200+ Basic Urdu Words And Phrases: An Easy Guide

Did you know that Urdu is one of the two official languages of Pakistan? It is widely spoken throughout the country! In addition, this beautiful language is also spoken in parts of India and by many people in the United Kingdom and the United States.

If you plan a long wished visit to Pakistan, learning some basic words and phrases in Urdu can greatly enhance your experience and help you communicate more effectively with locals. Additionally, while traveling around the country, you will notice that many street signs or menus may be in Urdu, so a basic understanding of words in the language can make navigating the country much easier.

It is also a great way to show respect for the culture and demonstrate a willingness to learn and engage with the local community. Don’t rely on English alone! Are you ready to learn Urdu as a new language experience? I bring you the most common words and phrases in Urdu that Ling believes you should learn before traveling to an Urdu-speaking location.

Let’s start!

What Are The Most Basic Urdu Words And Phrases?

As in many languages, English words are used while speaking Urdu as well. Three common such words are hello, okay, and bye. To help you familiarize yourself with several other common Urdu terms, here is a simplified list to start with. 

1. Hello — ہیلو (Hello)

2. Yes — جی ہاں ( Ji Haan)

3. No — نہیں (Nahin)

4. Please — برائے مہربانی (Barae Meharbani)

5. Thanks — شکریہ (shukriya)

6. Goodbye — خدا حافظ (Khuda hafiz)

7. Good morning — صبح بخیر (Subha Ba Khair  or Assalam O Alaikum)

8. Good afternoon — دوپہربخیر (Do Pehar Ba Khair or Assalam O Alaikum)

9. Good evening — شام بخیر (Shaam Ba Khair or Assalam O Alaikum)

10. Good night! —   شب بخیر (Shab Bakhair!)

11. Congratulations — مبارک ہو (mubarak ho)

12. My name is ……. — میرا نام ہے ……. (Mera Naam Hai…..)

13. Nice to meet you — آپ سے مل کر خوشی ہوئی (Aap se Mil Ke Khushi Huwi)

Other Urdu Vocabulary Used In Daily Conversations

In the Urdu language, respect is given to people by referring to them as aap. This is often the norm. Sometimes, people may refer to their peer or someone younger by saying “tum,” but as Urdu is a very sweet-spoken and gentle language, most people always use aap in daily conversations.

Don’t know where to start learning Urdu? First, try to contact local native speakers. It is best practice to also use the best means or tools for every day. Why not try Ling first? Download the Ling app from the App Store and Google Play.

Below are some examples that you can use to practice with your friend:

How To Communicate In Urdu While Doing Shopping?

To immerse yourself in the daily life and culture of the Urdu-speaking people, it is suggested to try to go shopping to experience the hustle and bustle of the whole ordeal! If you are not a local, the sellers may try to sell items at a very high price or may convince you to purchase items that are absolutely worthless to your needs. Here is a list of shopping vocabulary in Urdu that can help you to avoid such situations.

What Are The Urdu Words That Will Help You Survive In Restaurants

Though the eccentric cuisine of Urdu-speaking people can be a dream come true for many, others may have specific dietary needs and tastes. It is important to learn some essential phrases to order what you want. Do not hesitate to speak about your wishes at a restaurant! Simply follow the phrases below:

What Are The Name Of The Days In Urdu?

Booking appointments, transportation, interviews, setting deadlines, and ensuring that laundry arrives on time will require you to learn the name of the days in Urdu.

It may require a bit of diligence to master this list early on in your language-learning process. But it will be worth it for you not to miss an appointment or commitment, which is highly valued among Urdu-speaking people.

Vocabulary About Family In Urdu

Pakistanis are renowned for being family-oriented individuals. Members of the family are deeply committed to each other. The Urdu language is influenced highly by the Muslim religion. Therefore, several terms related to the family also descend from there. Perfect examples are Abbu for father and Ammi for mother. Not all Urdu-speaking families are Muslims, but this is useful to know. So, as a beginner, here are a few basic Urdu words related to family that you must learn:

Basic Words In Urdu Related To Time

This list below will support your sentences related to the days of the week and times of the day. A tricky but perhaps easy one to remember would be “kal” which means both yesterday and tomorrow! Here are some common and basic Urdu words that are associated with time.

Master Yourself In The Urdu Language With Ling

I hope the content of this page was helpful to you and that you have learned some Urdu phrases, expressions, and words for your travel. Make sure to remember them so that you can use them in your daily conversations.

Learning a new language from Ling is like playing a game. It is simple and effective. With the support of language research, Ling can help you achieve fluency in record time. Here are the benefits of using the Ling app to learn Urdu or any other language:

• Fun mini-games and quizzes can help you quickly master a new language.
• Practice hundreds of conversations anytime, anywhere. Discuss everyday topics with our chatbot.
• Master the language with a lot of instructions and grammatical hints.

Ling aims to make language learning as simple, fun, and easy to understand as possible. Please visit Ling‘s FAQ page if you have any questions.