) — doctor
  • انجینیئر (engineer) — engineer

B- Why Urdu is Hard

Below are some of the most common difficulties faced by Urdu learners. As you go through these, remember that being aware of an Urdu difficulty is the best way to prepare for it and succeed! 

1. The uniqueness of the Urdu script خطِ نستعلیق

The Urdu language is complete with its own script, which is an amalgam of the Arabic and Persian scripts. Urdu uses thirty-eight letters in total, and has its own اعراب (airaab) vowel marks that are not included in those thirty-eight letters.

The Urdu writing system is called خطِ نستعلیق (khat-e-Nastaliq). Since the two writing scripts نسخ (naskh) and تعلیق (talique) were combined to make another script, it was initially named Naskh-Talique. With the passage of time, it received fame as Nastalique. The script is written from right to left and follows the top right to bottom left order. This particular characteristic makes it difficult for many non-natives to understand and master it.

A Golden Egg Placed among the White Eggs - Unique from the Others

2. Different grammatical syntax – فاعل،مفعول،فعل

Aside from the script itself, why is Urdu so hard to read for non-natives? Well, this is likely because the sentence structure of Urdu is different from that of most other languages. It does not follow the usual SVO (Subject + Verb + Object) pattern, and instead uses the SOV (Subject + Object + Verb) arrangement.

Here’s an example:

میں یونیورسٹی جاتا ہوں۔

mei university jata hu.

S      O     V

“I go to University.”

If you want to learn more about Urdu sentence structure and word order, UrduPod101.com has you covered.

3.  Complicated conjugations

Like its syntax, the فعل کی گردان کرنا (fail ki gardaan kerna), or “conjugation of verbs,” in Urdu can be a bit tricky. However, once you’ve learned the basic rules, you’ll be able to conjugate with ease. 

Urdu verbs conjugate depending on their person, mood, voice, gender, and tense. Remember that these concepts are a little hard to comprehend, but they’re certainly not impossible to learn. 

To make this task a bit easier for you, UrduPod101.com has this handy article on Urdu verb conjugation. Read through it a couple of times and start conjugating Urdu verbs right away.

4.  Never undermine the role of gender

Now, here comes another point you have to remember as an Urdu-learner: everything, movable or immovable, has a gender. This may create some trouble for learners just starting out. 

To overcome this challenge of the Urdu language, you must memorize each new noun you learn along with its gender. This will reduce the chances of making a mistake, and you’ll also be in a position to identify and rectify the mistakes you do make. Have a look at the following sentences:

میری قمیض تنگ ہے۔
meri qameez tang hai.
“My shirt is tight.”

میرا جوتا کھلا ہے۔
mera joota khula hai.
“My shoe is loose.”

You can see in these sentences that قمیض (qameez), or “shirt,” is feminine while جوتا (joota), or “shoe,” is masculine.

Signs of Male and Female Gender Drawn on a Blackboard

5. Beware of false friends

With ten vowels and thirty-eight consonants, the Urdu language is self-sufficient in terms of sound representation. As it has a rich assortment of sounds, however, there’s a greater chance of mispronouncing something. The situation becomes even more stressful when you throw in false friends:

دوا (dawa) — “medicine”                        and                           دعا (dua) — “prayer”

سستی (sasti) — “cheap”                           and                           سُستی (susti) — “laziness”

عرض (arz) — “request”                          and                           ارض (arz) — “land”

Identical Twin Sisters with Hands Up in the Air

6. Pronunciation difficulties

Now, let’s look at some sounds that non-natives (especially English-speakers) find rather exotic. 

The most difficult of these sounds is ڑ (rr), the fifteenth letter in the Urdu language. It’s unique in that it never comes at the beginning of a word. 

غ (ghain) is the twenty-fifth letter, and its sound is not found in English. The letter is preceded by another sound not found in English: ع (ain). 

Since many Urdu sounds are new to English-speakers, it’s imperative that they become familiar with them early on in the learning process. Luckily for you, UrduPod101.com has a blog post dedicated to Urdu Pronunciation. Check it out! 

2. I Want to Learn Urdu. Where Should I Start?

Deciding to learn Urdu is a huge leap, so we recommend starting small. For example, studying Urdu vocabulary lists, learning the most common sentence patterns, and getting started with basic everyday phrases will help you ease into the learning process. Becoming familiar with the basic parts of speech in Urdu will also prove beneficial moving forward. 

Here are some highly useful articles to start your Urdu-learning journey.


3. Advice for New Learners

The best advice we can give is to keep it simple. Try to learn phrases in small chunks and practice using them often. Small bricks of knowledge can be used to craft a building with the right tools and enough time. 

Here’s an example of what we mean:

میں جاتا ہوں
mei jata hu.
“I go.”

Now add an object to the phrase to make a complete sentence.

میں گھر جاتا ہوں۔
mei ghar jata hu.
“I go home.”

And you can always add an adverb.

میں آہستہ آہستہ گھر جاتا ہوں۔
mei ahista ahista ghar jata hu.
“I go home slowly.”

By learning phrases this way, you’ll be able to easily alter and add to them to meet your communication needs. Indeed, it’s a small step but a giant leap. 

Practice Makes a Man Perfect

You can never expect to become masterful at anything if you don’t put in the time and practice. Practicing on a daily basis will not only improve your skills, but it will also increase your self-confidence. In particular, we recommend practicing your Urdu with native Urdu-speakers if possible, as this will expedite your language skills.  

Soccer Players Practicing with the Ball on the Ground

4. Why is UrduPod101.com Great for Learning Urdu?

Even the most ambitious man needs the proper means to reach his goals. In this case, a determined Urdu-learner requires top-notch learning materials and teachers. By signing up for UrduPod101.com, you’ll gain access to tons of fun lessons and learning tools that will make learning Urdu so much easier than traditional learning methods. Let’s take a look at our best features:

A- A Hub for Learning Integrated Language Skills

UrduPod101.com focuses on all aspects of the language so you’ll never be left out in the cold! Each of our lessons contains material to help you improve your Urdu listening, writing, reading, and speaking skills at the same time. This feature makes us a unique hub of Urdu language-learning and distinguishes us from other online resources.

B- An Affordable but High-Quality Learning Resource

In this era of consumerism, it’s a rarity to find a free lunch anywhere. But UrduPod101.com understands the need for valuable resources at reasonable prices, and we won’t disappoint—in fact, we have tons of free learning tools just waiting for you! You can even download some of these to use offline. Creating an account will also allow you to communicate with our team about any issues or questions! 

Pakistani Food i.e. Spicy Chapli Kabab with Salad and Sauce, a Good Healthy Lunch

C- Tailored Learning Approach to Meet Your Individual Needs

Once you’ve gotten the Urdu basics down, you’ll probably want to move forward to more advanced lessons. This is easy! All you need to do is subscribe to our MyTeacher service to start getting live interactive coaching from experienced Urdu teachers. Your Urdu teacher can help you find and complete suitable exercises, help you correct your pronunciation, and offer customized assignments through audio or text messages. This will help you set and achieve personalized goals without a hitch. 

5. Conclusion

So, is Urdu hard to learn? We’ll let you answer that question yourself once you’ve begun your studies! 

Do you have any further questions about how to learn Urdu in an easy way? Are you ready to apply the tips and techniques discussed here to learn Urdu free and easily? If you have any questions about what we covered today, let us know in the comments section; we’ll be glad to help you out! 

Keep exploring UrduPod101.com, a rich repository of Urdu language-learning. Take full advantage of our free Urdu-learning resources and start your journey toward Urdu mastery.

Very Happy Urdu Learning!

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The Most Common Urdu Mistakes a Learner Makes

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“The price of inaction is far greater than the cost of making a mistake.” — Meister Eckhart

As a learner of a foreign language, you should always opt to make mistakes instead of keeping quiet. While no one enjoys making mistakes, they’re an inevitable part of language-learning, and every successful learner has made them. Just remember that it’s important to learn from those mistakes so as not to repeat them! 

In this article, we’ll outline the most common mistakes Urdu-learners make and how to avoid them. 

But before we start, a quick note:

If you’re an Urdu-learner, you’ll come to know at some point that even native Pakistanis are susceptible to making mistakes in their own language. For example, many Pakistanis are unable to differentiate between غلط العام (ghalat-ul-aam), which are Urdu words that are incorrect but accepted by the academics due to their overuse, and غلط العوام (ghalat-ul-awam), which are incorrect Urdu words that are frequently used in public but are not accepted by the academics as correct.

So don’t be discouraged if you make the occasional error in Urdu—you’re not alone!

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Urdu Table of Contents
  1. The Incorrect Use of Gender Cases
  2. Beware of False Friends
  3. Some Common Mistakes in the Conjugation of Urdu Verbs
  4. Common Word Order Mistakes in Urdu
  5. Some Common Urdu Pronunciation Mistakes
  6. Other Urdu Mistakes
  7. Conclusion

1. The Incorrect Use of Gender Cases

Gender Symbols Signifying Masculine, Feminine, and Neutral Icons

Native speakers almost never make this mistake in Urdu, but new learners make it all the time! For example, in Pakistani society, a native Urdu-speaker will never say:

کیا آپ نے دودھ پی؟
kia aap nay doodh pi?

It’s an incorrect sentence because دودھ (doodh), meaning “milk,” is always masculine. The correct sentence is:

کیا آپ نے دودھ پیا؟
kia aap nay doodh piya?
“Did you drink milk?”

A non-native may also say:

کیا آپ نے چائے پیا؟
kia aap nay chaye piya?

This is also incorrect, for the noun چائے (chaye), meaning “tea,” is always treated as feminine in the Urdu language. The correct sentence is:

کیا آپ نے چائے پی؟
kia aap nay chaye pi?
“Did you take tea?”

We recommend that you always learn the Urdu nouns along with their gender so you can use them correctly in terms of gender agreement.

Appropriate use of تاہے/تی ہے and تاہوں/تی ہوں

Another set of common Urdu-learner mistakes involves using the inappropriate words for masculine and feminine subjects. Here’s an example of how a non-native female may speak incorrectly in this regard:

میں ٹی-وی دیکھنا پسند کرتا ہوں۔
mei TV dekhna pasand karta hu.
“I like to watch TV.”

The sentence above is incorrect when spoken by a female, but is correct when spoken by a male. The following sentence is the correct way for a female to say this sentence:

میں ٹی-وی دیکھنا پسند کرتی ہوں۔
mei TV dekhna pasand karti hu.
“I like to watch TV.”

Here, the key is to learn the appropriate usage of تا ہوں (masculine) and تی ہوں (feminine). This will help you avoid making gender agreement mistakes in Urdu.

2. Beware of False Friends

A Woman with Two Faces Who is Quite Deceptive

Common Urdu mistakes often arise from “false friends,” which you’ll find plenty of while studying the language. False friends are words which appear to be similar to each other, but communicate different meanings. This may result in confusion and complicate the communication process. 

Below is a list of words that are often mistaken for one another in Urdu:

  • محرم (moharam) – first month of the Islamic calendar / محرم (mehram) – “one who knows”
  • پیڑ (peerr) – “pain” / پیڑ (pairr) – “tree”
  • دانہ (dana) – “grain” / داناء (danaa) – “wise”
  • ریت (rait) – “sand” / ریت (reet) – “tradition”
  • پریت (preet) – “love” / پریت (prait) – “apparition”
  • کھاتہ (khata) – “account” / کھاتا (khata) – “eats” [conjugation of the Urdu verb کھانا (khana), meaning “eat”]
  • پتہ (pata) – “address” / پتا (patta) – “leaf”

3. Some Common Mistakes in the Conjugation of Urdu Verbs

Making it through the labyrinth of Urdu verb conjugation is an uphill task for any foreign learner. However, it is achievable once you understand the rules and how they work. Before we continue, you may want to read our article all about Urdu Verb Conjugation to brush up on the basics. 

Below, we’ll introduce you to some very basic Urdu mistakes that one may make while conjugating verbs.

میں یہ کرے گا
mei yeh karay ga.

وہ یہ کروں گی
woh yeh karu gi.

تم یہ کرے گی
tum yeh karay gi.

In each of these three sentences, the Urdu verb  کرنا (karna), meaning “to do,” is incorrectly conjugated. Now, let’s see how to conjugate this verb correctly:

میں یہ کروں گا۔
mei yeh karun ga.
“I will do this.”

وہ یہ کرے گی۔
woh yeh karay gi.
“She will do this.”

تم یہ کرو گے۔
tum yeh karo gay.
“You will do this.”


4. Common Word Order Mistakes in Urdu

Different Vegetables Arranged on the Floor in an Orderly Manner

Did you ever have to complete sentence diagrams in school? Well, believe it or not, those exercises probably gave you a good idea of how word order and sentence structure work in your language. Better still, you can transfer this knowledge over to Urdu! Here, we’ll introduce you to the basic concepts pertaining to proper Urdu word order.

If you want to have an even deeper understanding of Urdu word order, see our dedicated Urdu Word Order article!

A- SVO vs. SOV

One unique distinction of Urdu script is that it’s written from right to left; its syntactic word order is Subject + Object + Verb. On the other hand, the word order of English is Subject + Verb + Object. To understand the difference, have a look at this sentence:

وہ بانسری بجاتا ہے۔

V     O     S

woh bansuri bajata hai.

V     O      S

“He plays the flute.”

S     V     O

B- Placement of Adjectives and Pronouns

In Urdu, pronouns are usually placed at the beginning of the sentence. Here are some examples:

ہم فلم دیکھتے ہیں۔
hum film daikhtay hain.
“We watch a film.”

تم گانا گاتے ہو۔
tum gana gatay ho.
“You sing a song.”

As for the placement of adjectives in Urdu sentences, note that they’re always placed before the noun they describe:

وہ نیلی کار چلاتا ہے۔
woh neeli car chalata hai.
“He drives a blue car.”

وہ سرخ سیب پسند کرتا ہے۔
woh surkh saib pasand karta hai.
“He likes red apples.”


5. Some Common Urdu Pronunciation Mistakes

A Female Teacher Trying to Explain the Pronunciation of Some Words Transcribed on a White Board

Among all of the Urdu language mistakes that learners make, incorrect pronunciation is at the top of the list. That said, the best way to improve your pronunciation is to practice and learn from your mistakes as you go. If you want to dig deeper into the topic of pronunciation, feel free to read our article all about Urdu Pronunciation

Now, let’s see a few of the most common pronunciation mistakes for Urdu-learners.

ا (alif) vs. ع (ain)

Urdu-learners often confuse the sounds ا (alif) and ع (ain). 

The pronunciation of آم (aam) and عام (aam) are quite similar in English, but they tend to sound different when spoken by natives. Since, in English, there’s no sound equal to the consonant ع, it’s very common for native English-speakers to say it incorrectly. 

