Learning a new language is an exciting journey that opens doors to new cultures, perspectives, and opportunities. For English speakers aiming to reach a B2 level in Urdu, it’s crucial to understand and use an extensive range of vocabulary. This article will guide you through some essential Urdu words and phrases that will enhance your proficiency and help you communicate more effectively.
Commonly Used Verbs
Verbs are the backbone of any language. They are essential for constructing sentences and expressing actions, states, or occurrences. Here are some important Urdu verbs that you should be familiar with at the B2 level:
1. **کرنا** (Karna) – to do
– Example: میں اپنا کام کر رہا ہوں۔ (Main apna kaam kar raha hoon) – I am doing my work.
2. **ہونا** (Hona) – to be
– Example: وہ بہت خوش ہے۔ (Woh bohot khush hai) – He/She is very happy.
3. **کھانا** (Khana) – to eat
– Example: میں روٹی کھا رہا ہوں۔ (Main roti kha raha hoon) – I am eating bread.
4. **پینا** (Peena) – to drink
– Example: وہ پانی پی رہی ہے۔ (Woh pani pee rahi hai) – She is drinking water.
5. **لکھنا** (Likhna) – to write
– Example: میں ایک خط لکھ رہا ہوں۔ (Main ek khat likh raha hoon) – I am writing a letter.
6. **پڑھنا** (Parhna) – to read
– Example: وہ کتاب پڑھ رہا ہے۔ (Woh kitaab parh raha hai) – He is reading a book.
7. **سونا** (Sona) – to sleep
– Example: بچہ سو رہا ہے۔ (Bacha so raha hai) – The child is sleeping.
8. **دیکھنا** (Dekhna) – to see/watch
– Example: ہم فلم دیکھ رہے ہیں۔ (Hum film dekh rahe hain) – We are watching a movie.
Useful Nouns
Nouns are equally important as they help you name people, places, things, and ideas. Here are some nouns that are useful for B2 level learners:
1. **کتاب** (Kitaab) – book
– Example: یہ کتاب بہت دلچسپ ہے۔ (Yeh kitaab bohot dilchasp hai) – This book is very interesting.
2. **گھر** (Ghar) – house/home
– Example: میرا گھر چھوٹا ہے۔ (Mera ghar chhota hai) – My house is small.
3. **دوست** (Dost) – friend
– Example: میرا دوست بہت اچھا ہے۔ (Mera dost bohot acha hai) – My friend is very nice.
4. **شہر** (Shehar) – city
– Example: کراچی ایک بڑا شہر ہے۔ (Karachi ek bara shehar hai) – Karachi is a big city.
5. **کام** (Kaam) – work
– Example: مجھے آج بہت کام ہے۔ (Mujhe aaj bohot kaam hai) – I have a lot of work today.
6. **پانی** (Pani) – water
– Example: مجھے پانی چاہیے۔ (Mujhe pani chahiye) – I need water.
7. **وقت** (Waqt) – time
– Example: وقت بہت قیمتی ہے۔ (Waqt bohot qeemti hai) – Time is very precious.
8. **استاد** (Ustad) – teacher
– Example: میرا استاد بہت اچھا ہے۔ (Mera ustad bohot acha hai) – My teacher is very good.
Adjectives to Describe
Adjectives are essential for adding details and making your sentences more descriptive. Here are some adjectives you should know:
1. **بڑا** (Bara) – big
– Example: یہ گھر بہت بڑا ہے۔ (Yeh ghar bohot bara hai) – This house is very big.
2. **چھوٹا** (Chhota) – small
– Example: یہ کمرہ چھوٹا ہے۔ (Yeh kamra chhota hai) – This room is small.
3. **اچھا** (Acha) – good
– Example: یہ کھانا بہت اچھا ہے۔ (Yeh khana bohot acha hai) – This food is very good.
4. **برا** (Bura) – bad
– Example: یہ موسم برا ہے۔ (Yeh mausam bura hai) – This weather is bad.
