Below is a list of common Urdu words and phrases that foreigners can use when interacting with local people in Pakistan. These expressions will help you navigate everyday conversations in Urdu and communicate with native speakers.
Basic Greetings and Phrases
- Hello
- Assalam-o-Alaikum (السلام علیکم)
- Pronunciation: ah-sah-lahm oh ah-lay-koom
- Meaning: Peace be upon you (common greeting in Pakistan)
- How are you?
- Aap kaise hain? (آپ کیسے ہیں؟) [To a man]
- Aap kaisi hain? (آپ کیسی ہیں؟) [To a woman]
- Pronunciation: aap kay-say hain / aap kai-see hain
- Meaning: How are you? (formal)
- I am fine, thank you.
- Main theek hoon, shukriya. (میں ٹھیک ہوں، شکریہ)
- Pronunciation: main theek hoon, shoo-kri-ya
- Meaning: I am fine, thank you.
- What is your name?
- Aap ka naam kya hai? (آپ کا نام کیا ہے؟)
- Pronunciation: aap ka naam kya hai
- Meaning: What is your name? (formal)
- My name is [Your Name].
- Mera naam [Your Name] hai. (میرا نام [Your Name] ہے)
- Pronunciation: mera naam [Your Name] hai
- Meaning: My name is [Your Name].
- Good morning
- Subah bakhair (صبح بخیر)
- Pronunciation: soobah bakhair
- Meaning: Good morning.
- Good evening
- Shaam bakhair (شام بخیر)
- Pronunciation: shaam bakhair
- Meaning: Good evening.
- Goodbye
- Khuda hafiz (خدا حافظ)
- Pronunciation: khoo-dah ha-fez
- Meaning: Goodbye (commonly used)
- See you later
- Phir milenge (پھر ملیں گے)
- Pronunciation: phir mil-ingay
- Meaning: We will meet again.
- How are you? (Informal)
- Tum kaise ho? (تم کیسے ہو؟) [To a man]
- Tum kaisi ho? (تم کیسی ہو؟) [To a woman]
- Pronunciation: tum kay-say ho / tum kay-see ho
- Meaning: How are you? (informal)
Polite Expressions
- Please
- Meherbani (مہربانی)
- Pronunciation: meh-her-ba-nee
- Meaning: Please
- Thank you
- Shukriya (شکریہ)
- Pronunciation: shoo-kri-ya
- Meaning: Thank you.
- You’re welcome
- Koi baat nahi (کوئی بات نہیں)
- Pronunciation: koi baat nah-nee
- Meaning: You’re welcome (literally means “No problem”).
- Excuse me
- Mazrat chahta hoon (مجھ سے معذرت چاہتا ہوں) [To a man]
- Mazrat chahti hoon (مجھ سے معذرت چاہتی ہوں) [To a woman]
- Pronunciation: maz-rat chah-taa hoon / chah-tee hoon
- Meaning: Excuse me, sorry.
- Sorry
- Mazrat (معذرت)
- Pronunciation: maz-rat
- Meaning: Sorry (an apology)
- No problem
- Koi masla nahi (کوئی مسئلہ نہیں)
- Pronunciation: koi mas-lah nah-nee
- Meaning: No problem.
- Yes
- Haan (ہاں)
- Pronunciation: haan
- Meaning: Yes
- No
- Nahi (نہیں)
- Pronunciation: nah-hee
- Meaning: No
- Okay/Alright
- Theek hai (ٹھیک ہے)
- Pronunciation: theek hai
- Meaning: Okay, Alright.
Asking for Help or Directions
- Can you help me?
- Kya aap meri madad kar sakte hain? (کیا آپ میری مدد کر سکتے ہیں؟)
- Pronunciation: kya aap meri ma-dad kar sak-tay hain?
- Meaning: Can you help me? (formal)
- Where is the [place]?
- [Place] kahan hai? ([جگہ] کہاں ہے؟)
- Pronunciation: [Place] kahaan hai?
- Meaning: Where is the [place]?
- How much does this cost?
- Yeh kitnay ka hai? (یہ کتنے کا ہے؟)
- Pronunciation: yeh kit-nay ka hai?
- Meaning: How much is this?
- Where is the bathroom?
- Toilet kahan hai? (ٹائلٹ کہاں ہے؟)
- Pronunciation: towel-et kahaan hai?
- Meaning: Where is the toilet/bathroom?
- I am lost.
- Main gum ho gaya hoon. (میں گم ہو گیا ہوں)
- Pronunciation: main gum ho gaya hoon
- Meaning: I am lost.
Food and Drink
- I am hungry.
- Mujhe bhookh lagi hai. (مجھے بھوک لگی ہے)
- Pronunciation: muj-hay bhook lag-ee hai
- Meaning: I am hungry.
- I am thirsty.
- Mujhe pyaas lagi hai. (مجھے پیاس لگی ہے)
- Pronunciation: muj-hay pyaas lag-ee hai
- Meaning: I am thirsty.
- What is this?
- Yeh kya hai? (یہ کیا ہے؟)
- Pronunciation: yeh kya hai?
- Meaning: What is this?
- Delicious!
- Bohat mazaydaar hai! (بہت مزیدار ہے)
- Pronunciation: bohat ma-zay-daar hai
- Meaning: It’s very delicious!
- I don’t eat meat.
- Main gosht nahi khata/khaati hoon. (میں گوشت نہیں کھاتا ہوں / کھاتی ہوں)
- Pronunciation: main gosht nah-hee khataa hoon (for men) / khati hoon (for women)
- Meaning: I don’t eat meat.
Shopping and Bargaining
- How much is this?
- Yeh kitne ka hai? (یہ کتنے کا ہے؟)
- Pronunciation: yeh kit-nay ka hai?
- Meaning: How much is this?
- Can I get a discount?
- Kya mujhe discount mil sakta hai? (کیا مجھے ڈسکاؤنٹ مل سکتا ہے؟)
- Pronunciation: kya muj-hay dis-count mil sak-ta hai?
- Meaning: Can I get a discount?
- I am just looking.
- Main bas dekh raha hoon. (میں بس دیکھ رہا ہوں)
- Pronunciation: main bas dekh rahaa hoon
- Meaning: I am just looking (for shops).
- That’s too expensive!
- Yeh bohat mehenga hai! (یہ بہت مہنگا ہے)
- Pronunciation: yeh bohat meh-en-ga hai
- Meaning: This is too expensive!
Emergency Phrases
- Help!
- Madad! (مدد!)
- Pronunciation: ma-dad
- Meaning: Help!
- Call the police!
- Police ko bulao! (پولیس کو بلاؤ!)
- Pronunciation: po-lees ko bu-lao
- Meaning: Call the police!
- I need a doctor.
- Mujhe doctor ki zaroorat hai. (مجھے ڈاکٹر کی ضرورت ہے)
- Pronunciation: muj-hay doctor ki zaroo-rat hai
- Meaning: I need a doctor.
Miscellaneous Expressions
- I don’t understand.
- Mujhe samajh nahi aata. (مجھے سمجھ نہیں آتا)
- Pronunciation: muj-hay samaajh nah-hee aataa
- Meaning: I don’t understand.
- Can you speak English?
- Kya aap angrezi bolte hain? (کیا آپ انگریزی بولتے ہیں؟)
- Pronunciation: kya aap ang-ray-zee bol-te hain?
- Meaning: Can you speak English?
These phrases should help you communicate easily in Pakistan, whether you’re traveling or simply trying to connect with locals. Enjoy your time and experience the warmth and hospitality of the people!
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