ت (tay) vs. ط (to’e)

On a similar note, non-natives tend to confuse the sounds of ت (tay) and ط (to’e). The latter sound is absent in English as well. Let’s see how these two sounds are most often confused.

  • تارک (tarik) – “the one who denounces”
  • طارق (tariq) – “morning star”

Due to the absence of the latter sound in English, it’s much more commonly mispronounced by English-speakers than the former sound. 

ک (kaaf) vs. ق (qaaf)

Another pair of sounds that often confuses Urdu-learners is ک (kaaf) and ق (qaaf). However, there’s a big difference in the pronunciation of these two sounds; the former is much closer to the ‘k’ sound and the latter is equivalent to the ‘q’ sound. Here’s an example of how these sounds are often confused:

  • کاش (kaash) – “would that”
  • قاش (qaash) – “piece”

6. Other Urdu Mistakes

Two Girls Sitting on a Sea-side, Experiencing an Embarrassing Situation

Finally, some of the most common embarrassing mistakes in Urdu have to do with using the wrong word! Following are some examples of mistakes you should avoid. 

A- Replacing سوکھی with سکھی

سدا سکھی رہو۔
sada sukhi raho.
“May you be happy forever.”

سدا سُوکھی رہو۔
sada sookhi raho.
“May you be thin forever.”

B- Replacing مرض with مرد 

اسے ایک مرض لگا ہوا ہے۔
Usay aik marz laga hua hai.
“She is suffering from an illness.”

اسے ایک مرد لگا ہوا ہے۔
Usay aik mard laga hua hai.
“A man is attached to her.” OR “A man is using her.” (sexual connotation)

7. Conclusion

In this article, you’ve learned about the most common mistakes in learning Urdu along with some common Urdu grammar mistakes. With this knowledge in mind, and an abundant source of vocabulary tools and other language lessons, you should be able to avoid these Urdu mistakes with few problems. 

Did we miss any particular Urdu mistakes that you wanted to know about? Let us know in the comments! 

Remember to visit UrduPod101.com—a storehouse saturated with resources about the Urdu language. We always take pleasure in extending our helping hand to you in your efforts to learn Urdu.

Until next time, very happy Urdu-learning!

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An Up-to-Date Guide on Common Questions and Answers in Urdu

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“To be or not to be, that is the question.” 

Prince Hamlet’s famous question not only immortalized his theatrical character, but also eternalized the dialogic brilliance of Shakespeare in the world of English drama. This question further elevates the character of Hamlet when you consider the proposal rightly put forward by Voltaire: “Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers.”

In this article, you’ll learn the most common questions and answers in Urdu. For asking questions and understanding the answers you receive is a vital element of communication. This knowledge will help eliminate ignorance, increase your understanding, and strengthen your bonds with others.  

A Man Stacking Cubes, with the Top Cube Having a Lightbulb Picture

With this in mind, muscle up and learn how to ask smart and simple questions in Urdu, and become far more comfortable talking with native Urdu speakers. Never underestimate the significance of asking the right question at the right place in Urdu, for it may open multiple avenues of conversation and help you achieve your goals.

UrduPod101.com seeks to make your learning experience both painless and effective! So let’s go ahead and unearth the most common questions and answers in Urdu, both simple and more complex.

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Urdu Table of Contents
  1. Urdu Question Words
  2. Digging for Personal Information
  3. Conclusion

1. Urdu Question Words

First, let’s familiarize you with Urdu questioning words—also called interrogative words—so that you can more aptly ask questions in a variety of situations. 

  • کیا (kya) – “what”
  • کیوں (kyun) – “why”
  •  کب (kab) – “when”
  •  کہاں (kahan) – “where”
  • کیسے (kaisay) – “how”
  • کتنا/کتنی (kitna/kitni) – “how much”/”how many”

Having learned these basic question words in Urdu, it’s time to learn how to use these words in different real-life situations. We’ll introduce you to certain fundamental patterns of questions in Urdu, so that you’ll be able to improvise and tailor them according to the context. 

2. Digging for Personal Information

In Pakistani society, it’s generally best not to ask very private questions during your first conversation with someone. Therefore, we’ll start with some logical questions and answers in Urdu that you can use or expect to hear while first getting to know someone.

First Encounter

1.    How to Ask Someone’s Name in Urdu

The most general questions and answers in Urdu are those used to ask for someone’s name (or give your own). 

a)  Formal

If you’re meeting someone in an official environment, it’s recommended that you use the formal format to ask for that person’s name.

آپ کا نام کیا ہے؟
aap ka naam kya hai?
“What is your name?”

b)  Literary

If you find someone who has a deep understanding of Urdu, you can always surprise him or her by adding a literary touch to your question.

آپ کا اسم گرامی کیا ہے؟
aap ka ism-e-girami kya hai?
“What is your name?”

c)  Casual

If you’re in a more casual or informal situation, you can ask the question this way:

تمھارا نام کیا ہے؟
tumhara naam kya hai?
“What is your name?”

Answer

Now, here’s the most common answer pattern you can expect to hear in reply:

میرا نام عمران ہے
mera naam Imran hai.
“My name is Imran.”

2.    How to Ask Someone’s Age in Urdu

In this section of the article, we’ll let you know how to ask someone’s age in Urdu. You’ll find both formal and casual ways of asking the question in the Urdu language, so you can utilize them according to your needs.

a)  Formal

آپ کی عمر کیا ہے؟
aap ki umr kya hai?
“What is your age?”

آپ کتنے سال کے ہو؟
aap kitnay saal kay ho?
“How old are you?”

b)  Casual

تمھاری عمر کیا ہے؟
tumhari umr kya hai?
“What is your age?”

In response to this question, you’ll usually get the following answer. Don’t forget that you can use the same pattern to answer the question yourself. 

Answer

میری عمر پانچ سال ہے
meri umr paanch saal hai.
“I am five years old.”

3. Asking About Someone’s Family

A Family Sitting Around a dining Table and Enjoying a Feast

If you’ve gotten someone to feel comfortable talking with you, you can always take the liberty of asking about his family.

a) Formal

آپ کے کتنے بہن بھائی ہیں؟
aap kay kitnay behan bhai hain?
“How many siblings do you have?”

b)  Casual

تمھارے کتنے بہن بھائی ہیں؟
tumharay kitnay behan bhai hain?
“How many siblings do you have?”

Following is a possible answer to this question in Urdu.

Answer

میرے دو بھائی اور ایک بہن ہے
meray do bhai aur ek behan hai.
“I have two brothers and a sister.”


4. Asking Where Someone’s From

The following questions and answers in Urdu come up very often when natives speak with foreigners in Pakistan, so they’re certainly worth learning.

Different Flags from All Over the World

a) Formal

 آپ کہاں سے ہیں؟
aap kahan say hain?
“Where are you from?”

b) Casual

تم کہاں سے ہو؟
tum kahan say ho?
“Where are you from?”

The following pattern is the most common way to answer this question. Simply insert your own nationality into the given pattern.

Answer

میں جاپانی ہوں
mei japani hun.
“I am Japanese.”

Using this next question, you can inquire about someone’s country of origin specifically. This question is interchangeable with the one above.

Question

آپ کون سے ملک سے ہیں؟
aap kon say mulk say hain?
“What country are you from?”

Answer

میں پاکستان سے ہوں
mei Pakistan say hun.
“I am from Pakistan.”

Introducing Yourself

5. Asking About Languages in Urdu

As a foreigner in Pakistan, you can rest easy in the knowledge that native Pakistanis will give you due respect and space. Enjoy your foreigner status, and bring an awe factor into your communication with your Urdu skills. This will make your communication effective and strengthen your bond with natives.

Here are some examples of how you can ask someone in Urdu about his competence in a particular language.

Question

کیا آپ جاپانی بولتے ہیں؟
kya aap japani boltay hain?
“Do you speak Japanese?”

Answer

Here’s how you could answer if you have limited knowledge of the given language.

جی میں تھوڑی بہت جاپانی بول لیتا ہوں
ji mei thori bohat japani bol leta hun.
“Yes, I can speak a little Japanese.”

Question

You can use this question to ask about how long someone has been studying a certain language.

آپ کتنی دیر سے جاپانی پڑھ رہے ہیں؟
aap kitni dair say japani parh rahay hain?
“For how long have you been studying Japanese?”

Answer

Here’s a brief and apt answer to the question above.

میں نے جاپانی دو سال پڑھی ہے
mei nay japani do saal parhi hai.
“I have studied Japanese for two years.”

6. Questions About Travel

As a traveler in Pakistan, you should always be ready to encounter the following questions in Urdu. People take pleasure in listening to the accounts of others’ travels, making it a good topic for spending quality time with someone.

Question

کیا آپ ٹوکیو گئے ہیں؟
kya aap Tokyo gaye hain?
“Have you been to Tokyo?”

Answer

جی ہاں، میں ٹوکیو جا چکا ہوں۔
ji han, mei Tokyo ja chuka hun.
“Yes, I have been to Tokyo.”

7. Asking About Someone’s Profession

If you’re able to indulge a Pakistani Urdu-speaker for a reasonable amount of time, expect a question about your job or profession at some point in the conversation. Pakistanis love to share their professional details and experiences with others.

Question

آپ کا پیشہ کیا ہے؟
aap ka paysha kya hai?
“What is your profession?”

Answer

Here’s the answer pattern you can use in reply. Just replace “doctor” with your own profession.

میں ڈاکٹر ہوں۔
mei doctor hun.
“I am a doctor.”



8. Asking About Someone’s Preferences & Well-Being

If you’ve made it to this point in your conversation, give yourself a pat on the back. You’ve clearly made way with your strong Urdu skills and made a good impression on your interlocutor. Following are the best questions and answers in the Urdu language to keep the conversation going.

Question

آپ کو جاپان کیسا لگا؟
aap ko Japan kaisa laga?
“How do you find Japan?”

Answer

مجھے جاپان بہت اچھا لگا
mujhe Japan bohat acha laga.
“I like Japan very much.”

Question

Cultural cuisine is another favorite topic among foreign visitors and travelers. Inquire about someone’s food preferences as follows.

کیا آپ کو پاکستانی کھانے پسند ہیں؟
kya aap ko Pakistani khanay pasand hain?
“Do you like Pakistani cuisine?”

Asian Foods or Desi Cuisine

Answer

Appreciating local cuisine is always appreciated!

جی ہاں، مجھے پاکستانی کھانے بہت پسند ہیں
ji han, mujhe Pakistani khanay bohat pasand hain.
“I like Pakistani cuisine very much.”

9. Asking About Someone’s Studies

If you and your interlocutor have gotten truly comfortable talking with each other, it may be a good time to talk about each other’s hobbies, personal interests, or studies. The question below will focus specifically on one’s studies.

Question

آپ کیا پڑھ رہے ہیں؟
aap kya parh rahay hain?
“What are you studying?”

Answer

میں انگریزی ادب میں ماسٹرز کر رہا ہوں
mei angrezi adab mei masters kar raha hun.
“I am doing my Master’s in English literature.”

A Student Sitting Inside a Library and Concentrating on a Book

10. Asking About Someone’s Problems in Urdu

Showing concern for someone will help you win the attention and empathy of Pakistanis. People share their problems only with those who are able to show sympathy or empathy toward them.

Question

First, here’s how you can ask about someone’s health.

آپ کی صحت کے ساتھ کیا مسئلہ ہے؟
aap ki sehat kay sath kya masla hai?
“What’s wrong with your health?”

Answer

میں بالکل ٹھیک ہوں
mei bilkul theek hun.
“I am perfectly alright.”

Question

Here’s how you can ask about someone’s general well-being.

آپ کی زندگی کیسی گذر رہی ہے؟
aap kis zindagi kaisi guzar rahi hai?
“How is your life going on?”

Answer

میری زندگی بہت اچھی گذر رہی ہے
meri zindagi bohat achi guzar rahi hai.
“My life is going on very well.”

11. Asking for the Cost of Something

While traveling in Pakistan, you’ll find yourself needing to ask about the price of something. Here’s an easy way to do that.

Question

اس کی قیمت کیا ہے؟
iss ki qeemat kya hai?
“How much is it?”

A Woman Buying a Book from a Store and Asking about the Price of the Book from a Salesgirl

Answer

یہ سو روپے کا ہے
yeh so rupay ka hai.
“It costs a hundred rupees.”

12. Conclusion

By now, you should know how to ask different questions in the Urdu language, and how to understand the answers you’re likely to be given. Asking questions in Urdu conversations should be much simpler for you now than it was before you read this article!

If there’s anything we didn’t cover in this article, or if you want more information on something we did cover, leave us a comment and we’ll do our best to help! 

In addition, don’t forget to surf through UrduPod101.com. If you haven’t yet explored this online resource for learning Urdu, delay no further! Start benefiting from our exceptional content right away; you’ll feel the difference and see major improvement in your Urdu skills.

Very Happy Urdu Learning!

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A Smart Kick-Start: 10 Most Useful Urdu Sentence Patterns


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Do you think that the cut-and-dry grammar and complex syntaxes are the only important aspects of learning a language? If so, let us introduce you to an equally effective linguistic approach that will help you start using Urdu faster: learning the most common Urdu language sentence structures and patterns. 

Without undermining the due significance of traditional language-learning methods, it’s important to be flexible and tailor your studies to your personal needs. This is a small step that can have huge results! 

As a smart Urdu student, think outside the box and learn some widely used sentence patterns in English and Urdu for everyday communications. Once you’ve learned these well, you can even start improvising to craft your own unique sentences per situation.

This article will inform you of the ten most productive and easy Urdu sentence patterns that will help you articulate your thoughts into crisp, comprehensible Urdu sentences. Remember that it’s not a shortcut; it’s the smart cut, guaranteeing a better understanding of Urdu sentence formation with pleasing results. 

Let’s begin.

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Urdu Table of Contents
  1. Linking Two Nouns: A is B
  2. Using Adjectives to Describe: A is [Adjective]
  3. Expressing “Want”: I Want (to)…
  4. Expressing “Need”: I Need (to)… / I Have to …
  5. Expressing “Like”: I Like (to)…
  6. Politely Asking Someone to Do Something: Please…
  7. Asking for Permission: May I…? / Can I…?
  8. Asking for Information About Something: What is…?
  9. Asking About Time: When is…?
  10. Asking About Location or Position: Where is…?
  11. Conclusion

1. Linking Two Nouns: A is B

Sentence Pattern

We’ll start with a simple Urdu sentence pattern for describing a noun by linking it to another noun. Before you look at the examples below, we recommend that you study our articles about Urdu Nouns and Urdu Verbs so you can better understand how they work. In particular, you should familiarize yourself with the verb “to be” in Urdu.

