Urdu
is a conglomerate of Persian, Arabic and various local languages.
The spoken language is similar to Hindi, but is written in
the Perso-Arabic script. Thus, the Urdu written below is a
phonetic representation just for foreigners, not anything
like the actual word written in Urdu.
Urdu
is the national language of Pakistan, but many of the smaller
areas also have their own language. Some of the rural folk,
especially the women and children, still speak only their
local language.
See
the bottom of this page, or our reading
list, for some books on beginning Urdu script.
Greeting
(Peace be with you)
|
Salaam
alay kum |
Reply
to Greeting
(With you also be peace)
|
Waalay
kum as salaam |
|
How
are you? |
Aapka
(or Tumhara) kya hal heyh? |
|
I
am well.
|
Theekh
heyh or Theek thak. |
| What
is your name? |
Aapka
(or Tumhara) naam kya heyh?
|
|
Do
you speak English? |
Kya
aap angrezi boltay heyn? |
| I
am English/American/French |
Meyn
angrez/amrikan/fransisi hun. |
| Which
way to Skardu? |
Skardu
kiss taraf heyh? |
| How
much is this/that? |
Yeyh/Voh
kitne ky heyh? |
| Thank
you |
Shukria.
|
| Good
Bye |
Khoodha
Haafiz. |
| Yes
|
Ji
haan, haanji or haan |
|
No
|
Naheen
(na’en) |
| Okay/Good
|
Achhaa |
| When?
|
Kub?
|
| Three
O’clock |
Teen
bajay |
| Morning
|
Subha
|
| Evening
|
Shaam
|
| Go/going
|
Jao/Jaana
|
| Near
|
Nazdeek
|
| Far
|
Dur
|
| Food
|
Khana
|
| To
eat food |
Khana
khana |
| To
drink |
Peena |
| Meat
|
Gosht
|
| Beef
|
Gai
ka gosht |
| Goat
meat |
Bakri
ka gosht |
| Chicken
|
Murghi
|
| Fish
|
Machii/machhlii
|
| Egg
|
Anda
|
| Vegetable
|
Subzi
|
| Potato
|
Aalu
|
|
Spinach |
Palak |
| Lentils |
Daal |
| Rice
|
Chavel
|
| Bread
(3 varieties) |
Roti, naan, chapati |
| Baked
bread |
Double
roti |
| Yoghurt
|
Dahi
|
| Water
|
Pani
|
| Tea
|
Chai
|
| Salt
|
Namak
|
| Sugar
|
Cheeni
|
| Home/house
|
Ghar/makaan
|
| Bed
(2 types) |
Palang, charpoy |
| Blanket
|
Kambal
|
| Pillow
|
Takya
|
| Sheet
|
Chader
|
| Fan
|
Pankha
|
| Candle
|
Mombutti
|
| Hot
|
Garam
|
| Cold
|
Thanda
(m)/thandi (f) |
| Small
|
Chhota
(m)/chhoti (f) |
| Big
|
Burha
(m)/burhi (f) |
| Clean
|
Saaf
|
| Local
clothing outfit |
Shalwar
kameez |
| Ladies
scarf to go with outfit |
Dupatta |
