بچہ
baccā/bət̪.t͡ʃɑ(ː)/masculine
The Urdu word for baby is بچہ (baccā).
The term refers to a very young human being, similar to the English word child.
Meaning: very young human being (noun)
Which one should you use?
While بچہ is the common word for a baby, the formal term شیر خوار (shīr-khwār) is used to specifically denote an infant or a nursing child.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some regions, munna is used for a baby boy, while munni is used for a baby girl.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine form is بچہ (baccā). The feminine form for a baby girl or female child is بچی (baccī), and the plural form for babies or children is بچے (baccē).
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /bət̪.tʃɑ(ː)/. It has two syllables.
Did you know?
- The word بچہ shares an ancient ancestor with the English word 'calf', tracing back to a common Proto-Indo-Iranian root.
- In Urdu, the word بچہ is frequently used as a colloquial insult to describe an adult who is naive or lacks life experience.
- Even when a baby is female, Urdu speakers may use the masculine form میرا بچہ ('my baby') as a generic, gender-neutral term of endearment.
Examples in context
- میں نے ایک خوبصورت بچہ دیکھا۔I saw a beautiful baby.
- بچہ سو رہا ہے۔baccha so raha hai.The baby is sleeping.
- یہ بچہ بہت پیارا ہے۔yeh baccha bohat pyara hai.This baby is very cute.
- بچہ رو رہا ہے۔baccha ro raha hai.The baby is crying.
Example conversation
A couple is visiting a friend's house and sees a newborn.
- سارہ Saraیہ بچہ بہت چھوٹا ہے۔yeh baccha bohat chhota hai.This baby is very small.
- عمر Omarہاں، یہ ابھی صرف ایک ماہ کا ہے۔haan, yeh abhi sirf ek maah ka hai.Yes, he is only one month old.
- سارہ Saraکیا بچہ ٹھیک ہے؟kya baccha theek hai?Is the baby okay?
- عمر Omarجی ہاں، وہ بہت خوش ہے۔jee haan, woh bohat khush hai.Yes, he is very happy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “baby” translations and entries بچہ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries بچہ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