  • عمران میرا بھائی ہے
    Imran mera bhai hai.
    “Imran is my brother.”
  • ہاکی ہمارا قومی کھیل ہے
    Hockey hamara qomi khel hai.
    “Hockey is our national sport.”
  • لاہور میرا شہر ہے
    Lahore mera shehar hai.
    “Lahore is my city.”

2. Using Adjectives to Describe: A is [Adjective]

Now that you know how to use nouns in Urdu sentences, it’s pertinent to step forward and learn how to describe nouns using Urdu adjectives.

  • محمد ایک سچا انسان ہے
    Muhammad aik sacha insaan hai.
    “Muhammad is an honest man.”
  • یہ ایک اہم موقع ہے
    Yeh aik aham moqa hai.
    “It is an important opportunity.”
  • یہ کتاب بالکل نئی ہے
    Yeh kitab bilkul naiye hai.
    “This is a brand-new book.”

UrduPod101.com has a page about high-frequency Urdu adjectives that you should familiarize yourself with. Check it out! 


3. Expressing “Want”: I Want (to)…

A Child Pointing His Finger Towards Something He Wants

Expressing one’s wishes or desires is an extremely important matter in any language. In Urdu, we use the verb چاہنا (chah-na) to express any such feelings. Below are some examples of how to use a proper Urdu sentence pattern with this verb.

  • میں ایک کامیاب بزنس مین بننا چاہتا ہوں
    Mei aik kamyab businessman ban-na chahta hun.
    “I want to become a successful businessman.”
  • میں مزید پڑھنا چاہتا ہوں
    Mei mazeed parhna chahta hun.
    “I want to study further.”
  • تم سب سے آگے نکلنا چاہتے ہو
    Tum sab say aagay nikalna chahtay ho.
    “You want to lead everyone.”

To learn more about how to properly conjugate Urdu verbs, including this one, check out our article about Urdu Conjugations


4. Expressing “Need”: I Need (to)… / I Have to …

Sentence Components

If you want something, it may underlie a luxury; if you need something, it signifies a necessity. Needs are more important than wants, so let’s learn the best Urdu sentence structure for expressing needs.

ضرورت (zaroorat) is the word we use to convey needs in Urdu. 

Below, you’ll find some sentences in Urdu to emphasize or express your needs. Be sure to focus on the various changes undergone by this word. 

  • میرا آج واپس لوٹنا ضروری ہے
    Mera aaj wapis lotna zaroori hai.
    “I have to return today, definitely.”
  • تمھیں یہ امتحان ہر صورت میں ضرور پاس کرنا ہے
    Tumhain yeh imtihan her surat mein zaroor pass karna hai.
    “You need to pass this exam at any cost.”
  • ہمیں اپنا رویہ بدلنے کی ضرورت ہے
    Hamein apna rawaiyya badalnay ki zaroorat hai.
    “We need to change our attitude.”

5. Expressing “Like”: I Like (to)…

A Woman Posing to Think about the Things She Likes

Now, let’s aim at learning how to express our likes in Urdu. پسند کرنا (pasand karna) is the true translation of “to like” in Urdu. پیار کرنا (pyaar karna) is another verb used to express love, as it’s translated as “to love” in English. However, پسند کرنا also has an implied meaning of loving someone when used in a particular context. 

  • مجھے سینما جانا پسند ہے
    Mujhay cinema jana pasand hai.
    “I like to go to the cinema.”
  • میں پڑھانا پسند کرتا ہوں
    Mei parhana pasand karta hun.
    “I like to teach.”
  • مجھے ٹرین کا سفر اچھا لگتا ہے
    Mujhay train ka safar acha lagta hai.
    “I like to travel by train.”

6. Politely Asking Someone to Do Something: Please…

Courtesy is among the seven pillars of effective communication in Pakistani society, and around the world. In Pakistan, people like to give and receive respect while communicating with each other. In this section of the article, we’ll show you an Urdu sentence pattern used to ask for something (or for a favor).

  • مہربانی فرما کر میری بات سنیں
    Meharbani farma kar meri baat sunein.
    “Please, listen to me.”
  • براہ مہربانی اپنا لہجہ درست کریں
    Barah-e-meharbani apna lehja durust karein.
    “Please, mind your tone.”
  • ازراہ کرم میرے پیسے واپس کر دیں
    Azrah-e-karam meray paisay wapis kar dein.
    “Please, return my money.”
A Person Collecting Money with Both Hands and Another Delivering It to Him

7. Asking for Permission: May I…? / Can I…?

In every culture, asking permission is an essential rule of etiquette. In Urdu, we use modal verbs to ask certain questions and seek permission, along with many other functions. Below, we’ll show you how to incorporate modal verbs in your sentences by following a particular Urdu sentence pattern.   

  • کیا میں اندرآسکتا ہوں؟
    Kia mei ander aa sakta hun?
    “May I come in?”
  • کیا میں آپ کے گھر آ سکتا ہوں؟
    Kia mei aap kay ghar aa sakta hun.
    “May I visit your house?”
  • کیا میں آپ کا تھوڑا سا وقت لے سکتا ہوں؟
    Kia mei aap ka thora sa waqt lay sakta hun.
    “Can I take a little bit of your time?”
A Couple Having Wine and the Man Signaling to a Waiter to Get a Menu

8. Asking for Information About Something: What is…?

When visiting a foreign country, you’re probably going to have some questions for the natives. This makes learning the Urdu sentence patterns for asking questions essential for any Urdu learner.

کیا ہے (kia hai) is a basic phrase used to ask a question in Urdu. In English, it’s translated as “what is.” You can always place کیا ہے at the end of a sentence, preceded by the relevant words. Let’s see some examples:

  • آپ کا ارادہ کیا ہے؟
    Aap ka irada kia hai?
    “What is your plan?”
  • آپ کا سوال کیا ہے؟
    Aap ka sawal kia hai?
    “What is your question?”
  • آپ کے سکول کا نام کیا ہے؟
    Aap kay school ka nam kia hai.
    “What is the name of your school?”

9. Asking About Time: When is…?

Now it’s time to learn “when is,” or کب ہے (kab hai). You can always place کب ہے at the end of a sentence. Let’s see some examples:

  • آپ کی شادی کی اینیورسری کب ہے؟
    Aap ki shadi ki anniversary kab hai?
    “When is your marriage anniversary?”
  • دونوں ٹیموں کے مابین اگلا میچ کب ہے؟
    Dono teemo kay maabain agla match kab hai?
    “When will the next match be played between both teams?”
  • آپ کی منگنی کب ہو رہی ہے؟
    Aap ki mangni kab ho rahi hai?
    “When is your engagement taking place?”
Calendar Pages Showing Different Months and Dates

10. Asking About Location or Position: Where is…?

Asking about someone’s location is another important inquiry. کہاں ہے (kahan is) is the expression used in Urdu to do this. Here are examples of how to use this phrase in an Urdu sentence pattern: 

  • لاہور میں یادگار پاکستان کہاں ہے؟
    Lahore mein Yaadgar-e-Pakistan kahan hai?
    “Where is Yaadgar-e-Pakistan located in Lahore?”
  • آپ کا کالج کہاں واقع ہے؟
    Aap ka college kahan waqia hai?
    “Where is your college situated?”
  • ہماری ذاتی گاڑی کہاں ہے؟
    Hamari zati gari kahan hai?
    “Where is our personal vehicle?”

11. Conclusion

In this article, you learned the basics of how to form sentences in Urdu by focusing on basic Urdu sentence patterns. We recommend that you choose an Urdu sentence pattern to practice, and work until you master it before moving on to another one.

Do you have any questions about a sentence pattern that you want to discuss with us? Are you better prepared to interact with native Urdu-speakers with this handful of language material you learned today with UrduPod101.com?

Be sure to keep exploring UrduPod101, a rich repository of Urdu language-learning resources for students at every level. 

Very Happy Urdu Learning!

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Urdu Verb Conjugation: A Beginner’s Companion

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In this article, we’re going to cover one of the most crucial topics in Urdu language learning: Urdu verb conjugation. Having learned the basics of Urdu verbs, you may be able to hold basic conversations; however, in order to become a non-native advanced Urdu expert, you need to strengthen your grip on verb conjugation in Urdu. You should also become familiar with Urdu grammar tenses. 
 

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Useful Verbs in Urdu Table of Contents
  1. Why is it Important to Study Urdu Verb Conjugation?
  2. What is Conjugation?
  3. Verb Groups
  4. Bonus for the Ambitious Learners
  5. Some Rare Irregular Urdu Verbs
  6. Rehearse with Us
  7. Conclusion

1. Why is it Important to Study Urdu Verb Conjugation?

Thought Communication between Two People

To learn about conjugation in Urdu is a Herculean task. Nevertheless, with enough motivation, you really can gain a strong understanding of this important topic. But why should you?

If you want to master the Urdu language, you absolutely need to understand Urdu verb conjugation. This is especially important when trying to converse with someone in an Urdu-speaking country like Pakistan. If you don’t know anything about Urdu verb conjugation, you’ll have a miserable time trying to communicate.

Finally, when you learn about conjugation, you’re able to study many other aspects of Urdu grammar at the same time. This includes things like tenses, moods, and persons.

A Girl with Headphones on with the Pakistani Flag in the Background

2. What is Conjugation?

Top Verbs

When you conjugate a verb in Urdu, you’re changing that verb to show tense, person, number, and mood. In Urdu, the word for “conjugation” is  فعل کی گردان کرنا  (fail ki girdaan kerna).   

Now, let’s look through each of the different things that affect conjugation in Urdu, starting with the person.

1- Person

In Urdu, we have six different persons:

  •         واحد متکلم (wahid mutkalim) — first person singular
  •         جمع متکلم (jama mutkalim) — first person plural
  •       واحد حاضر (wahid hazir) — second person singular
  •         جمع حاضر (jama hazir) — second person plural
  •        واحد غائب (wahid ghaeb) — third person singular
  •         جمع غائب (jama ghaeb) — third person plural

Study the Urdu conjugation chart below to better understand how the person affects conjugation.

First person singular
 واحد متکلم
میں
(mei)
“I”
 Second person singular
 واحد حاضر
تم / آپ
(tum) / (aap)
“you” (informal) / “you” (formal)
Third person singular
 واحد غائب
وہ / اس نے
(woh) / (uss nay)
“he” or “she”
First person plural
 جمع متکلم
ہم
(hum)
“we”
Second person plural
 جمع حاضر
آپ
(aap)
“you”
Third person plural
 جمع غائب
وہ / انھوں نے
(who) / (unho nay)
“they” for both male and female

In the Urdu language, a verb almost always conjugates according to the person. Here’s an example of what this looks like:

  •         میں کھاتا ہوں
    mei khata hun.
    “I eat.”
  •         ہم کھاتے ہیں۔
    hum khatay hain.
    “We eat.”
  •         تم کھاتے ہو۔
    tum khatay ho.
    “You eat.”
  •         وہ کھاتے ہیں۔
    woh khatay hain.
    “They eat.”

2- Mood

Grammatical mood depicts the intention or feeling of a specific action. Below you’ll find what the verb “play” looks like in each mood.

I- Indicative

  •         میں کھلیتا ہوں
    mei khelta hun.
    “I play.”

II- Subjunctive

  •         کاش میں کھیلتا۔
    kaash mei khelta.
    “I wish that I could play.”

III- Conditional

  •         اگر تم نہ اٹھاتے تو بچہ کھیلتا رہتا۔
    agar tum na uthatay to bacha khelta rehta.
    “The baby might play if you do not pick him up.”

IV- Imperative

  •         روزانہ فٹبال کھیلو۔
    rozana football khelo.
    “Play football daily.”

“Play football daily.”

V- Infinitive

  •         کھیلنا
    Khelna
    “To play”

3- Voice

Grammatical voice is another aspect that affects Urdu verb conjugation. The two voices are active and passive, which we’re sure you’re familiar with. Here’s an example:

I- Active Voice

  •         وہ فٹبال کھیلے۔
    woh football khelay.
    “They played football.”

II- Passive Voice

  •         انھوں نے فٹبال کھیلا۔
    unho nay football khela.
    “Football was played by them.”

4- Gender

Male and Female Signs on a Door

In Urdu verb conjugation, grammatical gender also plays an important role. The two genders in Urdu are masculine and feminine. For example:

I- Masculine

  •         میں کالج جاتا ہوں۔
    mei college jata hun.
    “I go to college.”

II- Feminine

  •         میں کالج جاتی ہوں۔
    mei college jati hun.
    “I go to college.”

In the example sentences, the base form of the verb جانا (jana) changed based on gender. In the first sentence, جاتا ہوں (jata hun) is used to denote the masculinity of the subject; in the second sentence, جاتی ہوں (jati hun) is used to denote the femininity of the subject.

5- Tenses

Finally, the tenses also affect conjugation in Urdu. Let’s take a look:

  •         فعل حال مطلق (fail haal mutliq) — Present Indefinite
  •         فعل ماضی مطلق (fail maazi mutliq) — Past Indefinite
  •         فعل مستقبل مطلق (fail mustaqbil mutliq) — Future Indefinite
  •         فعل حال جاری (fail haal jari) — Present Continuous
  •         فعل ماضی جاری (fail maazi jari) — Past Continuous
  •         فعل مستقبل جاری (fail mustaqbil jari) — Future Continuous
  •         فعل حال مکمل (fail haal mukammal) — Present Perfect
  •         فعل ماضی مکمل (fail maazi muakaaml) — Past Perfect
  •         فعل مستقبل مکمل (fail mustaqbil mukammal) — Future Perfect
  •         فعل حال مکمل جاری (fail haal mukammal jari) — Present Perfect Continuous
  •         فعل ماضی مکمل جاری (fail maazi muakammal jari) — Past Perfect Continuous
  •         فعل مستقبل مکمل جاری (fail mustaqbil mukammal jari) — Future Perfect Continuous

Don’t worry too much about memorizing all of the tenses above. You can get along just fine by simply grouping verbs into three main tenses:

  •  زمانہ ماضی (zamana maazi) — Past Tense
  •  زمانہ حال (zamana haal) — Present Tense
  •  زمانہ مستقبل (zamana mustaqbil) — Future Tense

3. Verb Groups

More Essential Verbs

Okay, now we’re going to look at Urdu verb groups based on verb endings. In the following sections, we’ll provide you with several Urdu verb conjugation charts to help you better understand how conjugation works within each group.

For your convenience, in the following examples, we’ll use a single Urdu verb: لکھنا (likhna), meaning “to write.” This will help you understand the formation of different Urdu verb conjugations more easily. 

