Greetings and politeness in Urdu
Hello, please, thank you, sorry: the eleven openers everything else builds on. Play the ten Urdu words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 11 Urdu phrases in this lesson
- السلام علیکمas-sa-LAM a-LAY-kum
- Hello
- صبح بخیرsubh ba-KHAIR
- Good morning
- شام بخیرshaam ba-KHAIR
- Good evening
- خدا حافظkhu-DA HA-fiz
- Goodbye
- پھر ملیں گےphir mi-LAIN gay
- See you
- براہ کرمba-RAH-eh ka-RAM
- Please
- شکریہshuk-RI-ya
- Thank you
- کوئی بات نہیںKO-ee baat na-HEEN
- You're welcome
- مجھے افسوس ہےmoo-JHAY af-SOHS hai
- Sorry
- معاف کیجیےmu-AAF KEE-ji-yeh
- Excuse me
- آپ سے مل کر خوشی ہوئیaap say mil kar KHOO-shee hoo-EE
- Nice to meet you
The standard Islamic greeting used by almost everyone in Pakistan regardless of context. Always respond with "Wa alaikum assalam" to complete the exchange. Using this immediately marks you as respectful.
Said in the morning hours. "Bakhair" means "in goodness," so the phrase wishes someone a good morning. The "kh" is a guttural sound from the back of the throat, like clearing it gently.
Literally "may God be your guardian", using the Persian word for God. The Arabic-flavored "Allah hafiz" has been steadily displacing it in Pakistan since the 1980s; both are warm, respectful and appropriate everywhere.
Literally we will meet again.
Formal "please," used in written requests and polite speech. In everyday spoken Urdu, politeness is often conveyed through verb endings (-iye, -ain) rather than this word, but it is never out of place.
The everyday thank-you. Perfectly polite in most situations. The final "a" is soft. Sometimes written "shukriya" in romanization.
Literally "it is nothing" or "no matter." The warmest and most natural response to thanks in Urdu. Spoken with a slight dismissive wave it conveys generous hospitality.
Used to apologize or to get someone's attention politely. The root "maaf" means forgiveness. For physically passing through a crowd you may also hear "maaf karna" which is slightly less formal.