5. **خوبصورت** (Khubsurat) – beautiful
– Example: یہ باغ بہت خوبصورت ہے۔ (Yeh bagh bohot khubsurat hai) – This garden is very beautiful.
6. **مہنگا** (Mehnga) – expensive
– Example: یہ کپڑے بہت مہنگے ہیں۔ (Yeh kapray bohot mehngay hain) – These clothes are very expensive.
7. **سستا** (Sasta) – cheap
– Example: یہ کتاب سستی ہے۔ (Yeh kitaab sasti hai) – This book is cheap.
8. **نیا** (Naya) – new
– Example: یہ گاڑی نئی ہے۔ (Yeh gaari nayi hai) – This car is new.
Common Adverbs
Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, providing additional context such as time, manner, place, or degree. Here are some common adverbs:
1. **ابھی** (Abhi) – now
– Example: وہ ابھی آ رہا ہے۔ (Woh abhi aa raha hai) – He is coming now.
2. **کل** (Kal) – yesterday/tomorrow
– Example: میں کل آیا تھا۔ (Main kal aaya tha) – I came yesterday.
3. **بہت** (Bohot) – very
– Example: یہ بہت مہنگا ہے۔ (Yeh bohot mehnga hai) – This is very expensive.
4. **جلدی** (Jaldi) – quickly
– Example: وہ جلدی سے بھاگا۔ (Woh jaldi se bhaga) – He ran quickly.
5. **آہستہ** (Aahista) – slowly
– Example: وہ آہستہ چل رہی ہے۔ (Woh aahista chal rahi hai) – She is walking slowly.
6. **ہر** (Har) – every
– Example: وہ ہر روز آتا ہے۔ (Woh har roz aata hai) – He comes every day.
7. **اکثر** (Aksar) – often
– Example: میں اکثر یہاں آتا ہوں۔ (Main aksar yahan aata hoon) – I often come here.
8. **کبھی کبھی** (Kabhi kabhi) – sometimes
– Example: وہ کبھی کبھی دیر سے آتا ہے۔ (Woh kabhi kabhi der se aata hai) – He sometimes comes late.
Prepositions and Conjunctions
Prepositions and conjunctions are essential for linking words and phrases, thereby adding coherence to your speech and writing. Here are some important ones:
1. **کے ساتھ** (Ke saath) – with
– Example: میں اپنے دوست کے ساتھ آیا ہوں۔ (Main apne dost ke saath aaya hoon) – I have come with my friend.
2. **کے لئے** (Ke liye) – for
– Example: یہ تحفہ آپ کے لئے ہے۔ (Yeh tohfa aap ke liye hai) – This gift is for you.
3. **کے بعد** (Ke baad) – after
– Example: کھانے کے بعد چلتے ہیں۔ (Khanay ke baad chalte hain) – Let’s go after eating.
4. **کے سامنے** (Ke samne) – in front of
– Example: اسکول کے سامنے ایک پارک ہے۔ (School ke samne ek park hai) – There is a park in front of the school.
5. **اور** (Aur) – and
– Example: وہ روٹی اور چائے لے آیا۔ (Woh roti aur chai le aaya) – He brought bread and tea.
6. **یا** (Ya) – or
– Example: آپ چائے یا کافی پینا چاہیں گے؟ (Aap chai ya coffee peena chahenge?) – Would you like to drink tea or coffee?
7. **لیکن** (Lekin) – but
– Example: میں جانا چاہتا ہوں لیکن وقت نہیں ہے۔ (Main jana chahta hoon lekin waqt nahi hai) – I want to go but there is no time.
8. **کیونکہ** (Kyunke) – because
– Example: میں نہیں آسکتا کیونکہ میں بیمار ہوں۔ (Main nahi aa sakta kyunke main bemar hoon) – I can’t come because I am sick.