1- Verbs with تا ہے / تی ہے / تے ہیں / تاہوں / تی ہو (ta hai / ti hai / tay hain / ta hun / ti ho) at the end

First, we’ll look at an Urdu verb conjugation chart explaining the ending words of the present simple tense. In this case, the sentence in Urdu will always end with a verb having تا ہے / تی ہے / تے ہیں (ta hai / ti hai / tay hain) at the end.

Gender1st person singular
 
 واحد متکلم
1st person plural
 جمع متکلم
2nd person singular
 
 واحد حاضر
2nd person plural
 جمع حاضر
3rd person singular
 
 واحد غائب
3rd person plural
 جمع غائب
Masculineمیں لکھتا ہوں۔
 
mei likhta hun.

“I write.”
ہم لکھتے ہیں۔
 
hum likhtay hain.
 
“We write.”
تم لکھتے ہو۔
 
tum likhtay ho.

“You write.”
آپ لکھتے ہیں۔
 
aap likhtay hain.

“You write.”
وہ لکھتا ہے۔
 
woh likhta hai.

“He writes.”
وہ لکھتے ہیں۔
 
woh likhtay hain.

“They write.”
Feminineمیں لکھتی ہوں۔
 
mei likhti hun.
 
“I write.”
ہم لکھتی ہیں۔
 
hum likhti hain.
 
“We write.”
تم لکھتی ہو۔
 
tum likhti ho.
 
“You write.”
آپ لکھتی ہیں۔
 
aap likhti hain.
 
“You write.”
وہ لکھتی ہے۔
 
who likhti hai.
 
“She writes.”
وہ لکھتی ہیں۔
 
woh likhti hain.
 
“They write.”

2- Verbs ending with ا / یا (alif / ya)

Below is another Urdu verb conjugation chart that shows the Urdu verb in the past simple tense. The ending words of the verb, in this case, are ا /یا  (alif / ya).

Gender1st person singular
 
 واحد متکلم
1st person plural
 جمع متکلم
2nd person singular
 
 واحد حاضر
2nd person plural
 جمع حاضر
3rd person singular
 
 واحد غائب
3rd person plural
 جمع غائب
Masculineمیں نے لکھا۔
 
mei nay likha.
 
“I wrote.”
ہم نے لکھا۔
 
hum nay likha.
 
“We wrote.”
تم نے لکھا۔
 
tum nay likha.
 
“You wrote.”
آپ نے لکھا۔
 
aap nay likha.
 
“You wrote.”
اس نے لکھا۔
 
uss nay likha.
 
“He wrote”.
انھوں نے لکھا۔
 
unho nay likha.
 
“They wrote.”
Feminineمیں نے لکھا۔
 
mei nay likha.
 
“I wrote.”
ہم نے لکھا۔
 
hum nay likha.
 
“We wrote.”
تم نے لکھا۔
 
tum nay likha.
 
“You wrote.”
آپ نے لکھا۔
 
aap nay likha.
 
“You wrote.”
اس نے لکھا۔
 
uss nay likha.
 
“She wrote.”
انھوں نے لکھا۔
 
unho nay likha.
 
“They wrote.”

3- Verbs ending with ے گا / گے (ye ga/gay)

By removing the نا from the end of the infinitive and replacing it with ے گا/گے (ye ga/gay), you’ll get the future simple tense in the Urdu language. This verb group will help you to talk about future plans with others. Study the chart below to see how this works.

Gender1st person singular
 
 واحد متکلم
1st person plural
 جمع متکلم
2nd person singular
 
 واحد حاضر
2nd person plural
 جمع حاضر
3rd person singular
 
 واحد غائب
3rd person plural
 جمع غائب
Masculineمیں لکھوں گا۔
 
mei likhon ga.
 
 
 
“I will write.”
ہم لکھیں گے۔
 
hum likhain gay.
 
“We will write.”
تم لکھو گے۔
 
tum likho gay.
 
 
“You will write.”
آپ لکھیں گے۔
 
aap likhain gay.
 
 
“You will write.”
وہ لکھے گا۔
 
woh likhay ga.
 
 
“He will write.”
وہ لکھیں گے۔
 
woh likhain gay.
 
 
“They will write.”
Feminineمیں لکھوں گی۔
 
mei likhon gi.
 
“I will write.”
ہم لکھیں گی۔
 
hum likhain gay.

“We will write.”
تم لکھو گی۔
 
tum likho gi.
 
“You will write.”
آپ لکھیں گی۔
 
aap likhain gi.

“You will write.”
وہ لکھےگی۔
 
woh likhay gi.

“She will write.”
وہ لکھیں گی۔
 
woh likhain gi.

“They will write.”

As explained earlier, the basic purpose of using the single infinitive لکھنا (likhna), or “to write,” is to show you how the different conjugations work on the same verb. If you successfully learn the basic rules and groups of Urdu conjugations, you’ll be able to utilize them effectively in your Urdu reading, writing, and conversations.

4. Bonus for the Ambitious Learners

Negative Verbs

In order to bring clarity and depth to the topic of Urdu verb conjugation, study the Urdu verb conjugation chart below. It shows the conjugation of لکھنا (likhna) for all tenses. This is for the learners who are ready and willing to go a step further.

Simple PresentSimple PastSimple Future
لکھتا ہے
likhta hai
“Writes”
لکھا
likha
“Wrote”
لکھے گا
likhay ga
“Will write”
Present ContinuousPast ContinuousFuture Continuous
لکھ رہا ہے
likh raha hai
“Is writing”
لکھ رہا تھا
likh raha tha
“Was writing”
لکھ رہا ہو گا
likh raha ho ga
“Will be writing”
Present PerfectPast PerfectFuture Perfect
لکھ چکا ہے
likh chuka hai
“Has written”
لکھ چکا تھا
likh chuka tha
“Had written”
لکھ چکا ہو گا
likh chuka ho ga
“Will have written”
Present Perfect ContinuousPast Perfect ContinuousFuture Perfect Continuous
لکھ رہا ہے
likh raha hai
“Has been writing”
لکھ رہا تھا
likh raha tha
“Had been writing”
لکھ رہا ہو گا
likh raha ho ga
“Will have been writing”

5. Some Rare Irregular Urdu Verbs

Verb List Illustrating Conjugation of Irregular Verbs

Like all languages, Urdu has a few irregular verbs of its own. Fortunately, there aren’t very many of these for you to learn. Below, we’ll cover two verbs that have odd conjugations in the past tense.

  •         جانا
    Jana
    “To go”

The verb جانا (jana) conjugates normally, except in the past case. You can see this change in the table below.

Gender1st person singular
 واحد متکلم
1st person plural
 جمع متکلم
2nd person singular
 واحد حاضر
2nd person plural
 جمع حاضر
3rd person singular 
 واحد غائب
3rd person plural
 جمع غائب
Masculineمیں گیا۔
 
mei gaya.
 
“I went.”
ہم گئے۔
 
hum gaye.
 
“We went.”
تم گئے۔
 
tum gaye.
 
“You went.”
آپ گئے۔
 
aap gaye.
 
“You went.”
وہ گیا۔
 
woh gaya.
 
“He went.”
وہ گئے۔
 
woh gaye.
 
“They went.”
Feminineمیں گئی ۔
 
mei gayi.
 
“I went.”
ہم گئیں۔
 
hum gayein.

“We went.”
تم گئی۔
 
tum gayi.
 
“You went.”
 آپ گئیں۔
 
aap gayein.
 
“You went.”
وہ گئی۔
 
woh gayi.

“She went.”
وہ گئیں۔
 
woh gayein.

“They went.”
  •   کرنا
    Kerna
    “To do”

Similarly, the verb کرنا (kerna) will conjugate normally except in the past case. You can see this change in the table below.

Gender1st person singular 
 واحد متکلم
1st person plural
 جمع متکلم
2nd person singular 
 واحد حاضر
2nd person plural
 جمع حاضر
3rd person singular 
 واحد غائب
3rd person plural
 جمع غائب
Masculineمیں نے کیا۔
 
mei nay kiya.
 
“I did.”
ہم نے کیا۔
 
hum nay kiya.
 
“We did.”
تم نے کیا۔
 
tum nay kiya.
 
“You did.”
آپ نے کیا۔
 
aap nay kiya.
 
“You did.”
اس نے کیا۔
 
uss nay kiya.

“He did.”
انھوں نے کیا۔
 
unho nay kiya.

“They did.”
Feminineمیں نے کیا۔
 
mei nay kiya.
 
“I did.”
ہم نے کیا۔
 
hum nay kiya.
 
“We did.”
تم نے کیا۔
 
tum nay kiya.
 
“You did.”
آپ نے کیا۔
 
aap nay kiya.
 
“You did.”
اس نے کیا۔
 
uss nay kiya.

“She did.”
انھوں نے کیا۔
 
unho nay kiya.

“They did.”

6. Rehearse with Us

Having learned the basics of Urdu verb conjugation, it’s crucial that you practice your skills and test your knowledge. 

1- Conduct Multiple Practice Sessions Yourself

Become the master of your own destiny by practicing Urdu verb conjugation yourself. The best way to start is to pick up a few Urdu verbs from different resources available on UrduPod101.com and use them by imagining several day-to-day situations. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes, because every mistake will take you one step closer to your destination.

2- Quiz

Now, here’s a quiz on Urdu verb conjugation! Give the correct conjugation of each verb for the examples below. 

Some Students Sitting Inside an Examination Hall Taking a Test

1.       وہ اچھا گانا ـــــــــــــــــ ۔ 
woh acha gana ________ .
“She sings well.”

The verb to be used in the sentence above is گانا.

2.        جلد ہی تم ایک اچھی خبر ــــــــــــــــ۔ ۔
jald he tum aik achi khabar _____________ .
“You will listen to the good news soon.” (when addressing a man)

The verb to be used in the sentence above is سننا.

  3.    تم ایک غلطی ــــــــــــــــــــــــــ ۔
tum ek ghalti ____________ .
“You were repeating a mistake.” (male speaker)

The verb to be used in the sentence above is دوہرانا.

4.         میں جاپان ــــــــــــــــــ ۔
mei Japan _________.
“I went to Japan.” (male speaker)

The verb to be used in the sentence above is جانا.

5.         وہ مدد ـــــــــــــــــ ۔
woh madad mang raha hai.
“He is asking for help.”

The verb to be used in the sentence above is مانگنا.

If you’ve hit the bull’s eye, congratulations! If you’re confused about the correct answers, though, follow the quiz key below.

3- Key to Quiz

1.         وہ اچھا گانا گاتی ہے۔

(Present Simple Tense)

2.         جلد ہی تم ایک اچھی خبر سنو گے۔

(Future Simple Tense)

3.         تم ایک غلطی دوہرا رہے تھے۔

(Past Continuous Tense)

4.         میں جاپان گیا۔

(Past Simple Tense)

5.         وہ مدد مانگ رہاہے۔

(Present Continuous Tense)

If you’re still a bit confused, feel free to consult the charts and tables from this article. These will empower you to find out the logic behind each answer. You can also reach out to us in the comments if you still have questions! 

7. Conclusion

In this article, you’ve learned about Urdu verb conjugation with various illustrations and examples. Hopefully, you found all the details that you wished for. Nonetheless, if we missed anything, let us know! We’ll give you that information as soon as possible.

In addition, visiting UrduPod101.com is a must. We have tons of Urdu language learning resources, so if you haven’t explored it thoroughly yet, be sure to do so soon. You’ll get access to sumptuous knowledge and information pertaining to the Urdu language.

Very Happy Urdu Learning!

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Urdu Verbs List: 100+ Must-Know Urdu Verbs

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You don’t have to be a practicing grammarian in order to know the significance of the Urdu verb in a sentence or to realize the need to learn English verb tenses in Urdu. As is the case in many other major languages, learning the proper usage of verbs in different sentences or phrases is a huge step toward excellence in the Urdu language. Here, in this article, we’ll wade through a simple Urdu verbs list and give you some information on Urdu verbs conjugation (though we’ll soon have a separate article on the latter).

Are you ready to learn Urdu verbs and enhance your language skills? Let’s get started!

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Useful Verbs in Urdu Table of Contents
  1. Why is it Important to Study 100+ Common Verbs?
  2. Verb Grouping According to Ending Syllables
  3. Placement and Usage of Verbs in Urdu
  4. Action Verbs in Urdu
  5. Mental Verbs in Urdu
  6. Urdu Helping Verbs
  7. A List of Some Unavoidable Verbs in Urdu
  8. Conclusion

1. Why is it Important to Study 100+ Common Verbs?

Top Verbs

UrduPod101.com has already introduced you to Urdu nouns, Urdu pronouns, and Urdu adjectives. Having learned these, it’s now imperative to master the Urdu verb—فعل (fail)—so that you can form complete thoughts and ideas in your sentences. 

Knowing different verbs in Urdu and how they work will give you the ability to understand and formulate various Urdu phrases and sentences. Consequently, your skills in every aspect of the language will see great improvement. 

2. Verb Grouping According to Ending Syllables

More Essential Verbs

For a beginner, some Urdu verb forms and variants may prove to be quite intricate, and the learner may become confused. Keeping this in view, the best strategy to avoid this confusion is to know the basic form of Urdu verbs: the infinitive.

A. The Basic Form of Urdu Verbs 

Urdu infinitive verbs always possess the ending syllables نا (na). For instance:

  • چلنا (chalna) — to walk
  • رکنا (rukna) — to stop
  • کھانا (khana) — to eat
  • پینا (peena) — to drink

All such verbs in their basic forms function to mean/represent an act of doing, happening, or being in a state. This is the most basic definition of a verb in Urdu.  

B. Variations Based on Urdu Verb Tenses

Keeping the base form of Urdu verbs in mind, let’s discuss how Urdu verb forms vary based on changing tenses.

Here, it’s appropriate to discuss only three forms of Urdu verbs, which signify three general tenses: present simple, past simple, and future simple.

While the Urdu infinitive verbs end with the syllables نا (na), the ending syllables change according to the tenses: 

  • Present Simple Tense: تا ہے/تی ہے (ta hai) / (ti hai)
  • Past Simple Tense: یا/یی (ya)/(yi) or یا تھا/یی تھی (ya tha) / (yi thi)
  • Future Simple Tense: گا/گی (ga) / (gi)

This also implies that the Urdu language has no irregular verbs! Additionally, as there’s not an extensive use of the intransitive verb in Urdu, you don’t need to bother learning the details about transitive and intransitive verbs in Urdu.

Below is an example illustrating how an Urdu verb conjugates in all of the above-mentioned forms.

  • کرنا (karna) — do [base form]
  • کرتا ہے (karta hai) — does [present simple]
  • کیا (kiya) — did [past simple]
  • کرے گا (karay ga) — will do [future simple]
List of Words in Alphabetical Order

C. How Grammatical Gender Impacts Verbs in Urdu

In Urdu grammar, verbs must match the gender of other words around them. 

