How to Say Most Common Words in Urdu

Urdu is the national language of Pakistan and State language in the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir, Telangana, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh & Delhi. More than 300 million in Pakistan and India alone speak Urdu. Urdu is language that combines Persian, Arabic, Turkish, English and Sanskrit terms together. Learning to speak common Urdu words and phrases can help you communicate with millions of people.^{[1]
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Method 1

Method 1 of 8:

Common Words and Phrases

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Know what to say when you greet or converse with someone:^{[2]
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- Hello: Assalaam-o-Alaikum (if you are first to say Hello)
- Hello: "Wa'alaikum Salaam" (reply to Assalaam-o-Alaikum)
- How are you?: Kya haal hey?
- Who are you?: Aap kaon hain?
- I don`t know.: Main nahin janta
- What is your name?: Aap ka naam kya hai?"
- My name is Adam: Mera naam Adam hai
- My name is Sophia: Mera naam Sophia hai
- Goodbye: "Allah hafez" OR "Khuda hafez"
- Take care: "Fee aman'nillah" OR "Apna khiyal rakhna"
- Welcome: "Khush'aamdid"
- Thanks: "Shukriya"
- Thank you so much: "Boht Boht Shukriya" OR "Barhi mehrbani" OR "Barhiaa mehrbani"
- I got you: "Me samajh giya"
- Okay!: "Jee" OR "Jee Haan" OR "Theek hai!" OR "Sahih!" OR "Achha!"
- Good morning: "Subb bakhair"
- Good night: "Shabb bakhair"
- Where do you live?: "Aap rehtay kidhar hain?" OR "Aap kahan rehtay hain?"
- I'm from London: "Me London say hoo" OR "Me London ka hoo"
- Where are you? "Aap Kahaan ho"
- Where is Hospital (or any location)? "Hospital Kahaan hai"

Method 2

Method 2 of 8:

Family

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Identify people using these common words, in almost any situation:^{[3]
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- Human: Insaan
- Man: "Mard"
- Woman: Orat
- People: Logg OR "Avaam" OR "Khalqat"
- Friend: Dost OR "Yaar" (close friend)
- Boy: Larhka
- Girl: Larhkee
- Daughter: Beti
- Son: Beta"
- Mother: Ammi, Formal: Walida
- Father: Abba OR "Abbu" OR Baba, Formal: Waalid
- Wife: Bivee OR "Zaoja"
- Husband: Shaohar OR "Miaan"
- Brother: Bhai (formal and informal) or Bhaiya (informal)
- Sister: Behn (formal) OR Baji, Apa, Api, "Apiya" (informal)

Method 3

Method 3 of 8:

Grandparents and Grandchildren

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Ways to refer to grandparents and grandchildren.^{[4]
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- Paternal Grandmother: Daadi
- Paternal Grandfather: Daada
- Maternal Grandmother: Nani
- Maternal Grandfather: Nana
- Granddaughter:
- Daughter's daughter: Nawasi
- Son's daughter: Poti
- Daughter's son: Nawasa
- Son's son: Pota

Method 4

Method 4 of 8:

Extended Family

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Niece:^{[5]
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- Sister's daughter: Bhaanji
- Brother's daughter: Bhaatiji
- Nephew:
- Sister's son: Bhaanja
- Brother's son: Bhaatija
- Dad's Sister: Phuppo
- Dad's Sister's Husband: Phuppa
- Dad's Sister's Kids: Khala-zad Bhai (male) and Khala-zad Bahen (female)
- Dad's Brother: Taya (father's older brother) and Chacha (father's younger brother)
- Dad's Brother's Wife: Tai (if brother is older) and Chachi (if brother is younger)
- Dad's Brother's Kids (older): Taya-zad Bhai (male) and Taya-zad Bahen (female)
- Dad's Brother's Kids (younger): Chacha-zad Bhai (male) and Chacha-zad Bahen (female)
- Mother's Sister: Khala
- Mother's Sister's Husband: Khalu
- Mother's Sister's Kids: Khala-zad Bhai (male) and Khala-zad Bahen (female)
- Mother's Brother: Mamu
- Mother's Brother's Wife: Mumani
- Mother's Brother's Kids: Mamu-zad Bhai (male) and Mamu-zad Bahen (female)

