How to Speak and Understand Urdu (with Pictures)

2025 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2025-01-24 13:28

Urdu is the first official language of Pakistan. It is mutually intelligible with Hindi and is the lingua franca of the subcontinent of Hindustan (India, Pakistan and Bangladesh). Urdu is descended from Sanskrit with strong Arab and Persian influences.

Estimated number of Urdu speakers: Mother tongue: 240 million (1991-1997) [1] Second language: 165 million (1999) [2] Total: 490 million (2006) [3] (source: http: / /en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindustani_language)

Steps

Step 1. Try to understand the structure common to all Urdu sentences:

SUBJECT, OBJECT, VERB (in Italian we use SUBJECT, VERB, COMPLEMENT). Therefore while in Italian we say "Giovanni [subject] sees [verb] Tommaso [complement]", the order in Urdu sentences is "Giovanni [subject] Tommaso [complement] sees [verb]".

Step 2. Learn the main singular pronouns in Urdu

• Me / Me: Meiney; Never; Mere
• You: Tum; Tumhae; Tumharae; Tumnae; Tumsae
• He / she / it / that: Vo; Usnae; Uskee

Step 3. Learn the main plural pronouns in Urdu

Each of the pronouns mentioned has its respective plural form, used when referring to several people, or as a form of respect, or simply to be more formal:

• We: Hum; Humarae; Humsae; Humsab
• You: Aap; Aapsabh; AapSabhee
• Them / Those: Vo; Unhee; Inhee; Unko

Step 4. Learn to conjugate the verb "to be" in Urdu:

• Being: Hona (infinite)
• I am: Mein hoon
• You are: Tum ho
• He / she / it / that is: Vo hai
• In summary, "Mein hoon" means "I am" because "mein" means "I" and is the subject, "hoon" means "I am" and is the verb, and the sentence structure in Urdu is Subject, Complement (none in this case), Verb.
• We are: Hum hain
• You are: Aap hain
• They / those are: Vo hain
• Unlike Italian, plurals follow the same conjugation.

Step 5. All infinities end with "na" (eg

"Hona", "to be", and "Dekhna", "to see"). For regular verbs, such as Dekhna (but not to be), there is a simple rule to conjugate them in the present tense. That is, remove "na" and add the following suffixes. Note that in the first three cases the underlined syllables are used only if the subject of the sentence is masculine (eg "John"). If the subject is feminine (eg "Giovanna") then those syllables are replaced by "i".

• I (Mein): ta
• You (Tum): you
• He / she / it (Vo): ta
• We (Hum): tain
• You (Aap): tain
• They (Vo): tain
• For example, the verb Dekhna (to see) is conjugated for me (who am a man) as "Dekhta" and for you (who are a woman) as "Dekhti".

Step 6. The verb "to be" ("Hona") is the most important because it is used to create the present

While in Italian we say "I see", in Urdu the translation would be "I am I see". In Urdu, saying "I see" is like saying "I am, and I see". Without adding that you are as you see, the verb to be would not be in the present form. So:

• "I [woman] see": "Mein dekhti hoon"
• "He sees": "Vo dekhta hai"
• You will remember that "mein" is "I", "hoon" is "am" and "dekhti" is the verb "to see" ("Dekhna") when referring to female "I".

Step 7. When pronouns are used as complements, they are slightly modified

When nouns are used as complements, "ko" is added, eg. "Giovanni" is fine as a subject, but "Giovanni ko" is complement.

• I (Mein): Mujhe
• You (Tum): Tumhe
• He / she (Vo): Usse
• We (Hum): Humhe
• You (Aap): Aapko
• They (Vo): Unhe

Step 8. Learn to build a sentence with a complement

To say "I see John" in Urdu, you say something like "I John see I am" - "I am, [present] and I see John".

• "I see John": Mein Giovanni ko dekhta hoon
• "Giovanna sees John": Giovanna Giovanni ko dekhti hai
• Analyzing: "Giovanna [subject] Giovanni ko [object] dekhti [sees, feminine] hai [present" is "]"
• "I see you": Mein tumhe dekhta hoon
• "You [female] see us": Tum humhe dekhti ho
• "They see Giovanna": Vo Giovanna ko dekhtain hain

Method 1 of 1: Lessons

Lesson 1

Step 1. Formation of the affirmative sentence

Step 2. Affirmative sentences are what they express

Step 3. an affirmation

Step 4. Let's learn some words:

keywords for lesson 1.

Step 5. One:

eak

Step 6. Two:

do

Step 7. Three:

ti'n

Step 8. Sheet:

ka'g_haz; dog: kuta '

Step 9. Pen:

qalam; monkey: bandar

Step 10. Book:

kita'b

Step 11. This / a:

yeh

Step 12. That / a:

woh

Step 13. It is:

ha ~ ye

Step 14. They are:

ha ~ e (n)

Step 15. Verb to be (I am / is / we are, you are, I am), present:

Step 16. Eak do ti'n

One two Three.

Step 17. Yeh kita'b ha ~ ye

This is a book.

Step 18. Yeh eak kita'b ha ~ ye

This is a book.

Step 19. Yeh ka'g_haz ha ~ ye

This is (one) sheet.

Step 20. Yeh eak ka'g_haz ha ~ ye

This is a sheet.

Step 21. Yeh qalam ha ~ ye

This is a pen.

Step 22. Yeh eak qalam ha ~ ye

This is a pen.

Step 23. Woh eak kita'b ha ~ ye

That's a book.

