Urdu is the national language of Pakistan and the state language of the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir, Telangana, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. More than 300 million people in Pakistan and India speak Urdu. Urdu is a language that combines Persian, Arabic, Turkish, English and Sanskrit terms. Learning to say common words and phrases in Urdu can help you communicate with millions of people.
Step
Method 1 of 8: Common Words and Phrases
Step 1. Know what to say when you greet or meet someone:
- Hello: Assalaam-o-Alaikum (if you are the first to say Hello)
- Hello: Wa'alaikum Salaam (reply to Assalaam-o-Alaikum)
- How are you?: Kya haal hey ?
- Who are you?: Aap kaon hain ?
- I don't know: Playing bullshit
- What's your name?: What are you naam kya hi?"
- My name is Adam: Mera naam Adam hi
- My name is Sophia: Mera naam Sophia hi
- Bye bye: Allah hafez or Khuda hafez
- Be careful: Fee aman'nillah or Apna khiyal rakhna
- Welcome: Khush'aamdid
- Thank you: Shukriya
- Thank you very much: Boht Boht Shukriya or Barhi mehrbani or Barhiaa mehrbani
- I understand you: Me samajh giya
- Alright!: Jee or Jee Haan or Theek hi! or Sahih! or Acha!
- Good morning: Subb bakhair
- Good night: Shabb bakhair
- Where do you live?: Aap rehtay kidhar hain? or Aap kahan rehtay hain?
- I'm from London: Me London say hoo or Me London ka hoo
- Where are you?: Aap Kahaan ho
- Where is the hospital (or other place)?: Hospital Kahaan hai
Method 2 of 8: Family
Step 1. Recognize people using these common words in almost any situation:
- Human: Insaan
- Male: Mard
- Woman: Orat
- People: Logg or Avaam or Khalqat
- Friends: Dost or Yaar (friends)
- Boy (not yet a teenager): Larhka
- Daughter (not yet teenager): Larhkee
- Daughter (of someone): Beti
- Boy (from someone): Beta
- Mother: Ammi, Mother (official): Walida
- Father: Abba or Abbu or Baba, Father (official): Waalid
- Wife: Bivee or Zaoja
- Husband: Shaohar or Miaan
- Brother: Bhai (official and unofficial) or Bhaiya (unofficial)
- Sisters: Behn (official) or Baji, Apa, Api, Apiya (unofficial)
Method 3 of 8: Grandpa, Grandma and Grandchildren
Step 1. Ways to address grandparents, grandparents, and grandchildren
- Grandmother from father: Daadi
- Father's grandfather: Daada
- Mother's grandmother: Nani
- Grandfather from mother: Nana
- Granddaughter:
- Daughter of girls: Nawasi
- Daughter of a boy: Poti
- Son of daughter: Nawasa
- Boy of a boy: Pota
Method 4 of 8: Extended Family
Step 1. Cousin sister:
- Daughter of sister: Bhaanji
- Brother's daughter: Bhaatiji
- Nephew:
- Sister's son: Bhaanja
- Brother's son: Bhaatija
- Father's sister: Phuppo
- Husband of father's sister: Phuppa
- Children of father's sister: Khala-zad Bhai (male) and Khala-zad Bahen (girl)
- Father's brothers: Taya (older brother) and Chacha (younger brother)
- Wife of father's brother: Tai (older brother) and Chachi (younger brother)
- Children of father's older brother: Taya-zad Bhai (male) and Taya-zad Bahen (daughter)
- Children of father's younger brother: Chacha-zad Bhai (boy) and Chacha-zad Bahen (girl)
- Mother's sister: Khala
- Husband of mother's sister: Khalu
- Children of mother's sister: Khala-zad Bhai (boy) and Khala-zad Bahen (girl)
- Mother's brother: Mamu
- Wife of mother's brother: Mumani
- Children of mother's brother: Mamu-zad Bhai (boy) and Mamu-zad Bahen (girl)
Method 5 of 8: Brother-in-law, In-Law and Son-in-law
Step 1. Ways to call in-laws, in-laws, and daughters-in-law
- In-law, in-law, or son-in-law: Susraal
- Mother-in-law: Saas or Khush'daman (show respect)
- Father-in-law: Sussar
- Daughter-in-law: Shoulders
- Son-in-law: Damaad
- Wife of brother: Bhaabi
- Sister's husband: Behn'oi
- Wife's sister: Saali
- Husband of wife's sister: Hum-zulf
- Husband's sister: Nand
- Husband of sister of husband: Nand'oi
- Husband's brother: Saala
- Wife of the brother of the wife: Salhaj
- Older brother husband of husband: Jaayth
- Wife of husband's older brother: Jaythani
- Younger brother man of husband: Daywar
- Wife of husband's younger brother: Daywrani
Method 6 of 8: Animals
Step 1. Different animal names
- Animal: Haiwaan or Janwaar
- Dog: Kutta
- Cat: Billi
- Bird: Parinda
- Parrot: Tota
- Duck: Bathakh
- Snake: Saanp
- Rat: Chuha
- Horse: Ghorha
- Pigeon: Kabutar
- Crow: Kawwa
- Fox: Loomrhi
- Goat: Bakri
- Predator: Darinda
- Lion: Sher
Method 7 of 8: Number
Step 1. Say the numbers
- One: Aik
- Two: Dou
- Three: Teen
- Four: Chaar
- Five: Paanch
- Six: Chhay
- Seven: When
- Eight: Aatth
- Nine: Nau
- Dozens: Dus
- Hundreds: Sao
- Thousands: Hazaar
- Hundred thousands: Laakh
- Ten Million: Crore
Method 8 of 8: Around Town
Step 1. Know what to say when you're out and about:
- Path: Sarhak or Raah
- Hospital: Haspatal or Dawa-Khana
- Bathroom: Ghusl-khana
- Balcony: Deewan-Khana
- Room: Kamra
- You: Tum, You: Aap
- We: Ham
- Where: Kahaan
- How: Kaise
- How much: Kitnaa
- When: Kab
- Money: Paisaa
- Way or way: Raasta or Ravish
- Right direction: Saheeh Raasta
- Why: Kyoon
- What are you doing?: Kyaa kar rahe ho?
- Lunch/dinner: Khaana khaa lo
- Today: Aaj
- Yesterday and tomorrow: Kal
Tips
- Urdu speakers love to hear different kinds of accents. So even if you're just learning the language, don't be shy! No one will laugh at you.
- It's more polite to say ji after people's names, especially for someone older than you.
- Sometimes, in Urdu the 'w' is pronounced as 'v'.
- You can describe your problem by combining some Urdu words with English words.
- If you really need help, approach a student. Chances are, they can speak English fluently.
- People who speak Urdu use many English terms for modern devices, such as TV, radio, computer, modem, cable, and microwave. The pronunciation of these words in Urdu is usually the same as they are pronounced in English.
- English is actually the second official language in Pakistan and India. So you should have no problem communicating with local Pakistanis.
- You can use nouns in English. Many people understand words such as school (school), college (university), car (car), wallet (wallet), key (key), table (desk), pen (pen), phone (phone), door (door).), shoes (shoes), and shirts (shirts).
Warning
- It is better to speak slowly if you are traveling to a new area. This not only prevents misunderstandings in communication but also helps the person you are talking to understand you better, especially if Urdu is not their native language (eg in a village, etc.).
- There are different kinds of accents in Pakistan and India. Something you say while in Kashmir could offend someone in Mumbai.
- Don't be rude to Urdu speakers as they are usually nice people and don't mean to offend. Perhaps, you misunderstood their words.