While learning about grammatical gender’s impact on Urdu verbs is not the topic of this article, it’s still important to have a general idea of how this works. After reading our explanation, you can look again at the examples above to see the changes for yourself! 

Masculine Ending Syllables:

  • تا ہے (ta hai)
  • یا / یا تھا (ya) / (ya tha)
  • کرے گا (karay ga)

Feminine Ending Syllables:

  • تی ہے (ti hai)
  • یی/یی تھی (yi) / (yi thi)
  • کرے گی (karay gi)

3. Placement and Usage of Verbs in Urdu 

Negative Verbs

Urdu grammar has its own idiosyncrasies when it comes to the placement of a verb in a sentence. For this reason, it’s vital that we go over this topic before proceeding further. 

Basic Urdu Syntax

In English, the Subject + Verb + Object (SVO) sentence pattern is typically used. However, Urdu uses a different sentence pattern structure. Take a look:

وہ کھانا کھاتا ہے۔

V + O + S

(Woh khana khata hai.)

This is the basic Urdu syntax. Note that in Urdu syntax, the subject is followed by the object, and the verb is at the end.

4. Action Verbs in Urdu

A Man Skiing in the Snow

Action verbs are those words that simply express an action, and sometimes possession. Below is a list of the most common Urdu verbs used for this purpose.

  • دوڑنا (dorna) — to run
  • لڑنا (larna) — to fight
  • رونا (rona) — to cry
  • ہنسنا (hansna) — to laugh
  • گانا (gana) — to sing
  • کھیلنا (khelna) — to play
  • پڑھنا (parhna) — to read
  • کھڑے ہونا (kharay hona) — to stand up
  • بیٹھ جانا (baith jana) — to sit down
  • سوار ہونا (swar hona) — to ride
  • سننا (sun-na) — to listen
  • بند کرنا (band karna) — to close
  • کھولنا (kholna) — to open
  • چلانا (chalana) — to turn on
  • بند کرنا (band karna) — to switch off
  • جیتنا (jeetna) — to win
  • ہارنا (harna) — to lose
  • لکھنا (likhna) — to write
  • پکانا (pakana) — to cook
  • دھونا (dhona) — to wash
  • دینا (dena) — to give
  • لینا (lena) — to take
  • انتظار کرنا (intizar karna) — to wait
  • کودنا (kodna) — to jump
  • بات کرنا (baat karna) — to talk
  • چومنا (choomna) — to kiss
  • گلے ملنا (galay milna) — to hug
  • نہانا (nahana) — to bathe
  • خریدنا (khareedna) — to buy
  • بیچنا (bechna) — to sell
  • سونگھنا (soonghna) — to smell
  • تالی بجانا (tali bajana) — to clap
  • بننا (bun-na) — to knit
  • سینا (seena) — to sew
  • دھکیلنا (dhakelna) — to push
  • کھینچنا (khenchna) — to pull
  • چڑھنا (charhna) — to climb
  • کھودنا (khodna) — to dig
  • جھکنا (jhukna) — to bow
  • غوطہ لگانا (ghota lagana) — to dive

Example Sentences 

  • وہ روزانہ پارک میں دوڑتی ہے۔

woh rozana park mei dorti hai.

She runs in the park daily.

  • اس نے دریا میں غوطہ لگایا۔

uss nay darya mein ghota lagaya.

He dived into the river.

  • میں کلاس لوں گا۔

mei class loon ga.

I will take my class.

  • تم نے اس کو کتاب کیوں دی؟

tum nay uss ko kitab kyu di?

Why did you give him the book?

  • میں ایک کار خریدنا چاہتا ہوں۔

mei aik car khareedna chahta hun.

I want to buy a car.

5. Mental Verbs in Urdu

A Woman indulged in a Thinking Activity

Mental verbs show different mental actions. Below you’ll find some examples of common mental verbs in Urdu.

  • سوچنا (sochna) — to think
  • فیصلہ کرنا (faisla karna) — to decide
  • جاننا (jan-na) — to know
  • یقین کرنا (yaqeen karna) — to believe
  • شک کرنا (shak karna) — to doubt
  • فرض کرنا (farz karna) — to suppose
  • پہچاننا (pehchan-na) — to recognize
  • بھولنا (bhoolna) — to forget
  • یاد رکھنا (yaad rakhna) — to remember
  • رد کرنا (rad karna) — to deny
  • وعدہ کرنا (waada karna) — to promise
  • مطمئن کرنا (mutmain karna) — to satisfy
  • احساس کرنا (ahsaas karna) — to realize
  • اتفاق نہ کرنا (itefaq na karna) — to disagree
  • حیران کرنا (hairan karna) — to astonish

Example Sentences

  • میں آپ سے اتفاق نہیں کرتا۔

mei aap say ittefaq nahi karta.

I disagree with you.

  • تم اس کی غلطی بھول گئے۔

tum uss ki ghalati bhool gaye.

You forgot his mistake.

  • کیا تم نے فیصلہ کر لیا ہے؟

kya tum nay faisla kar liya hai?

Have you decided?

6. Urdu Helping Verbs

Helping verbs are significant in that they’re sometimes required to structure a sentence. They’re used to assist the main verb, and can be further divided into two main categories: modal verbs and auxiliary verbs. The exact translation of these verbs in Urdu is امدادی فعل (imdadi fael).

A. Modal Verbs in Urdu with Examples

Modal verbs serve to describe possibility, necessity, or obligation. They also help to modify specific tasks. Following are some Urdu modal verbs, followed by a few examples.

  • سکتا ہے (sakta hai) — can
  • سکا (saka) — could
  • سکتا ہے (sakta hai) — may
  • سکا (saka) — might
  • کرے گا (karay ga) — will
  • کیا (kiya) — would
  • کرے گا (karay ga) — shall
  • چاہئے (chahiye) — should / must / ought to

Example Sentences

  • وہ تیر سکتا ہے۔

woh tair sakta hai.

He can swim.

  • انٹرویو کے بعد آپ جا سکتے ہیں۔

interview kay baad aap ja saktay hain.

You may leave after the interview.

  • وہ آپ کی مدد کرے گا۔

woh aap ki madad karay ga.

He will help you.

  • آپ کو ائیرپورٹ پر وقت پر پہنچنا چاہئے۔

aap ko airport per waqt per pohanchna chahiye.

You should reach the airport on time.

  • اسے یہ کتاب لازمی پڑھنی چاہئے۔

ussay yeh kitab lazmi parhni chahiye.

He must read this book.

B. Auxiliary Verbs in Urdu with Examples

The words “auxiliary” and “helping” are often used interchangeably. However, auxiliary verbs function to articulate the tense or to emphasize something. There are three main Urdu auxiliary verbs which have multiple variants. We’ll introduce them to you below.

 ہونا (hona) — to be

  • ہوں (hun) — am
  • ہے (hai) — is
  • ہیں (hain) — are
  • تھا/تھی (tha/thi) — was
  • تھے (thay) — were

رکھنا/چکنا (rakhna/chukna) — to have

  • چکا ہے/چکی ہے (chuka hai/chuki hai) — has
  • چکے ہیں (chukay hain) — have
  • چکے تھے (chukay thay) — had

کرنا (karna) — to do

  • کرتا ہے/کرتی ہے (karta hai/karti hai) — does
  • کرتے ہیں (karty hain) — do
  • کیا/کیاتھا (kiya/kiya tha) — did
Example Sentences
  • میں خوش ہوں۔

mei khush hun.

I am happy.

  • وہ میرے ساتھ ناراض تھی۔

woh meray saath naraz thi.

She was angry with me.

  • وہ ہاکی کھیل چکے ہیں۔

woh hockey khail chukay hain.

They have played hockey.

  • ہم کیک کاٹ چکے تھے۔

hum cake kaat chukay thay.

We had cut the cake.

  • اس نے جھگڑے کا آغاز کیا۔

uss nay jhaghray ka aaghaz kiya.

He started the fight.

A Brief List Containing Some Modal and Helping Verbs

7. A List of Some Unavoidable Verbs in Urdu

To continue our list and further expand your Urdu verbs vocabulary, let’s look at a few more must-know verbs in Urdu that will make your life more convenient in an Urdu-speaking country. 

  • پیار کرنا (pyar karna) — to love
  • نفرت کرنا (nafrat karna) — to hate
  • کہنا (kehna) — to say
  • بتانا (batana) — to tell
  • ستانا (satana) — to tease
  • عزت کرنا (izat karna) — to respect
  • بے عزت کرنا (bayizat karna) — to humiliate
  • ملنا (milna) — to meet
  • اکٹھا کرنا (ikatha karna) — to collect
  • جدا کرنا (juda karna) — to separate
  • سونا (sona) — to sleep
  • جاگنا (jagna) — to wake up
  • زندہ رہنا (zinda rehna) — to live
  • مرنا (marna) — to die
  • آنا (aana) — to come
  • جانا (jana) — to go
  • مزہ لینا (maza lena) — to enjoy
  • دوڑنا (dorna) — to run
  • مسکرانا (muskurana) — to smile
  • معاف کرنا (maaf karna) — to forgive
  • معافی مانگنا (maafi mangna) — to apologize
  • کھانسنا (khansna) — to cough
  • گرنا (girna) — to fall
  • اٹھنا (uthna) — to get up
  • پڑھانا (parhana) — to teach
  • دبانا (dabana) — to press
  • مارنا (marna) — to beat
  • قتل کرنا (qatl karna) — to kill
  • بچانا (bachana) — to save
  • بولنا (bolna) — to speak
  • شور کرنا (shor karna) — to make a noise
  • پوچھنا (poochna) — to ask
  • سوال کرنا (sawal karna) — to question
  • جواب دینا (jawab dena) — to reply
  • داخل ہونا (dakhil hona) — to enter
  • حاصل کرنا (hasil karna) — to get

Example Sentences

  • اس نے بے گناہ لوگوں کو قتل کیا۔

uss nay baygunah logon ko qatl kiya.

He killed innocent people.

  • آپ نے ایک اچھا سوال پوچھا ہے۔

aap nay aik acha sawal pucha hai.

You have asked a good question.

  • آپ میٹنگ میں کب آؤ گے؟

aap meeting mein kab aao gay?

When will you come to the meeting?

  • وہ بہت اچھا پڑھاتا ہے۔

woh bohat acha parhata hai.

He teaches very well.

  • میں آج ہوٹل میں نہیں جاؤں گا۔

mei aaj hotel mein nahi jaon ga.

I will not go to the hotel today.

8. Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed learning about Urdu verbs with us! Are there any verbs we didn’t cover that you still want to know? Let us know in the comments! 

After reading this article carefully, you should have a better understanding of Urdu verbs and how they work. This will allow you to properly use them in sentences for more effective communication. Practice them well and you’re sure to get desired results! 

At UrduPod101.com, we always do our best to ensure that our content is informative, up-to-date, and easy to understand. For this reason, we always look forward to hearing your feedback and other comments so that we can continually improve. Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns you may have—we’ll do our best to help! 

Very Happy Urdu Learning!

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The Pronoun in Urdu: A Comprehensive Guide to Urdu Pronouns

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Learning the must-know pronouns in Urdu is essential because they substitute nouns to avoid unnecessary repetition and increase overall clarity in writing and speaking. As a non-native, being able to correctly use pronouns in Urdu conversations will allow you to sound more natural and reasonable.

In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about this important grammar point. Let’s get started!

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Urdu Table of Contents
  1. What is a Pronoun in Urdu?
  2. Urdu Personal Pronouns
  3. Urdu Demonstrative Pronouns
  4. Urdu Interrogative Pronouns
  5. Urdu Indefinite Pronouns
  6. Urdu Relative Pronouns
  7. A Few Socio-Cultural Restraints
  8. Conclusion

1. What is a Pronoun in Urdu?

A pronoun is a word which can be used instead of a noun. In Urdu, a pronoun is called: اسم ضمیر  (Ism-e-zameer). You may notice that the definition of a pronoun in Urdu, as well as its use, is the same as in English. If you struggle with the construction of Urdu pronouns and their appropriate uses, walk with us through this article and you’ll get a pronoun list in Urdu to get you started.

With this in mind, let’s have a look at the most popular kinds of pronouns in Urdu, starting with the personal pronoun.

2. Urdu Personal Pronouns

Basic Questions

There are two words for Urdu personal pronouns: ذاتی اسم ضمیر (zaati ism-e-zameer) / شخصی اسم ضمیر (shakhsi ism-e-zameer). A pronoun which is used to replace a proper noun, such as a person’s name, tends to be a personal pronoun. To illustrate the proper usage of personal pronouns in Urdu, we’ll discuss them one by one, according to their form in particular.

Initially, personal pronouns can be compartmentalized into three types:

  •  ضمیر متکلم  (zameer mutkalam) — First-person
  • ضمیر حاضر (zameer hazir) — Second-person
  • غائب ضمیر  (zameer ghaib) — Third-person

1. 1st-, 2nd-, 3rd-person singular: I, you, he, she, it

1- 1st-Person

To begin, let’s discuss the واحد متکلم (wahid mutkalam) singular first-person. 

میں (mei) is the word that’s used for the first-person pronoun “I” in Urdu. Contrary to how this pronoun is used in English for both male and female speakers, in Urdu, the verb determines the gender of the pronoun. In order to represent a masculine pronoun, the phrase تا ہوں  (ta hun) is used; to represent a feminine pronoun, the phrase تی ہوں  (ti hun) is used. For example:

میں سکول جاتا ہوں۔

mei school jata hun.

I go to school.

میں کھانا کھاتی ہوں۔

mei khana khati hun.

I eat my meal.

A Woman Pointing towards Herself

In the above sentences, the first one refers to a masculine pronoun case and the second one a feminine pronoun case.

2- 2nd-Person

It’s important to keep in mind that there are two Urdu words for the second-person pronoun: تم (tum) and آپ (aap). Both of these words mean the same thing: “you.” 

The former is used in an informal sense, whereas the latter is used in formal conversations. Being a non-native speaker, it’s recommended that you stick to the latter, as it will bring civility and courtesy to your conversations.

Informal usage

تم کہاں ہو؟

tum kahan ho?

Where are you?

Formal usage

آپ کہاں ہو؟

aap kahan ho?

Where are you?

3- 3rd-Person

Talking about the third-person singular pronoun, Urdu speakers simply use the word وہ (woh). However, as discussed above, the appropriate use of تا ہے (ta hai) and تی ہے (ti hai) will determine the gender of the subject in a sentence. Here are a few examples to explain:

وہ فٹبال کھیلتا ہے۔

woh football khelta hai.

He plays football.

وہ کھانا پکاتی ہے۔

woh khana pakati hai.

She cooks food.

So, just remember that the Urdu pronoun وہ (woh) is used for the second-person pronouns in Urdu, irrespective of their genders. 

