Bill Randy

In Urdu, as spoken in Pakistan, “princess” is شہزادی (shahzādī).

In Pakistan people say مبارک ہو (mubarak ho) for almost any good news, from a new job to a wedding.

A banana is کیلا (kelā) in Pakistan, and several bananas are کیلے (kele). Fruit sellers do not use the English word.

In Pakistan the Urdu word for “queen” is ملکہ (malka). Another word, رانی (rānī), is common in stories and also works as a girl’s name.

In Pakistan “watermelon” in Urdu is تربوز (tarbūz). It is a favorite summer fruit, sold from carts and cut into slices.

The most common goodbye in Pakistan today is اللہ حافظ (Allah hafiz), “God protect you”.

Urdu speakers in Pakistan often say مہربانی (meharbānī) or the fuller براہ مہربانی (barāh-e-meharbānī) for “please”.

Pakistanis count in lakhs and crores, so one million is دس لاکھ (das lākh), “ten lakh”. The English word is also borrowed as ملین (milyan).

In Pakistan an older brother is addressed as بھائی جان (bhāī jān) or just بھائی (bhāī).

In Pakistan people wish a happy Christmas with کرسمس مبارک (krismas mubārak). Some also say میری کرسمس (merī krismas), copying the English.