9+ Easy Words To Tell The Time In Urdu Like A Pro

If you are wondering how to speak like a local and have great ice-breaking topics to discuss with native speakers, try to involve yourself in their culture first. Basically, the culture in Urdu-speaking countries, like Pakistan, is particular in many aspects, such as in clothing with its unique and diverse looks. In addition, among locals, great conversation starters can be about sports, especially cricket, which is the most popular in those regions. 

And of course, talking about the time will always be one of the most essential conversations you can have while visiting other countries. However, telling the time in Urdu is quite a tricky one. So keep reading to become a master of it!

Referencing The Times Of The Day

To tell and ask the time in Urdu, you must be able to reference the times of the day correctly. Here is a list of the basics:

Time Of Day In EnglishTime Of Day In Urdu
(Transliterated)
Time Of Day In Urdu
(Arabic)
MorningصبحSubah
Noonقبل دوپہرQabal Dopeher
AfternoonدوپہرDopeher
EveningشامShaam
NightراتRaat
Midnightآدھی راتAdhiraat
Early Morningصبح سویرےSubah Saverey
AMصبح/دوپہرSubah/Dopeher
PMرات/شامShaam/Raat
O’clockبجےBaajey
Times of the day

Times Of The Day

Referring to AM (before noon) can be only Subah. PM can be afternoon, evening, or night – that is, Dopeher, Shaam or Raat. Therefore, it is important to mention the time in reference to early or later in the day. 

  • Dopeher would be from 12:00 – 4:00 PM
  • Shaam would be 4:00 – 8:00 PM
  • 8:00 PM onwards is known as Raat

Although the Urdu translation for AM and PM in reference to the 12-hour clock can get a little bit tough, the Urdu language does not literally translate these. Rather the references mentioned above are more appropriate in spoken Urdu.

Time References In Urdu

Here are some handy time references in Urdu.

Time Reference (English)Time Reference In Urdu (Arabic)Time Reference In Urdu (Transliterated)
HourگھنٹہGhanta
MinuteمنٹMinute
SecondسیکنڈSecond
TimeوقتWaqt
Half pastساڑھےSaarey
Quarter pastسواSaawa
Time References in Urdu

How To Tell The Time In Urdu Correctly

Constructing a grammatically correct statement is a must. The correct and accurate way of telling time in Urdu in a sentence is to follow the SOV sequence to make complete sense. This would be the subject first, then the object, and then the verb. Commonly SVO is used. And this may be why Urdu translation may be a little complicated.

You may consider your sentences age-appropriate if relevant. For example, the word aap is used for “you” for those who are older. But for younger people, the word tum is sufficient. In comparison to Hindi language, Urdu is sometimes more formal, and you may find people often use aap for those who are younger and older in age.

Urdu phrases such as almost or about midnight takriban raat barabaje or takriban adhiraat ko are also often used. Other time related sentences would be raat sawa gyara baajey for 11:00PM; subah sarey nou baajey for 9:30AM.

Telling The Time In Urdu

The following chart shows typical usage of sentences in Urdu which relate to asking the time in different ways in any event. These sentences are used in asking time daily. Some of the familiar examples are given below in Urdu 

  • وقت کیا ہواہے؟ (Waqt Kiya hova hai?) –What is the time?
  • آپکی گھڑی پر کیا وقت ہوا  ہے؟ (Aapki ghari per kia waqt hova hai?) -What time is it on your watch?

Before moving further, here is an additional pattern of Urdu words used in telling or asking time

English WordsUrdu translationRomanized Urdu
One second ایک سیکنڈEk second 
One hourایک گھنٹہEk Ghanta 
One minute ایک منٹEk mint
One dayایک دنEk din
One monthایک مہینہEk maheena
One yearایک سال Ek saal

Hour

The word hour translates to (ghanta) in the Urdu language. As you know there are twelve numbers on the clock and without knowing their names in Urdu you will not be able to learn how to ask or tell time. If you are in the transport sector of Pakistan, then you must be aware of this word.

For learning time you should be familiar with the twelve-hour concept of am and pm.

In the Urdu language, the word se pehar (سہ پہر) is used for noon, subah(صبح) for the morning, and sham (شام) for the evening. They relate to the letters or patterns of a.m and p.m in Urdu or the day period times. 

For the term o’clock the word (bajy) is used. To understand this concept, one should practice this format with the numbers of Urdu like this:

  •   ایک بجے  (Ek bajy) -One o’clock
  •   دو بجے  (Dou bajy) -Two o’clock 

Some other examples of these words are:

فٹبال میچ اس اتوار دس بجے کھیلا جائے گا ۔ (Football match is itwar das bajy khaila jayega) -This Sunday, a football match will be played at 10 o’clock in the morning.