Method 5

Method 5 of 8:

In-Laws

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Ways to refer to in-laws.^{[6]
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- In-laws: Susraal
- Mother-in-law: Saas OR "Khush'daman" (name showing respect)
- Father-in-law: Sussar
- Daughter-in-law: Bahu
- Son-in-law: Damaad
- Brother's wife: Bhaabi
- Sister's husband: Behn'oi
- Wife's sister: Saali
- Wife's sister's husband: Hum-zulf
- Husband's sister: Nand
- Husband's sister's husband: Nand'oi
- Wife's brother: Saala
- Wife's brother's wife: Salhaj
- Husband's older brother: Jaayth
- Husband's older brother's wife: Jaythani
- Husband's younger brother: Daywar
- Husband's younger brother's wife: Daywrani

Method 6

Method 6 of 8:

Animals

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Names of different animals.
- Animal: "Haiwaan" OR Janwaar
- Dog: Kutta
- Cat: Billi
- Bird: Parinda
- Parrot: Tota
- Duck: Bathakh
- Snake: Saanp
- Rat: Chuha
- Horse: " Ghorha "
- Pigeon: " Kabutar"
- Crow: "Kawwa"
- Fox: "Loomrhi"
- Goat: "Bakri"
- Predator: "Darinda"
- Lion: "Sher"

Method 7

Method 7 of 8:

Numbers

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Saying numbers.^{[7]
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- One: Aik
- Two: Dou
- Three: Teen
- Four: Chaar
- Five: Paanch
- Six: Chhay
- Seven: Saat
- Eight: Aatth
- Nine: Nau
- Ten: Dus
- Hundred: Sao
- Thousand: Hazaar
- Hundred Thousand: Laakh
- Ten Million: Crore

Method 8

Method 8 of 8:

Around town

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Know what to say when you are getting out and going places:^{[8]
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- Road: Sarhak OR "Raah"
- Hospital: Haspatal or Dawa-Khana
- Bathroom: Ghusl-khana
- Balcony: Deewan-Khana
- Room: Kamra
- You: Tum, formal: Aap
- We: Ham
- Where: Kahaan
- How: Kaise
- How Much: Kitnaa
- When: Kab
- Money: Paisaa
- Way or Path: Raasta OR "Ravish"
- Correct direction: Saheeh Raasta
- Why: Kyoon
- What are you doing?: Kyaa kar rahe ho?
- Have your lunch/dinner: Khaana khaa lo
- Today: Aaj
- Yesterday and Tomorrow: Kal

Community Q&A

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Question

How do I say "How are you?" in Urdu?

Community Answer

Aap kaise hain? (formal to male) Aap kaisi hain? (formal to female) Tum kaise ho? (informal to male) Tum kaisi ho? (informal to female)

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If I were a fluent Urdu speaker, would I understand these phrases?

Community Answer

These phrases are very common, so you should definitely understand these. It should help if you incorporate them into daily sentences.

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How do I say "peace" in Urdu?

Community Answer

The Urdu word for peace is "aman."

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Tips

Make flashcards of 20-50 of the most common words and work on memorizing those first.^{[9]
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Spend 30-45 minutes practicing the language every day.^{[10]
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Visit language forums, websites, and social media pages dedicated to learning Urdu. Check out YouTube videos, as well.^{[11]
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Warnings

It's best to speak slowly if you're traveling to a new area, as that not only prevents any mishaps in communication, but the other person is better likely to understand you, especially if Urdu is not their mother tongue (e.g. in villages, etc).

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There are many different accents within Pakistan and India; saying something while you're in Kashmir could sound like an insult in Mumbai.

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Don't be rude to any Urdu speakers because, usually, these people are good and didn't mean to insult. Maybe you misinterpreted what they said to you.

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