Greetings, Introductions, and Basic Urdu Phrases

Indo-Aryan language spoken in South Asia.

Urdu, like any other language, has its own set of greetings and phrases that are used in daily conversation. These phrases not only help in initiating and maintaining a conversation but also provide a glimpse into the culture and etiquette of the Urdu-speaking community. This unit will guide you through the common greetings, introductions, and basic phrases used in Urdu.

Urdu Greetings

Greetings are the first step in any conversation. They set the tone for the rest of the conversation. Here are some common Urdu greetings:

• Salam Alaikum: This is the most common greeting in Urdu. It means "Peace be upon you". The response to this greeting is "Wa Alaikum Assalam", which means "And upon you be peace".

• Subah Bakhair: This phrase is used to say "Good Morning".

• Sham Bakhair: This phrase is used to say "Good Evening".

• Khuda Hafiz: This is used to say "Goodbye". It literally means "May God be your Guardian".

Introducing Oneself in Urdu

Introducing oneself in Urdu is quite simple. Here are some phrases that can be used:

• Mera naam ... hai: This means "My name is ...". You can fill in the blank with your name.

• Main ... se hoon: This means "I am from ...". You can fill in the blank with your city or country.

• Meri umar ... saal hai: This means "I am ... years old". You can fill in the blank with your age.

Basic Urdu Phrases

Here are some basic phrases that are commonly used in daily conversation:

• Shukriya: This means "Thank you".

• Mujhe maaf kijiye: This means "Please forgive me" or "Sorry".

• Jee haan / Jee nahi: These mean "Yes" and "No" respectively.

• Mujhe samajh nahi aaya: This means "I did not understand".

• Kya aap mujhe madad kar sakte hain?: This means "Can you help me?".

• Main theek hoon: This means "I am fine".

Formal and Informal Addressing

In Urdu, the way you address someone depends on your relationship with them and their age. For someone older or in a formal setting, you would use "Aap" for "You". For someone of the same age or younger, or in an informal setting, you can use "Tum" or "Tu" for "You".

Remember, learning a new language is not just about memorizing words and phrases. It's also about understanding the culture and etiquette that comes with it. So, practice these greetings and phrases, and you'll be well on your way to becoming fluent in conversational Urdu.