2. 1st-, 2nd-, 3rd-person plural: we, they, you

Now that you’ve learned how to use the singular pronouns in Urdu, let’s move onto the plural personal pronouns in Urdu. 

1- 1st-Person

We’ll begin with ہم (hum). There’s a little bit of variation in regard to gender-determining words here in comparison to those for singular personal pronouns. That is to say, instead of تا ہے  (ta hai) and تی ہے (ti hai), the phrases تے ہیں (tay hain) and تی ہیں (ti hain) are used. These establish the gender of the masculine and feminine pronouns respectively. Below are a few examples of pronouns in Urdu to better explain.

ہم اردو بولتے ہیں۔

hum urdu boltay hain.

We speak Urdu.

ہم اردو سیکھتی ہیں۔

hum urdu seekhti hain.

We learn Urdu.

The first sentence informs that the first-person plural pronoun is used for masculine subjects, while the second one speaks of the feminine subjects.

2- 2nd-Person

Similarly, the following two sentences will elaborate on the use of the second-person plural in Urdu.

آپ کتنے بجے ریلوے سٹیشن پر پہنچتے ہیں؟

aap kitnay bajay railway station per pohanchtay hain?

At what time do you reach the railway station?

آپ کون سے ملک میں رہتی ہیں؟

aap kon say mulk mein rehti hain?

In which country do you live?

Once again, the former sentence tells about the masculine gender, and the latter about the feminine gender.

3- 3rd-Person

وہ کرکٹ کھیلتے ہیں۔

who cricket khailtay hain.

They play cricket.

Above is an example of the appropriate use of “they” in Urdu.

3. Object forms: me, us, you, his, her, them

Under certain circumstances, Urdu pronouns are also used in the object form. However, they’re used a little differently than they are in English. Nonetheless, you’ll find below a few examples of how best to use the Urdu object forms. 

1- “Me” and “us” / مجھ سے، ہم سے

انھوں نے یہ کام مجھ سے کروایا۔

unhon nay yeh kam mujh say karwaya.

They forced me to do this job.

 ہم سے قتل نہیں ہوا۔

hum say qatl nahi hua.

The murder has not been done by us.

2- “You” / تم سے

 یہ پیپرتم سے پاس کیوں نہیں ہوا۔

yeh paper tum say pass kyu nahin hua.

Why has this paper not been passed by you?

3- “His,” “her,” “them” / اس سے، ان سے

انھوں نے اس کا پیچھا کیا۔

Unhon nay uss ka peecha kiya.

They chased him.

یہ کپڑے اس نے دھوئے۔

yeh kapray uss nay dhoay.

These clothes were washed by her.

اچھے برتاؤ کی ان سے توقع کی جا سکتی ہے۔

achay bartao ki un say tawaqqo ki ja sakti hai.

Good behavior is expected from them.

It’s worth noting that the positioning of the object case or accusative case in Urdu is not in accordance with English grammar; it varies from sentence to sentence. However, the sense and treatment of these forms are similar to those in English.

4. Urdu possessive pronouns: my, our, your, his, her, their, its

Since the role of possessive pronouns in Urdu can’t be underestimated, let’s have a look at them. The possessive pronoun definition in Urdu isn’t much different from the English definition. Below, we’ll list the possessive cases of Urdu pronouns along with an explanation of the possessive pronoun’s meaning in Urdu.

  • میرا (mera) — my / mine
  • آپ کا (aap ka) — your (formal)
  • تمھارا (tumhara) — your (informal)
  • اس کا (uss ka) — his / her
  • ان کا (un ka) — their
  • اس کا (iss ka) — its

Some Illustrations:

یہ میری کار ہے۔

yeh meri car hai.

This is my car.

آپ کا نام کیا ہے؟

aap ka nam kya hai?

What is your name?

تمھارا گھر کہاں واقع ہے؟

tumhara ghar kahan waqia hai?

Where is your house situated?

احمد اس کا بھائی ہے۔

ahmad uss ka bhai hai.

Ahmad is his brother.

ان کا حوصلہ بلند ہے۔

un ka hosla buland hai.

Their morale is high.

Three Children, Two with a Book in Hand and the Third Pointing towards Them

5. Reflexive forms: myself, himself, themselves

Reflexive pronouns refer to the subject. As the suffixes “-self” or -“selves” emphasize the subject in English, in Urdu the phrase بذات خود  (bazat-e-khud) tends to execute the same function. Following are a few varied forms of Urdu reflexive pronouns, along with some sentences to illustrate how they’re used.

  • میں بذات خود (mei bazat-e-khud) — I / myself
  • ہم  بذات خود (hum bazat-e-khud) — we / ourselves
  • آپ بذات خود (aap bazat-e-khud) — you / yourself
  • وہ بذات خود (woh bazat-e-khud) — he / himself

Sentences:

میں بذات خود یہ کلاس پڑھاتا ہوں۔

mei bazat-e-khud yeh class parhata hun.

I myself teach this class.

ہم بذات خود اس اچھے کام کے لئے چندہ اکٹھا کریں گے۔

hum bazat-khud iss achay kam kay liay chanda ikatha karein gay.

We ourselves will raise the fund for this noble cause.

3. Urdu Demonstrative Pronouns

Introducing Yourself

Demonstrative pronouns point toward a recently replaced noun with respect to time, space, and distance. The following examples will help you understand the functionality and positioning of demonstrative pronouns in Urdu sentences.

1- Singular Case

یہ، وہ (this, that)

یہ میری بہن کی کتاب ہے۔

yeh meri behan ki kitab hai.

This is my sister’s book.

وہ میری بائیک سے ملتی جلتی ہے۔

woh meri bike say milti julti hai.

That bike resembles mine.

2- Plural Case

یہ،وہ (these, those)

یہ اچھے اور آرام دہ جوتے ہیں۔

yeh achay aur aaram deh jootay hain.

These shoes are nice and comfortable.

وہ پہاڑ خوبصورت ہیں۔

woh pahar khubsurat hain.

Those mountains are beautiful.

4. Urdu Interrogative Pronouns

Some Question Words in English

Urdu uses interrogative pronouns the same way English does: they’re used to ask questions. The interrogative pronouns in Urdu can be used in a variety of scenarios and situations. Now, let’s practice how to use these Urdu interrogative pronouns in daily conversations.

  • کیا (kya) — what
  • کون سا (kon sa) — which
  • کون (kon) — who
  • کہاں (kahan) — where
  • کیوں (kyun) — why
  • کب (kab) — when
  •  جسے/جس کو (jisay/jis ko) — whom 
  • جس کا/جن کا (jis ka/jin ka) — whose

Sentences:

آپ ناشتے میں کیا پسند کریں گے؟

aap nashtay mein kya pasand karein gay?

What would you like to have for breakfast?

آپ کون سا کھیل پسند کرتے ہیں؟

aap kon sa khel pasand kartay hain?

Which sport do you like?

وہ لڑکا کون ہے؟

woh larka kon hai?

Who is that boy?

5. Urdu Indefinite Pronouns

An indefinite pronoun is used for something that’s not definite or specific. Below, we’ll tell you about some Urdu indefinite pronouns and how to use them under certain circumstances.

1- Everyone / everybody / everywhere / everything

ہرکوئی، ہرجگہ، ہرچیز وغیرہ

  • ہر کوئی (her koi) — everybody / everyone
  • ہر جگہ (her jagah) — everywhere
  • ہر چیز (her cheez) — everything

Sentence:

میٹنگ میں ہر کوئی موجود ہونا چاہئے۔

meeting mein her koi mojood hona chahiye.

Everybody should be present at the meeting.

2- Someone / somebody / somewhere / something

 کوئی شخص، کسی جگہ، کوئی چیز

  • کوئی شخص (koi shakhs) — someone / somebody
  • کسی جگہ (kisi jagah) — somewhere
  • کوئی چیز (koi cheez) — something

Sentence:

اس کو کسی نے زخمی کیا ہے۔

uss ko kisi nay zakhmi kiya hai.

Somebody has wounded him.

3- No one / nobody / nowhere / nothing

کوئی نہیں، کہیں نہیں، کچھ نہیں

کوئی نہیں (koi nahi) — no one / nobody

کہیں نہیں (kahin nahi) — nowhere

کچھ نہیں (kuch nahi) — nothing

Sentence:

میں نے دستک دی لیکن کوئی بھی دروازہ کھولنے نہیں آیا۔

mei nay dastak di lekin koi bhi darwaza kholnay nahi aya.

I knocked on the door, but nobody opened the door.

4- Anyone / anybody / anywhere / anything

کوئی بھی، کہیں بھی، کچھ بھی

کوئی بھی (koi bhi) — anyone / anybody

کہیں بھی (kahin bhi) — anywhere

کچھ بھی (kuch bhi) — anything

Sentence:

کوئی بھی سوال پوچھ سکتا ہے۔

koi bhi sawal pooch sakta hai.

Anyone may ask the question.

6. Urdu Relative Pronouns

Improve Listening

Relative pronouns relate to a previously introduced relative clause. Basically, there are five relative pronouns in Urdu. For deeper insight into relative pronouns in Urdu, have a look at the following examples.

  • جو / جس نے (jo / jis nay) — which / that
  • جس نے (jis nay) — who
  • جسے (jisy) — whom
  • جس کا (jis ka) — whose

Sentences:

میں نے جو کار خریدی وہ نیلی تھی۔

mei nay jo car kharedi woh neeli thi.

The car that I bought was blue.

جس شخص نے مجھے خط لکھا وہ میرا دوست ہے۔

jis shakhs nay mujhe khat likha woh mera dost hai.

The person who wrote me the letter is my friend.

جس شخص کو میں نے کال کی وہ میرا شاگرد تھا۔

jis shakhs ko mei nay call ki woh mera shagird tha.

The person whom I called was my student. 

یہ وہ زمین ہے جو کہ تم نے نہیں خریدی۔

yeh woh zameen hai jo kay tum nay nahi khareedi.

This is the land which you did not purchase.

یہ وہ پہلوان ہے جس کی کِک مشہور ہے۔

Yeh woh pehlwan hai jis ki kick mash-hoor hai.

This is the wrestler whose kick is famous.

7. A Few Socio-Cultural Restraints

The Pakistan Flag

When cruising about the territory of Pakistan, you should use the second-person pronoun with a great deal of care. First, always try to use the formal version, i.e. آپ (aap) instead of the informal تم (tum). Secondly, if you intend to have a conversation with a woman, never ever try to take the liberty of being informal. This has some objectionable cultural connotations and can have serious repercussions.

8. Conclusion

We hope that you had a simple but fruitful learning experience today. Urdu pronouns are essential in learning the language, so be sure to keep working at it! 

This and many other lessons at UrduPod101.com will not only enhance your knowledge of Urdu language pronouns, but also your knowledge about the correct use of Urdu nouns, Urdu adjectives, and many other aspects of the language.

Having learned the most common pronouns in Urdu, it’s now up to you to practice these Urdu pronouns. Once you’re well-versed in this field, you’ll see how much more convenient conversing in Urdu will be!

Do you feel that all the questions you had on Urdu pronouns have been covered? Please let us know in the comments, and we’ll do our best to answer any questions you may still have. 
Very Happy Urdu Learning!

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Urdu Sentence Structure & Word Order: An Ultimate Companion

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Can you imagine a car driving over long distances without having all of its crucial components in place? Of course not! In a similar way, you can never expect to master a language unless and until you achieve excellence in all major aspects of that language.

Like in all other languages, it’s necessitous to learn about Urdu sentence structure and the word order in Urdu grammar, because it will help you construct and comprehend Urdu sentences. While this may sound like a naïve matter, its significance can’t be undermined. This is the starting point for building simple Urdu sentences, and the topic culminates, over time, in the formulation of complex Urdu sentences.

In this article, we’ll elaborate on everything you need to learn about word order in the Urdu language. Whether you’re a new Urdu learner, or you’ve been learning Urdu for quite a while, you’ll likely find something useful here to enhance your language skills.

Let’s begin.

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Urdu Table of Contents
  1. The Basic Sentence Structure in Urdu
  2. Basic Word Order in Urdu Sentences
  3. Building Complex Sentences in Urdu
  4. Forming Questions in Urdu
  5. Making Negative Sentences
  6. Practice Session
  7. Conclusion

1. The Basic Sentence Structure in Urdu

Improve Pronunciation

Unlike most languages, such as English, Urdu does not follow the SVO (Subject + Verb + Object) order in the construction of sentences. Instead, Urdu word order follows the SOV (Subject + Object + Verb) sequence. Below is an explanation of Urdu syntactic formation.  

1- SOV

Subject + Object + Verb is the standard syntactic word order in the Urdu language. To illustrate this fact, let’s discuss the sentence below.

وہ فٹبال کھیلتا ہے۔

V    O   S

As Urdu is written from right to left, you’ll read it likewise to identify the SOV formation. For additional clarity, we’ve included the transliteration of the same sentence, along with the proper word-place tagging.

woh football khelta hai.

S     O      V

“He plays football.”

S  V      O

2- The Subject (فاعل کی اہمیت)

فاعل (fael) is the exact translation of “subject” in Urdu. If you intend to become a proficient Urdu learner and speaker, remember to never omit the subject from sentences. Always using the subject will keep the matter clear, thus helping you and your interlocutor avoid miscommunication. 

Have a look at the following sentences:

  • وہ کار چلاتا ہے۔

woh car chalata hai.

“He drives the car.”

  • کار چلاتا ہے۔

car chalata hai.

“Drives the car.”

The former sentence has a subject, which is وہ (woh), and creates a complete sentence. On the other hand, the deletion of the subject in the second sentence makes the situation unclear. It also reduces the sentence to the status of a phrase, for it doesn’t convey a complete thought.

2. Basic Word Order in Urdu Sentences

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Having discussed the basic syntactic features of an Urdu sentence, let’s take a closer look at each of the components within a sentence.

1- SOV (فاعل، مفعول، فعل)

فاعل (fael), فعل (fail), and مفعول (mafool) are the most appropriate words in Urdu for “subject,” “verb,” and “object,” respectively. فاعل – مفعول – فعل (Subject + Object + Verb), as discussed earlier, is the most desirable word order in Urdu sentences.

2- Subject-Verb Agreement in the Urdu Language

Two People Shaking Hands in Agreement

فعل (fail), or the “verb,” is another important component of an Urdu sentence. Urdu verbs are always preceded by the subject and object in grammatically correct sentences. Like English sentences, the subject in Urdu will determine the form of the verb. Let’s compare English and Urdu sentences in terms of their word order with the help of the following example.

“He reads a book.”

S  V  O

If we want to translate this sentence into Urdu, we’ll have to change the word order to SOV. The Urdu version of this sentence will be:

وہ ایک کتاب پڑھتا ہے۔

woh aik kitaab parhta hai.