Expressions and Phrases
Expressions and phrases are crucial for sounding more natural and fluent in Urdu. Here are some useful ones:
1. **آپ کا کیا حال ہے؟** (Aap ka kya haal hai?) – How are you?
– Response: میں ٹھیک ہوں، آپ کیسے ہیں؟ (Main theek hoon, aap kaise hain?) – I am fine, how are you?
2. **معاف کیجئے گا** (Maaf kijiye ga) – Excuse me/Sorry
– Example: معاف کیجئے گا، کیا آپ مدد کر سکتے ہیں؟ (Maaf kijiye ga, kya aap madad kar sakte hain?) – Excuse me, can you help me?
3. **شکریہ** (Shukriya) – Thank you
– Example: آپ کی مدد کے لئے شکریہ۔ (Aap ki madad ke liye shukriya) – Thank you for your help.
4. **براہ کرم** (Barah-e-karam) – Please
– Example: براہ کرم، مجھے پانی دیں۔ (Barah-e-karam, mujhe pani dein) – Please give me water.
5. **کیا آپ کو پتہ ہے؟** (Kya aap ko pata hai?) – Do you know?
– Example: کیا آپ کو پتہ ہے کہ وہ کہاں ہے؟ (Kya aap ko pata hai ke woh kahan hai?) – Do you know where he/she is?
6. **کیا میں اندر آ سکتا ہوں؟** (Kya main andar aa sakta hoon?) – May I come in?
– Example: کیا میں اندر آ سکتا ہوں؟ (Kya main andar aa sakta hoon?) – May I come in?
Numbers and Time
Understanding numbers and telling time are essential skills in any language. Here are some basics in Urdu:
1. **ایک** (Ek) – one
2. **دو** (Do) – two
3. **تین** (Teen) – three
4. **چار** (Chaar) – four
5. **پانچ** (Paanch) – five
6. **چھ** (Chhe) – six
7. **سات** (Saat) – seven
8. **آٹھ** (Aath) – eight
9. **نو** (Nau) – nine
10. **دس** (Das) – ten
To tell time:
– **گھنٹہ** (Ghanta) – hour
– **منٹ** (Minute) – minute
– Example: یہ دو بجے ہیں۔ (Yeh do baje hain) – It is two o’clock.
Days of the Week
Knowing the days of the week is fundamental. Here they are in Urdu:
1. **پیر** (Peer) – Monday
2. **منگل** (Mangal) – Tuesday
3. **بدھ** (Budh) – Wednesday
4. **جمعرات** (Jumeraat) – Thursday
5. **جمعہ** (Jumma) – Friday
6. **ہفتہ** (Hafta) – Saturday
7. **اتوار** (Itwaar) – Sunday
Colors
Colors are useful for describing objects and expressing preferences. Here are some common colors in Urdu:
1. **سفید** (Safed) – white
2. **کالا** (Kala) – black
3. **لال** (Laal) – red
4. **نیلا** (Neela) – blue
5. **پیلا** (Peela) – yellow
6. **سبز** (Sabz) – green
7. **نارنجی** (Narangi) – orange
8. **جامنی** (Jamni) – purple
Practice Makes Perfect
To effectively learn and retain these Urdu words, it’s essential to practice regularly. Here are some tips for integrating these words into your daily routine:
1. **Flashcards**: Create flashcards with the Urdu word on one side and the English translation on the other. Review them daily.
2. **Labeling**: Label objects around your house with their Urdu names to reinforce vocabulary.
3. **Conversation**: Engage in conversations with native Urdu speakers or language exchange partners to practice using new words in context.
4. **Writing**: Write short essays or diary entries in Urdu, incorporating the new vocabulary you have learned.
5. **Listening**: Listen to Urdu music, watch movies, or follow Urdu news channels to enhance your listening skills and familiarize yourself with the pronunciation and usage of words.
Remember, consistency is key. Regular practice and exposure to the language will help you reach your B2 level goals in Urdu. Happy learning!