Step 24. Woh eak ka'g_haz ha ~ ye

That's a sheet.

Step 25. Yeh bandar ha ~ ye

This is (a) monkey.

Step 26. Woh kuta 'ha ~ ye

That's (a) dog.

Lesson 2

Step 1. Sentence structure / syntax

Step 2. eak, do, ti'n, ka'g_haz, ku-t-a, qalam, bandar, kita'b, yeh, ha ~ ye, ha ~ e (n)

Step 3. Let's learn some words:

keywords for lesson 2.

Step 4. Four:

C_ha'r Seven Sa'th Ten Das

Step 5. Five:

Pa'nc_h Otto A't ^ h

Step 6. Six:

C_heh Nove Naw

Step 7. Greetings and expressions

Step 8. Hello, hello:

Hello (used to answer the phone or

Step 9. to greet informally)

Step 10. A'da'b Arz ha ~ ye

/ A'da'b. / Sala'm. / Namaste.

Step 11. / Namas_hka'r

/ Hello / Assalam-o-alaikum

Step 12. / Ra'm - Ra'm

Step 13. How are you?

: A'p kaise ha ~ e (n)

Step 14. I'm fine:

Ac_ha hu (n)

Step 15. Goodbye:

K_huda-ha'fiz

Step 16. Goodnight:

S_hab-be-k_hair

Step 17. Have a nice day:

A'p ka din ac_ha guzre

Step 18. Thank you:

S_hukriya

Step 19. Please:

A'p ki meherba'ni

Step 20. Welcome:

K_hus_h a'mdi'd

Step 21. What is your name?

: A'p ka na'm ki ~ ya ha ~ ey

Step 22. My name is Azad:

Mera naam Aza'd ha ~ ye

Lesson 3

Step 1. Formation of the interrogative sentence

Interrogative sentences are those in which a question is asked.

Step 2. Let's learn some words:

keywords for lesson 3.

• One: eak

  

• Two: do

  

• Three: ti'n

  

• Sheet: ka'g_haz; dog: kuta '

  

• Qalam pen; monkey: bandar

  

• Book: kita'b

  

• This / a: yeh

  

• That / a: woh

  

• It is: ha ~ ye

  

• We are, you are, I am: ha ~ e (n)
• Kya yeh eak (do, teen…) ha ~ ye. Is this one (two, three…)?
• Kya yeh kita'b ha ~ ye. Is this (a) book?
• Kya yeh eak kita'b ha ~ ye. Is this a book?
• Kya yeh ka'g_haz ha ~ ye. Is this (a) sheet?
• Kya yeh eak ka'g_haz ha ~ ye. Is this a sheet?
• Kya yeh qalam ha ~ ye. Is this (a) pen?
• Kya yeh eak qalam ha ~ ye. Is this a pen?
• Kya woh eak kita'b ha ~ ye. Is that a book?
• Kya woh eak ka'g_haz ha ~ ye. Is that a sheet?
• Kya yeh bandar ha ~ ye. Is that (a) monkey?
• Kya woh kuta 'ha ~ ye. Is that (a) dog?

Lesson 4

Step 1. Formation of the sentence:

imperative sentences.

Imperative sentences are those that express a command or suggestion.

• Yaha'n a'o. Come here.
• Yaha'n jaldi a'o. Come here quickly.
• A'j wa'pas a'o. Come back today.
• A'j hi 'wa'pas a'o. Come back today only.
• Wuh ka'm jaldi karo. Do that work fast.
• Yeh ka'm jaldi karo. Do this work quickly.
• A'hista mat bolo Do not speak in a low voice.
• Zor se mat bolo. Don't speak out loud.
• A'j waha'n ja'o. Go there today.
• Ba'har baitho. Sit outside.
• Go a'o. Come inside.

Lesson 5

Step 1. Formation of the sentence:

exclamation sentences.

Exclamation sentences are those in which an exclamation is expressed, dictated by feelings or emotions.

• Kya yeh eak (do, teen…) ha ~ ye. Is this one (two, three…)?
• Kya yeh kita'b ha ~ ye. Is this (a) book?
• Kya yeh eak kita'b ha ~ ye. Is this a book?
• Kya yeh ka'g_haz ha ~ ye. Is this (a) sheet?
• Kya yeh eak ka'g_haz ha ~ ye. Is this a sheet?
• Kya yeh qalam ha ~ ye. Is this (a) pen?
• Kya yeh eak qalam ha ~ ye. Is this a pen?
• Kya woh eak kita'b ha ~ ye. Is that a book?
• Kya woh eak ka'g_haz ha ~ ye. Is that a sheet?
• Kya yeh bandar ha ~ ye. Is this (a) monkey?
• Kya woh kuta 'ha ~ ye. Is that (a) dog?

Advice

• Look for new words and new regular verbs to apply the rules described above.
• Note the connection between phonetics and rhymes between words.
• Urdu is the basis of panjabi. If you really want to be the top of polyglots, learn panjabi after learning Urdu!
• Urdu is written from right to left, contrary to what we (and most other languages) usually do.

Sources & Citations

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uddin_and_Begum_Urdu-Hindustani_Romanization ==
• Syed Fasih Uddin and Quader Unissa Begum (1992). "The Modern International Standard Letters of Alphabet for URDU - (HINDUSTANI) - The INDIAN Language, script for the purposes of hand written communication, dictionary references, published material and Computerized Linguistic Communications (CLC)". Chicago.