S    O        V

3- Urdu Verb Conjugation

As a curious Urdu learner, you surely want to know more about verb conjugation, which allows you to properly use verbs in any situation. The most important thing to remember is that Urdu verbs conjugate according to the person, number, gender, and so on of the subject. 

If you want to learn more about conjugation, UrduPod101 has prepared a detailed article regarding Urdu verb conjugation. The article will answer all of your questions about conjugation in Urdu, and provide you with appropriate examples.

3. Building Complex Sentences in Urdu

A Complex Railroad Track

So far, we’ve learned how to properly arrange the basic components of an Urdu sentence. Now, it’s time to proceed further and add more linguistic features to the sentence. 

1- Placing Pronouns in Urdu Sentences

Pronouns are useful elements in the formation of Urdu sentences. But because the gender of Urdu pronouns causes verbs to conjugate, you’ll have to be careful when using them.

When dealing with subject pronouns, note that they don’t change their position in the sentence:

  • وہ سکول جاتا ہے۔

woh school jata hai.

“He goes to school.”

  • ہم سکول جاتے ہیں۔

hum school jatay hain.

“We go to school.”

Come what may, the word order in Urdu will always remain the same in sentences. That is to say, no matter what kind of pronouns you’re using, the Urdu word order will not change. 

For deeper insight into Urdu pronouns, you can visit our comprehensive guide to Urdu pronouns. 

2- Placing Adjectives in Urdu Sentences

Adjectives can make a sentence pithy and charming by modifying the nouns in that sentence. Let’s learn how and where to place them in Urdu sentences.

Adjectives are always placed before nouns in Urdu sentences.

  • میٹھا آم

meetha aam

“Sweet mango”

  • کڑوی گولی

karwi goli

“Bitter pill”

  • وہ ایک نیلی شرٹ پہنتا ہے۔

woh aik neeli shirt pehanta hai.

“He wears a blue shirt.”

To learn more about the placement of adjectives in Urdu sentences, go through our guide to using Urdu adjectives at UrduPod101.com.

3- Placing Adverbs in Urdu Sentences

In the Urdu language, adverbs modify the meaning of verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, and impart clarity to a sentence. Let’s discuss these cases one by one.

  • میں اچھا کام کرتا ہوں۔

mein acha kaam karta hun.

“I work well.”

  • میں بہت اچھا کام کرتا ہوں۔

mein bohat acha kaam karta hun.

“I work very well.”

  • وہ بہت میٹھا آم کھاتا ہے۔

woh bohat meetha aam khata hai.

“He eats very sweet mango.”

In the first sentence, اچھا (acha) modifies the verb. In the second, بہت (bohat) modifies another adverb. In the third, بہت (bohat) modifies an adjective. You must have noticed that in each sentence, the adverbs are always placed before the verb, adjective, or adverb.

If you still want to dig deeper into adverbs in the Urdu language, our article on Urdu adverbs is a must-read.

4- Placing Prepositions in Urdu Sentences

Urdu prepositions tend to express a relationship between a noun or pronoun and another feature of a sentence. Generally, the prepositions answer questions like “When?” “Where?” and “How?” Let’s consider a few examples:

  • وہ شام کے بعد گھر جاتا ہے۔

woh shaam kay baad ghar jata hai.

“He goes home after evening.” 

  • گائے کھیت میں چر رہی ہے۔

gaye khet mein char rahi hai.

“The cow is grazing in the field.” 

  • وہ گھر ٹیکسی سے جاتا ہے۔

woh ghar taxi say jata hai.

“He goes home by taxi.” 

  • موٹا لڑکا باغ میں تیزی سے چل رہا تھا۔

Mota larrka bagh mei tezi say chal raha tha.

“The fat boy was briskly walking in the garden.” 

  • وہ امتحان میں بے احتیاطی سے لکھتی جارہی تھی۔

Woh imtehan mei be ihtiati say likhti jaa rahi thi.

“She was writing carelessly in the examination.”

In the sentences above, the Urdu prepositions کے بعد (ky baad), میں (mei), and سے (say) are placed between the object and the verb. This is how you use prepositions in terms of Urdu word order.

4. Forming Questions in Urdu

An Outline of a Head Drawn on a Blackboard and Filled with Question Marks

کیا (kia), کیوں (kiun), کب (kab), کہاں (kahan), and کیسے (kaisay) are the usual words to start questions in the Urdu language. In the English language, they can be translated as “what,” “why,” “when,” “where,” and “how,” respectively. 

The Urdu word order remains the same when these words are introduced to a sentence. However, the question word will usually appear either at the beginning of the sentence or after the subject.  

Here are some examples:

  • کیا وہ سکول جاتاہے؟

kia woh school jata hai?

“Does he go to school?” 

  • وہ سکول کیوں جاتا ہے؟

woh school kiun jata hai?

“Why does he go to school?” 

  • وہ کب سکول جاتا ہے؟

woh kab school jata hai?

“When does he go to school?”

  • وہ کہاں سکول جاتا ہے؟

woh kahan school jata hai?

“Where does he go to school?” 

  • وہ کیسے سکول جاتا ہے؟

woh kaisay school jata hai?

“How does he go to school?”

5. Making Negative Sentences 

A Young Asian Woman Making an X with Her Arms to Signify

Negative sentences are a large part of speech and conversation in daily life, so we’re going to cover how to form this type of sentence in Urdu. Words of negation are often placed between the object and the verb, while the rest of the syntactic formation remains the same. نہیں (nahi) and نہ (nah) are the main words of negation in the Urdu language.

Let’s see how these words affect sentence formation and the Urdu word order:

  • وہ سکول نہیں جاتا ہے۔

woh school nahi jata hai.

“He does not go to school.” 

  • وہ سکول نہیں گیا۔

woh school nahi gaya.

“He did not go to school.” 

  • وہ سکول نہیں جائے گا۔

woh school nahi jaye ga.

“He will not go to school.”

In all three sentences, you can see that the word نہیں (nahi) has been added between the object and the verb to highlight the negation.

Now let’s have a look at some sentences in which the word نہ (nah) is used:

  • تم سکول نہ جاؤ۔

tum school nah jao.

“Do not go to school.” 

  • تم پانی نہ لاؤ۔

tum pani nah lao.

“Do not bring water.”

While translating these two sentences into English, the subjects of both sentences have been omitted. Nonetheless, as discussed earlier, we don’t recommend omitting the subject in Urdu sentences; they must always be used in their proper places.

6. Practice Session

Jumbled Words Placed Haphazardly

Now it’s time to be reminiscent of your childhood school memories, for you’re about to enter a practice session. You’ll be asked to rearrange some jumbled words to make a proper meaningful sentence. (Don’t worry, we won’t be grading you on this!) 

Here are the sentences you need to unscramble:

  • کھانا وہ کھاتا ہے نہیں

khana woh khata hai nahi

  • تم جاتے ہو ہوٹل کیسے

tum jatay ho hotel kaisay 

  • پارک گئے میں ہم

park gaye mei hum 

  • ہو جانتے تم مجھے

ho jantay tum mujhay 

  • دوبارہ کیا گے ہم ملیں

dobara kia gay hum milain

Do you need some extra vocabulary to help? UrduPod101 has you covered with our vocabulary list section and dictionary

1- Key to the Test

  • وہ کھانا نہیں کھاتا ہے۔

woh khana nahi khata hai.

“He does not eat food.”

  • تم ہوٹل کیسے جاتے ہو؟

tum hotel kaisay jatay ho?

“How do you go to the hotel?”

  • ہم پارک میں گئے۔

hum park mei gaye.

“We went to the park.”

  • تم مجھے جانتے ہو۔

tum mujhay jantay ho.

“You know me.”

  • کیا ہم دوبارہ ملیں گے۔

kia hum dobara milain gay.

“Will we meet again?”

7. Conclusion

In this article, you’ve learned the art of Urdu sentence building by keeping the basic structure of Urdu sentences in its accurate form. This lesson has helped you in understanding sentence structure in Urdu as it relates to various parts of speech.

Did we skip anything that you wanted to learn about word order in Urdu? Let us know in the comments section, and we’ll do our best to answer your questions! 

Don’t forget to visit and explore UrduPod101.com. Our website is a repository of plentiful resources about the Urdu language. We always look forward to helping you on your language-learning journey.

Very Happy Urdu Learning!

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The Ultimate Guide to Urdu Time: How to Tell Time in Urdu

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It’s a universally acknowledged truth that time and tide wait for none. Yes, if you want to enjoy a good productive stay in an Urdu-speaking country, knowing how to effectively communicate time will be your vantage point. In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about Urdu time so you can be prepared and on time, all the time!

P.S.: Once you’ve gotten the hang of telling the time in Urdu, be sure to check out our vocabulary list Talking about Days for more useful words and phrases.

A Collection of Clocks Showing Different Times
Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Time Phrases in Urdu Table of Contents
  1. Why is it Important to Study How to Tell the Time in Urdu?
  2. How to Ask the Time in Urdu
  3. The Hours in Urdu
  4. Understanding How to Use Minutes in Urdu
  5. General Time Reference of the Day
  6. Adverbs of Time in Urdu
  7. Time Proverbs and Sayings
  8. Conclusion

1. Why is it Important to Study How to Tell the Time in Urdu?

Time

Depending on your personal needs or inclinations, your reasons for learning Urdu may differ. But the essentiality of learning the art of asking or telling the time correctly remains the same. Whether you want to set up a business appointment or need to coordinate with someone about a recreational tour, you’ll always have to ask or tell the time. Here, in this article, we’ll guide you through how to ask/tell the time in Urdu immaculately and with ease. 

2. How to Ask the Time in Urdu

Multitasking Businessman Holding Clock, Laptop, Briefcase, etc.

While staying in Pakistan, it’s quite normal to need to ask the time from someone. If you haven’t learned how to ask the time in Urdu, below are a few simple sentences which will enable you to easily ask the time from someone in Urdu.

  • وقت کیا ہوا ہے؟

waqt kia hua hai?

What time is it?

  • آپ کی گھڑی پر کیا بجا ہے؟

aap ki gharri per kia baja hai?

What is the time on your watch?

  •  کیا آپ مجھے وقت بتا سکتے ہیں؟

kia aap mujhay waqt bata saktay hain?

Could you please tell me the time?

1- Cultural Tip about the Usage of “You” in Urdu

Always remember that in Urdu, there are two words used for the second person pronoun “you.” The two words are تم (tum) and آپ (aap). Both of them mean the same thing: “you.” People use the first one in an informal sense, whereas they use the second one in formal conversations. We suggest that you use the second word, as it sounds more polite and courteous compared to the first word.

2- A Must-Know List about Periods of Time in Urdu

Before proceeding further, boost your knowledge with a practical and useful list of must-know Urdu words about periods of time! 

  • ایک سیکنڈ

ek second

One second

  • ایک منٹ

ek minute

One minute

  • ایک گھنٹہ

ek ghanta

One hour

  • ایک دن

ek din

One day

  • ایک ہفتہ

ek hafta

One week

  • ایک مہینہ

ek mahina

One month

  • ایک سال

ek saal

One year

  • ایک دہائی

ek dihai

One decade

  • ایک صدی

ek saddi

One century

3. The Hours in Urdu

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1- Understanding the Use of Hours in Urdu:

You can’t afford to wait until the eleventh hour to learn the exact word for “hour” in Urdu, which is گھنٹہ (Ghanta). If you look at the clock, you can easily see that it contains twelve hours. Without sound knowledge about these hours and their corresponding Urdu numbers, you really can’t move forward with learning how to ask or give the time in Urdu.

2- گھنٹہ (ghanta) — “hour”

In Pakistan, the usual format people use for telling the time is the twelve-hour format. Thus, you need to familiarize yourself with the idea of a.m. and p.m. in Urdu. 

For the first twelve hours—from twelve o’clock midnight to twelve at noon—the words قبل دوپہر (qabal dopehar) or صبح (subah) are used. These equate with the term a.m. in Urdu. 

The exact word synonymous with p.m. in Urdu is بعد دوپہر (baad dopehar). You can’t use a single word like subah for this. 

If you want to give a time reference instead, you’ll have to use words like “afternoon,” “evening,” or “night” accordingly. We’ll discuss these time references later on in this article.

3- How to properly use hours in Urdu

First, let’s learn how to say “o’clock” in Urdu. The Urdu word بجے (bajay) is the nearest translation available for this word. You’ll see later in this article how significant learning about, and using, “o’clock” in Urdu is. 

Below is a list which will introduce you to telling the time in Urdu vocabulary efficiently. 

ایک بجے     (aik bajay)         One o’clock

دو بجے       (dou bajay)        Two o’clock      

تین بجے      (teen bajay)      Three o’clock

چار بجے     (char bajay)       Four o’clock

پانچ نجے    (panch bajay)    Five o’clock

چھ بجے      (chay bajay)       Six o’clock

سات بجے    (saat bajay)        Seven o’clock

آٹھ بجے      (aath bajay)        Eight o’clock

نو بجے      (nou bajay)         Nine o’clock

دس بجے    (das bajay)          Ten o’clock

گیارہ بجے  (gayarah bajay)   Eleven o’clock

بارہ بجے   (barah bajay)       Twelve o’clock

After having a look at the twelve hours in Urdu, let’s learn a few valuable sentences to see how they’re used.

  •  اس وقت نو بجے ہیں۔

iss waqt nou bajay hain.

It is nine o’clock right now.

  •   کرکٹ میچ صبح دس بجے شروع ہو گا۔

 cricket match subah das bajay shuru ho ga.

The cricket match will start at ten o’clock in the morning.

A Business Professional Looking at the Wristwatch

 

4. Understanding How to Use Minutes in Urdu

1- منٹ (minute) — “minute”

In the hunt for the translation of the English word “minute” in Urdu, you require no extra effort—the pronunciation of the word is exactly the same as in English. To master telling the time in Urdu using minutes, you must also achieve proficiency in Urdu numbers as suggested earlier.

One of the simplest ways of telling the time in Urdu is to say the numbers you see on a clock or watch. Here are some examples:

A Digital Clock Displaying the Time of 5 A.M.

3:18

تین بج کر اٹھارہ منٹ    (teen baj kar athara minute)          Three eighteen

12:45

بارہ بج کر پنتالیس منٹ  (barah baj kar pantalees minute)   Twelve forty-five

03:28

تین بج کر اٹھائیس منٹ  (teen baj kar athaees minute)        Three twenty-eight 

Sentence:

لیکچر دس بج کر تیس منٹ پر شروع ہو گا۔

lecture das baj kar tees minute per shiru ho ga.

The lecture will start at ten-thirty.

