Ways to say it
| Urdu | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| حَرُوفِ تَہَجی | harūf-i tahajī |
| اَلِف با | alif bā |
| اَبْجَد | abjad |
The word حَرُوفِ تَہَجی refers to the ordered set of letters used in the language. You may also use حروف to mean "letters," which can act as a general term for the alphabet.
What does it mean word for word?
حَرُوفِ تَہَجی is composed of harūf, meaning "letters" and tahajī, meaning "spelling" or "phonetic articulation."
Which one should you use?
While حَرُوفِ تَہَجی is the standard technical term for "alphabet," the phrase اَلِف با is more commonly used in casual or educational settings, such as when teaching children how to read. The term اَبْجَد refers specifically to the traditional system of ordering letters based on their numerical values.
How do you pronounce it?
harūf-i tahajī
When do people say it?
The phrase اَلِف با is a common way to refer to the alphabet, named after the first two letters of the Urdu/Arabic script.
Did you know?
- The term اَبْجَد refers to a system where each letter of the alphabet is assigned a specific number, allowing words to be used as mathematical codes.
- The word حَرُوفِ تَہَجی is a compound where حَرُوف is the plural of حَرْف, which can also mean a 'edge' or 'border' in a literal sense.
- In Urdu calligraphy, the alphabet is not just a tool for writing but is treated as a visual art form where the shape of a letter can convey emotion.
Examples in context
- اردو کی حَرُوفِ تَہَجی بہت خوبصورت ہے۔Urdu ki huroof-e-tahajji bohat khubsurat hai.The Urdu alphabet is very beautiful.
- کیا آپ کو حَرُوفِ تَہَجی یاد ہیں؟Kya aap ko huroof-e-tahajji yaad hain?Do you remember the alphabet?
- بچے حَرُوفِ تَہَجی سیکھ رہے ہیں۔Bachay huroof-e-tahajji seekh rahay hain.Children are learning the alphabet.
Example conversation
Sarah is helping Omar with his Urdu homework.
- سارہ Saraعمر، کیا آپ نے حَرُوفِ تَہَجی یاد کیے؟Omar, kya aap ne haroof-e-tahaji yaad kiye?Omar, did you memorize the alphabet?
- عمر Omarجی سارہ، میں نے کوشش کی ہے۔Ji Sarah, main ne koshish ki hai.Yes Sarah, I have tried.
- سارہ Saraبہت اچھے، اب مجھے سنائیں۔Bohat achay, ab mujhe sunayen.Very good, now recite them to me.
- عمر Omarٹھیک ہے، میں شروع کرتا ہوں۔Theek hai, main shuru karta hoon.Okay, I am starting.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “alphabet” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
