Well known for their impressive social and cultural heritage, Urdu people have a blend of particularities in their language and food culture. The Urdu language, the most commonly spoken in Pakistan and India, identifies them. Their food shines, and the delicious blend of flavors plays an integral role in their lives, especially for Pakistanis, where everything starts and ends with food. Considering this, let’s explore the linguistic and culinary traditions of Urdu people to discover their cultural landscape.
Table Of Contents
Linguistic Aspects Of Urdu People: A Brief Overview
Urdu is the national language of Pakistan. Moreover, several Pakistanis speak Urdu as their mother tongue. So, let’s explore the distinct aspects of language transforming the culture of Urdu people:
Origin And Evolution
Urdu is an Indo-Aryan language invented as a lingua franca by the soldiers of the Indian subcontinent to simplify their communication. Therefore, Urdu vocabulary is widely derived from around seven languages: Persian, Arabic, Hindi, Turkish, and Local dialects.
Script And Vocabulary
Urdu follows the Persian script, or a perso-arabic script of Nastaliq style. Therefore, we write all three languages from right to left. In terms of vocabulary, the Urdu language contains more Persian and Arabic words. On the other hand, Hindi and Urdu have shared connections with the Khari Boli dialect. Yet, they aren’t mutually intelligible because of the difference in scripts, as the former uses Devanagari script.
Urdu As A Literary Language
Urdu is mainly famous for its rich literature, especially poetry, because of its expressive nature. The lyrical Urdu pronunciation gives a rhythmic effect, making it a perfect partner for poetic verses. However, Persian literature has also greatly influenced several Urdu writers and poets.
That’s why most Urdu poets write in Persian or include a few Persian words in their work. A prominent example is that most of Allama Iqbal’s Urdu poetry is the translation of its Persian poems. So, we can safely say that Persian cultural tradition has greatly influenced the Urdu-speaking community.
Food Culture Of Urdu People: Delve Into The Tasty Cuisine
Now, let’s look at some Pakistani dishes and learn about the food culture of the Urdu people.
Staples/Main Dish
Fragrant And Spicy Rice – بریانی (Biryani)
It is a rice dish made with spices, dried fruits, and meat (beef, mutton, or chicken). The recipe varies according to the region; for example, Delhi biryani is less spicy, and Hyderabadi biryani is full of spices.
Savory Porridge – حلیم (Haleem)
It is a thick and savory porridge made with lentils, wheat, and meat (mutton, beef, or chicken). It is cooked for hours on low flame, mixing to achieve the required flavors and consistency.
Grilled Meat Skewers – کباب (Kabab)
These are spicy and juicy meat skewers grilled on a stove, oven, or coals. The famous Pakistani kebabs are shami kabab, Chappli Kabab, Seekh Kabab, and Aloo ke Kabab.
Sweets And Desserts
Rice Pudding – کھیر (Kheer)
This sweet dish is made by combining boiling milk, sugar, rice, and a few spices, such as cardamon, raisins, and nuts.
Pretzel-Shaped Sweet- جلیبی – (Jalebi)
It is a sweet dish made with dough shaped like a coil or pretzel and then soaked in sugar syrup.
Deep-Fried Sweet Dough Balls – گلاب جامن (Gulab Jaman)
These are also deep-fried sweet balls made with dough and dipped into sugar syrup to make it flavorful. Some are also garnished with nuts and saffron.
Beverages
Tea – چائے (Chai)
It is generally a strong, milky beverage cooked on medium flame with spices like cardamon, elaichi, ginger, and cloves. Yet, it also varies from person to person.
Yogurt Based Drink – لسی (Lassi)
It is a sweet or salty drink made by whisking yogurt and milk together. It can also be flavored with fruits, like mango.
A Sweet Drink – روح افزا (Rooh Afza)
It is a sweet drink made with rose-flavored syrup and can be mixed with water or milk as per taste. In fact, Pakistanis also add it to their sweet dishes as a sweetener.
Food-Related Vocabulary In Urdu
| English | Urdu | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| Fragrant Rice Dish; prone to regional variations | بریانی | biryani |
| A slow-cooked stew with meat and flavorful broth | نہاری | nihari |
| A creamy and spiced curry cooked in yogurt | کورمہ | qorma |
| Bread made with wheat | روٹی | roti |
| Sweet | مٹھائی | mithai |
| Cuisine | پکوان | pakwan |
| Ingredient | اجزاء | ajza |
| Boil | اُبالنا | ubalna |
| Grill | سیکنا | saikna |
| Fry | تلنا | talna |
| Steam | بھاپ میں پکانا | Bhaap main pakana |
| Condiments | چٹنی | chatni |
| Delicious | لذیذ | Lazeez |
| Tasty | مزیدار | Mazedar |
| Bland | پھیکا | Pheeka |
| Full of Flavor | ذائقے دار | Zaiqedaar |
| Tasteless | بد ذائقہ | Bad zaiqa |
How Do You Say ‘Urdu People’ In Urdu?
As native Urdu speakers, we say “Urdu people” as اردو بولنے والے لوگ (Urdu bolne wale log). This phrase literally means “Urdu-speaking people” or “people who speak Urdu.” The Urdu language, on the other hand, is referred to as اردو زبان (Urdu zaban) or زبانِ اردو (zaban e Urdu).
Frequently Asked Questions About Urdu People
1. What Religion Does Pakistan Practice?
The main religion in Pakistan is Islam, and Muslim communities constitute 98% of Pakistan’s population. Yet, besides the Islamic religion, four other minority religions are also present in Pakistan. These are namely Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, and Sikhism. Considering this, they also often speak different languages. Like, Hindus speak Hindi language, Sikhs speak Punjabi, Christians speak English, and Muslims generally are Urdu speakers, but some also speak other regional languages.
2. Is Pakistani Food Like Indian Food?
Pakistani and Indian food are similar because of their shared cultural and historical factors related to spices and cuisines. Both prefer food with a perfect blend of spices and herbs cooked with special techniques. Yet, the main difference is that Pakistanis mostly prefer meat-based food, while Indians prefer vegetable or curry-based cuisine. For example, biryani is a popular dish in both Pakistan and India, but nihari is specifically popular in Pakistan.
3. What Is The Difference Between Pakistani Urdu And Indian Urdu?
The major difference lies in the accent and some vocabulary. This is because they have been influenced by their regional languages. Pakistani Urdu includes words from Punjabi, Sindhi, and Pashto. Indian Urdu is more influenced by the Hindi language.
For instance, we say pen in Pakistani Urdu as قلم (qalam), but Indian Urdu takes an English loanword and pronounce it the same as پین (pen). Moreover, in Pakistani Urdu, we say thank you as شکریہ (shukria) and in Indian Urdu as دھنیواد (dhanaywad).
Closing Words
Exploring different people’s linguistic, religious, social, and food cultures is really interesting. Learning the vocabulary related to this topic to communicate with the natives is equally important. With tools such as the Ling app, you can find interactive and fun language learning lessons that make learning a second language easy and enjoyable. So don’t be discouraged! With the right tools and dedication, you’ll be speaking Urdu sooner than you think.