2- Hours Divided into Minutes

Now let’s expand our knowledge and concentrate on the division of hours into minutes before proceeding further. A very basic division of the clock reading is given below. It will also introduce you to the art of how to read time in Urdu.

  • سوا (sawa) Quarter past
  • ساڑھے (sarrhay) Half past
  • پونے (ponay) Quarter to

Here are some sentences to show you how these words are actually used:

  • میٹنگ سوا ایک بجے شروع ہو گی۔

meeting sawa aik bajay shuru ho gi.

The meeting will start at a quarter past one.

  • لنچ ساڑھے تین بجے دیا جائے گا۔

lunch sarrhay teen bajay diya jaye ga.

The lunch will be served at half past three.

  • وہ پونے دو بجے روانہ ہوں گے۔

woh ponay dou bajay rawana hon gay.

They will leave at a quarter to two.

5. General Time Reference of the Day

Basic Questions

Now that you have a better idea of how to say the time in Urdu and answer questions like “What time is it there?” in Urdu, we’ll acquaint you with some words and phrases about the general time of day. 

  •          وقت (waqt) — Time
  •          صبح (subah) — Morning
  •          دوپہر (dopehar) — Noon
  •          سہ پہر (seh pehar) — Afternoon
  •          شام (shaam) — Evening
  •          رات (raat) — Night
  •          صبح سویرے (subah saweray) — Early morning
  •          طلوع آفتاب (tuloo-e-aaftaab) — Sunrise
  •           ( آدھا دن (نصف النہار) (aadha din [nisaf-un-nihaar]) — Midday
  •          غروب آفتاب (ghuroob-e-aaftaab) — Sunset
  •          آدھی رات (adhi raat) — Midnight

Sentence:

  • سورج مشرق سے نکلتا ہے اور مغرب میں غروب ہوتا ہے۔

suraj mashriq say nikalta hai aur maghrib mei gharoob hota hai.

The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

6. Adverbs of Time in Urdu

To talk about time more fluently, you need to know some adverbs about time in Urdu. Adverbs in Urdu, like those in English, modify the meaning of a verb, adjective, or another adverb. 

The following list introduces a handy list of adverbs that will always be helpful when asking or telling time in Urdu. Knowing these words will also improve your skills at reading time in Urdu .

  •          بالکل ابھی (bilkul abhi) — Right now
  •          حال ہی میں (haal hi mein) — Recently
  •          اسی دوران (issi doraan) — In the meanwhile
  •          پہلے (pehlay) — Before
  •          بعد میں (baad mei) — After
  •          جلد ہی (jald he) — Soon
  •          تقریباً (taqreeban) — Almost
  •          تھوڑی دیر میں (thori der mein) — In a little while
  •          لمبے عرصے کے لئے (lambay arsay kay liye) — For a long time
  •          کسی بھی وقت (kisi bhi waqt) — Anytime
  •          جلد از جلد (jald az jald) — As soon as possible

Sentence:

  • اسی دوران اس نے کہا کہ وہ کسی بھی وقت آ سکتے ہیں۔

issi doraan uss nay kaha kay woh kisi bhi waqt aa saktay hain.

In the meanwhile, he said that they could come anytime.

A Signpost Having Some Arrows about Adverbs

Is there an adverb of time in Urdu that we missed? Let us know in the comments, and we’ll do our best to help! 

7. Time Proverbs and Sayings

To emphasize the significance of time, myriads of proverbs are frequently used in every culture. Now, we’ll discuss a few widely used Urdu proverbs in this category. The importance of time in Urdu-speaking countries is clearly shown through these proverbs, sayings, and quotes about time in Urdu. Let’s take a look! 

A Wallet Having Some Currency In It Placed on a Clock
  • وقت ایک دولت ہے۔

waqt aik dolat hai.

Time is money.

  • وقت سب سے بڑا مرہم ہے۔

waqt sab say bara marham hai.

Time heals all wounds.

  • وقت کسی کا انتظار نہیں کرتا۔

waqt kisi ka intizaar nahi kerta.

Time and tide wait for none.

  • وقت پر ایک ٹانکا نو کا کام کر دیتا ہے۔

waqt per aik tanka nau ka kam kar deta hai.

A stitch in time saves nine.

8. Conclusion

UrduPod101.com has made an effort to introduce you to everything you should know about time in Urdu. By now, you should have a clearer idea of how to tell time in Urdu using a variety of words and methods. 

Procrastination is the mother of all disasters. You can definitely avoid the disaster by following the videos and lessons about how to tell the time in Urdu on UrduPod101.com. Be the pilot of your learning journey, and stand distinguished from the others by consulting our sources.

Have all of your questions regarding the time in Urdu been addressed here? What’s your satisfaction level after going through this article? Don’t forget to leave your feedback, as it will let us prioritize your needs.

Very Happy Urdu Learning!

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The Ultimate Guide to Asking and Giving Directions in Urdu

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“If you board the wrong train, it is no use running along the corridor in the other direction.”

To board the right train and to save the trouble of running in the other direction, you must know how to ask and give directions in Urdu while living or traveling across the Urdu-speaking lands. Nevertheless, the process of learning Urdu directions will require some effort on your part. Here, we’ll introduce you to a few key words, phrases, and sentences to help empower you as you learn Urdu directions.


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Table of Contents
  1. Why is it Important to Study Giving and Asking for Directions?
  2. Learning the Four Cardinal Directions in Urdu
  3. The Intercardinal Directions in Urdu
  4. How to Read a Map in Urdu
  5. Indispensable Directional and Positional Words
  6. Some Useful Expressions for Discussing the Road Map
  7. How to Use Landmarks for Directional Purposes
  8. Some Phrases You Must Know for Asking and Giving Directions in Urdu
  9. Conclusion


1. Why is it Important to Study Giving and Asking for Directions?

Basic Questions

Directions guide you on how to travel or even transport something from one place to another. Don’t undermine the importance of learning the proper use of direction in the Urdu language. 

It could be the reason you’re able to lead and succeed in Pakistan or any other Urdu-speaking country. When roaming about the streets of such a country, asking or giving directions in Urdu could be the most significant thing you do.

Directions on a Wind Compass

2. Learning the Four Cardinal Directions in Urdu

If you’re looking for the equivalents of the cardinal directions in Urdu, you’re in the right place. It’s the best place to begin because it will also help you read the map in Urdu. 

مشرق (mashriq) — East

Let’s start with the east direction in Urdu. This first cardinal direction, east, is translated as مشرق (mashriq) in Urdu. Whenever you need to consult a map or ask/tell someone directions in Urdu, you may come across this word frequently.

Let’s say someone is giving you directions to their house. They may say:

  •  میرا گھر آپ کے ہوٹل کے مشرق میں واقع ہے۔

mera ghar aap kay hotel kay mashriq mein waqia hai.

My house is situated to the east of your hotel.

To get a detailed guideline on how to check-in at a hotel in Urdu, please consult the highlighted hyperlink.

مغرب (maghrib) — West

Now for west in Urdu. The second cardinal direction, west, is translated as مغرب (‘maghrib’) in Urdu. As another cardinal direction, it’s used frequently in day-to-day language.

Below is a sentence which may help you understand how to use the word “west” in Urdu properly.

  • سورج مغرب میں غروب ہوتا ہے.

  suraj maghrib mein gharoob hota hai.

  The sun sets in the west. 

شمال (shumal) — North

North in Urdu is the third cardinal direction we’ll cover. شمال (‘shumal’) is the exact translation of this direction in Urdu.

Here’s an example of how you can use it in a sentence: 

  •  کیا آپ اس وقت کھیل کے میدان کے شمال میں کھڑے ہیں؟

  kia aap is waqt khel kay maidan kay shumal mein kharay hain?

  Are you standing in the north of the playground? 

جنوب (junoob) — South

South is the fourth cardinal direction we’ll cover; it can literally be translated as جنوب (‘junoob’) in Urdu.

Below is a sentence using south in Urdu.

  •  میرا گھر آپ کے ہوٹل کے جنوب میں واقع ہے۔

  mera ghar aap kay hotel kay junoob mein waqia hai.

  My house is situated to the south of your hotel.

A Compass

3. The Intercardinal Directions in Urdu

Directions

Besides the four cardinal directions, there are also intercardinal directions. These remaining compass directions in Urdu are also known as ordinal or intermediate directions. Knowing these is a big plus if you intend to learn directions in Urdu for the sake of applying them in your everyday life. Find below a list of four intercardinal directions in Urdu. Once you’ve learned these, be sure to use them when asking or giving directions in Urdu.

  • شمال مشرق (shumal mashriq) — Northeast
  • جنوب مشرق (junoob mashriq) — Southeast
  • جنوب مغرب (junoob maghrib) — Southwest
  • شمال مغرب (shumal maghrib) — Northwest
People Looking at a Map and Taking Notes

4. How to Read a Map in Urdu

Giving or asking for directions in Urdu on the street is quite different from using a map in Urdu. However, after learning cardinal and intercardinal directions in Urdu, you’re well-prepared to read a map in Urdu. The above-mentioned Urdu words and phrases equip you with the rudimentary list of directions you need to use the map effectively. 

Following are a few simple sentences that will help you understand the complicated process of map-reading in Urdu.

  لاہور ہاکستان کے شمال مغرب میں واقع ہے۔

 Lahore Pakistan kay shumal maghrib mein waqia hai.

 Lahore is situated to the northwest of Pakistan.

  چین پاکستان کے شمال مشرق میں واقع ہے۔

 Cheen Pakistan kay shumal mashriq mein waqia hai.

 China is located to the northeast of Pakistan.

 سنگا پور جنوب مشرقی ایشیائی ممالک میں سے ایک ہے۔

 singapore junoob mashriqi aishiayi mumalik mein say aik hai.

 Singapore is one of the southeastern Asian countries.

جنوب مغربی ایشیاء میں پندرہ ممالک شامل ہیں۔

 junoob maghribi asia mein pandrah mumalik shamil hain.

 Southwest Asia includes fifteen countries.

5. Indispensable Directional and Positional Words 

Direction tells you where to go, and position identifies where something is. As an Urdu learner, you’ll find that these two concepts complement each other while learning directions in Urdu. By knowing words and phrases of each category, you’ll be able to give and ask directions in Urdu and tell people where something is located. Let’s start discussing a helpful list of such words below.

The following words and sentences will introduce you to the usage of directional and positional vocabulary.

اوپر (opar) — Above

 میں نے اپنے ہاتھ کندھوں سے اوپر اٹھائے۔

 mei nay apnay hath kandhon say opar uthaye.

 I raised my hands above my shoulders.

نیچے (neechay) — Below

  وہ میرے فلیٹ کے نیچے کھڑا تھا۔

 woh meray flat kay neechay khara tha.

 He stood below my flat.

دائیں (daein) — Right

   اس نے اپنی دائیں طرف دریا دیکھا۔

 uss nay apni daein taraf darya daikha.

 He looked to his right side.

بائیں (baein) — Left

 بائیں طرف مڑیں اور دوڑنا شروع کر دیں۔

 baein taraf murein aur dorna shuru ker dein.

 Turn to the left and start running.

سامنے (samnay) — Front

وہ میرے سامنے بیٹھی ہے۔

 woh meray samnay baithi hai.

 She is sitting in front of me.

پیچھے (peechay) — Back

 اس نے سینما کے پیچھے میرا انتظار کیا۔

 us nay cinema kay peechay mera intizar kia.

 He waited for me in the back of the cinema.

کونا (kona) — Corner

 اس کی دوکان گلی کےکونے پر ہے۔

us ki dokan gali kay konay per hai.

His shop lies at the corner of the street.

Man and Woman Looking at Map

6. Some Useful Expressions for Discussing the Road Map

As an efficient Urdu learner, giving directions in Urdu to someone is a test of your Urdu language skills. Mastering some commonly used phrases like not only makes you more confident, but also places you at a great vantage point. Let’s use these words and phrases in full sentences now.  

میں سڑک کے پار ہوں۔

 mei sarak kay par hun.

 I am across the road.

 میں چوک پر ہوں۔

 mei chowk per hun.

 I am on the square.

آپ کے ساتھ کون کھڑا ہے؟

 aap kay sath kon khara hai?

 Who is sitting beside you?

سیدھے چلتے جائیں پھر بائیں مڑیں۔

 seedhay chaltay jain  phir baein murein.

 Keep going straight then turn left.

 سیڑھیاں اتر کر دائیں مڑیں۔

 seerhian utar kar daein murein.

 Go downstairs and turn right.

Direction Sign along Path

7. How to Use Landmarks for Directional Purposes

If you want to know the exact translation of the word “where” in Urdu, it’s کہاں (kahan). You may come across a common question widely used by the Urdu-speaking community: آپ کہاں ہو؟ . See the translation of this question below and use it as often as you can to improve your Urdu skills.

 آپ کہاں ہو؟

 aap kahan ho?

 Where are you?

Here are a couple possible answers to the question:

میں شہر میں ہوں۔

mei shehar mein hun.

I am in the city.

میں سڑک پر چل رہاہوں۔

mei sarak par chal raha hun.

I am walking on the road.

8. Some Phrases You Must Know for Asking and Giving Directions in Urdu

Asking Directions

So far, we’ve introduced you to several words and phrases for asking and giving directions in Urdu. To proceed further, we would like to acquaint you with some ways to get a person’s attention and courteous phrases to end the conversation with once you’ve gotten directions.

1- Beginning the Conversation

Here’s one common sentence in Urdu to get someone’s attention so you can ask for directions in Urdu.

 معاف کیجئے گا، کیا میں پوچھ سکتا ہوں کہ۔۔۔

 maaf kijiye ga, kia mei pooch sakta hun ky…

 Excuse me, may I ask that…

Now you may add any question you want to ask. An example question is given below.

 یہاں سے ریلوے سٹیشن کتنی دور ہے؟

 yahan say railway station kitni dur hai?

 How far is the railway station from here?

2- Courteous Close

It’s always desirable to conclude your conversation with courtesy. Here’s a common way to politely end the conversation:

 آپ کی مدد کا شکریہ

 aap ki madad ka shukria.

 Thank you for your help.

https://wordlist.languagepod101.com/wordlist/media/25761&v=medium.jpg (person facing empty chairs)

9. Conclusion

Being directionless in a strange land could be a nightmare for anyone. However, you need not worry, for UrduPod101.com has prepared a series of articles and lectures to help you avoid any such untoward situation in real life. Don’t forget to consult this rich source of information while learning the Urdu language. After enough practice and diligence, you’ll be able to confidently visit any Urdu-speaking country.

Are you well-prepared to find your way around using the above-given directional words, phrases, and sentences? Feel free to give us your feedback as it will help us improve by addressing your concerns about learning the Urdu language, without compromising the fun factor.   

Very Happy Urdu Learning!

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