Minutes

The next important element in telling time is the minute which is termed the same (منٹ) in Urdu. As we use these minutes as time references for accuracy, similarly in Urdu you have to be proficient in this. They are a little bit tricky and difficult but practice will make it easy for you. Here are some examples which will help you in understanding:

  • ایک بج کر اٹھایس منٹ ۔ (Aik baj kar athaees minute.) –One thirty-eight.
  • اس جمعہ کو دس بجے کر پچاس منٹ پر میٹنگ شروع ہوگی۔ (Is jumma ko das bajy kar pacha’s mint par meeting shuru hogi.) –The meeting will start at 10:50 this Friday

Concept Of Seconds 

The word second is pronounced the same in Urdu (سیکنڈ) so it’s not that difficult to understand this:

  • کچھ ہی سکعنڈ میں کلاس شروع ہو جائے گی ۔ (Kuch hi second mai class shuru hojayegi) -Class will be started soon in a few seconds.

Writing Time In Urdu

Some of the examples are given below which are used in reference to time and other Urdu phrases used in day period times:

  •  صبح ( subah) -Morning
  •   دوپہر (dopehar) -Noon
  •   سہ پہر (seeh pehar) -Afternoon 
  •    شام (Shaam) -Evening
  •   رات (Raat) -Night
  •  صبح سویرے (subahsawery) -Early Morning 
  •   آدھی رات (adhi Raat) -Midnight

Examples Of Time In Urdu

Here are basic words and phrases in Urdu about how to tell the time in Urdu:

English WordsUrdu WordsRomanized Urdu
It’s one O’clockایک بج رہا ہے۔Aik baj Raha hai
It’s two O’clockدو بج رہے ہیںDou baj rahy hn
It’s three O’clockتین بج گئے ہیںTeen baj gaye hn
It’s four O’clockچار بج رہے ہیں۔Char baj rahy hn
It’s five O’clockاس وقت پانچ بجے ہیںIs waqt panch bajy hn
It’s six O’clockچھ بج رہے ہیں۔Chae baj rahy hn
It’s seven O’clockسات بج رہے ہیں۔Saat baj rahy hn
It’s eight O’clockآٹھ بج رہے ہیں۔Aath bajy rahy hn
It’s nine O’clockنو بجے ہیںNo bajy hn
It’s ten O’clockیہ دس بجے ہیںYai das bajy hn
It’s eleven O’clockگیارہ بج رہے ہیں۔Ghiyara baj rahy hn
It’s twelve O’clockبارہ بج رہے ہیں۔Bara baj rahy hn

More Examples

Here are some examples of how the time is said with AM first and then PM later. Just take note that for 9 o/clock – AM you will need to use Subah nou baajey and Raat nou baajey for PM.

Examples Of Time (English)Examples Of Time In Urdu (Transliterated)Examples Of Time In Urdu (Arabic)
Nine o’clockصبح/رات 9 بجےSubah/Raat nou baajey
Ten o’clockصبح/رات 10 بجےSubah/Raat daas baajey
Eleven o’clockصبح/رات 11 بجےSubah/Raat gyara baajey
Twelve o’clockوپہر/رات 12 بجےDopeher/Raat bara baajey
One o’clockصبح / دوپہر 1 بجےSubah/Dopeher ek baajey
Two o’clockصبح / دوپہر 2 بجےSubah/Dopeher dou baajey
Three o’clockصبح / دوپہر 3 بجےSubah/Dopeher teen baajey
Four o’clockصبح / دوپہر 4 بجےSubah/Dopeher char baajey
Five o’clockصبح/شام 5 بجےSubah/Shaam paach baajey
Six o’clockصبح/شام 6 بجےSubah/Shaam chey baajey
Seven o’clockصبح/شام 7 بجےSubah/Shaam saat baajey
Eight o’clockصبح/رات 8 بجےSubah/Raat aat baajey
Examples of Time in Urdu

Does Urdu Use The 24 hours Clock?

Depending on your settings, many prefer to use the 24-hour clock, while others prefer the 12-hour clock. In the Urdu language, the 24-hour clock is not generally used. For example, people do not usually say: see you at 08:00HRS (Oh Eight Hundred hours). Rather it would be said in the same way as given above – Subah Aat bajey milte hai.

Learning The Urdu Language With Ling

Your Urdu learning experience can be improved depending on the resources that you will use. Enhance the quality of your learning with Ling, a gamified Language learning app that can exponentially support and entertain your Urdu language learning!

Ling has numerous resources, making it your perfect language learning companion to understand, speak, read and write Urdu. Things you search for on YouTube may not always have a structured lesson ready to grasp. With Ling, you are assured of complete immersion in the culture, a selection of vocabulary is available, and with quizzes, challenges, and games, the correct pronunciation is guaranteed. So, tailor the experience of your Urdu Language learning and learn at your own pace with Ling!

Finally, a word of caution! To avoid awkward situations in Urdu-speaking communities’ sensitive and conservative culture, visit our blog post on 20+ Easy Disaster Vocabulary In Urdu To Learn Now. Write and comment about your Urdu Language learning needs in the comments section!

Download the Ling App using Play Store or App Store to develop and improve new skills in Urdu.

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