Urdu, commonly known as the language of poets, is lyrical in nature. It is, in fact, the lyrical nature that makes Urdu literature, specifically Urdu poetry, famous around the globe. Therefore, Urdu movies, songs, and poetry are considered one of the best learning methods to master the Urdu language.
With that in mind, let’s delve deeper and explore how to effectively learn Urdu with lyrics, making the language-learning experience easier and more memorable. Let’s get started!
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A Quick Guide To Learn Urdu With Lyrics
We all know that Urdu is Pakistan’s national language. Therefore, Pakistani media, including songs and movies, use the Urdu language. There are several Pakistani news channels whose anchors speak Urdu.
Learning Urdu is more than memorizing words
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Let’s look at how you can easily learn Urdu with lyrics.
Select An Easy Song
Start learning by selecting a famous but easy song. Easy songs are the ones with slow music and clear pronunciation. As an example, you can choose modern songs that mix Urdu and English, making it easy for you to stay on track. Or, you can also go for old Bollywood songs that use easy vocabulary. In this way, you can learn new vocabulary. Also, listening to Urdu songs or even watching Urdu news and Urdu movies can help in acquiring the accurate Urdu alphabet or letter pronunciation.
Let’s look at some examples of easy songs from my favorite playlist:
- Sakoon Mila – It is a slow song with easy Urdu words from the movie Mary Kom.
- Chalte Chalte – It is song from the Bollywood movie Chalte Chalte.
- Kabhi kbhi Aditi – It is a simple song from the movie Jane Tu Ya Jane Na that blends Urdu with English.
- Mere Mehboob Qayamat Hogi – It is a very old, classic song by Kishore Kumar from the movie Mr. X in Bombay. Although Kishore Kumar is a Hindi singer, this song has several Urdu words that are similar to Hindi.
Search For The Lyrics, Breakdown, And Translate
The second step is to search for the lyrics of the song you chose. You can also find lyric videos on YouTube with English translations or use translation tools. Then, break the lines into smaller parts and look for common Urdu words and phrases. As you learn new words, practice them with native Urdu speakers to improve your language skills.
Here is an example of how to break them down:
The English translation of the line میرے سپنوں کی رانی کب آئے گی تُو (Mere sapnon ki rani kab ayegi tu) is When will the queen of my dreams arrive?
The breakdown of this line is:
| English | Urdu | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Mine | میرے | Mere |
| Dreams | سپنوں | Sapnon |
| Queen | رانی | Rani |
| When | کب | Kab |
| Will arrive | آئے گی | Ayegi |
| You | تو | Tu |
Listen To Urdu Ghazals And Poetry
If you don’t want to listen to the songs or want to explore more, Urdu ghazals can help you here. Although they fall under the more advanced category, they can help you combine cultural insights with language learning. Through Urdu poetry, you can also become familiar with the major part of Urdu literature. You can read ghazals and nazm of different Urdu poets or even listen to classical songs based on Urdu poetry. You can listen to the following famous Urdu poets to name some:
- Allama Iqbal – A philosophical poet who has specifically addressed contemporary issues through his poetry.
- Mirza Ghalib – A poet of philosophical and deep romantic poetry.
- Mir Taqi Mir – Popularly known as خدائے سخن Khuda-e-sukhn (the God of poetry).
How Do You Say Lyrics In Urdu?
In Urdu, we say lyrics as بول, which is pronounced as bol. You can also say naghme ke bol (نغمے کے بول) or ganay ke bol (گانے کے بول ), which in English is song lyrics. In poetic terms, you can refer to lyrics as kalam (کلام).
Frequently Asked Questions Related To Learning Urdu With Lyrics
1. How Do You Learn Urdu Quickly?
To learn Urdu quickly, immerse yourself in this language as much as you can. Focus on common and basic Urdu words and phrases, learn basic grammar and sentence structure, listen to Urdu media and songs, and keep practicing anywhere you can to master the language to its core.
2. Is Music Mentioned In The Quran?
Music is not directly mentioned in the Quran, which has led to different interpretations. Some scholars, based on certain hadith, believe that music is forbidden in Islam and strongly discouraged. Others argue that since it isn’t mentioned, music is allowed as long as it doesn’t lead to immoral behavior or distract from religious duties. However, the Quran itself doesn’t provide a clear ruling on music.
3. Can You Read Urdu With Arabic?
No, it isn’t possible to read Urdu in Arabic language. Although both these languages follow the same Perso-Arabic script, the languages themselves are different. So, despite having the same script, it doesn’t mean that you can read Urdu in Arabic. Knowing and reading Urdu requires learning Urdu vocabulary and Urdu grammar, which are totally different from the Arabic language.
Take Your Urdu Skills Even Further!
Learning Urdu with lyrics is one of the best and most dynamic ways of interacting and engaging with the language. It blends culture and vocabulary, making learning more effective and enjoyable. So, whether you enjoy listening to Urdu music or reading Urdu poetry, you will find yourself improving your Urdu language as a whole.
If you want to practice what you’ve learned and explore the language further, the Ling app is here to help you out! With this app, you can improve your listening and speaking skills and interact with chatbots that mimic native speakers. Besides this, it offers an interactive platform to practice and test your language skills by offering engaging exercises and quizzes.
Urdu lyrics and Ling will be a great addition to your language-learning routine. Without a doubt, these resources will help you improve your Urdu skills even more than you could ever imagine.
Happy learning!
