شَہْد کی مَکھّی
śahd kī makhhīfeminine
The English word bee is شَہْد کی مَکھّی (śahd kī makhhī) in Urdu. Wiktionary also lists مَدھ مَکھّی (madh makhhī).
Meaning: insect (noun)
Ways to say it
| Urdu | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| شَہْد کی مَکھّی | śahd kī makhhī | feminine |
| مَدھ مَکھّی | madh makhhī | feminine |
While مَکھّی can refer to both a bee and a fly, using the full phrase helps clarify that you are talking about a bee.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase شَہْد کی مَکھّی literally translates to 'honey's bee' or 'bee of honey'.
Which one should you use?
The word مَکھّی is a general term used for both a bee and a fly. To specifically identify a honey bee and avoid ambiguity, you should use شَہْد کی مَکھّی.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both forms of the word are feminine.
How do you pronounce it?
śahd kī makhhī
Did you know?
- While an English speaker might say someone is a 'busy bee' to denote hard work, an Urdu speaker describing a person as مَکھّی (a fly/bee) might actually be implying that the person is an insignificant nuisance.
- In Urdu poetry, the image of a مَدھ مَکھّی is often used as a metaphor for a lover who is drawn to the 'sweetness' of their beloved's presence.
- While شَہْد means 'honey', it is also used as a formal adjective in Urdu to describe a voice that is exceptionally sweet or melodious.
Examples in context
- شَہْد کی مَکھّی پھول پر بیٹھی ہے۔shahd ki makkhi phool par baithi hai.The honey bee is sitting on the flower.
- شَہْد کی مَکھّی بہت تیز اڑتی ہے۔shahd ki makkhi bohat taiz urti hai.The honey bee flies very fast.
- باغ میں ایک شَہْد کی مَکھّی ہے۔baagh mein ek shahd ki makkhi hai.There is a honey bee in the garden.
Example conversation
Omar and Zainab are looking at a garden.
- عمر Omarزینب، وہاں دیکھو، ایک شَہْد کی مَکھّی ہے!Zainab, wahan dekho, ek shahd ki makkhi hai!Zainab, look there, it is a bee!
- زینب Zainabہاں عمر، یہ بہت خوبصورت ہے۔haan Omar, yeh bohat khoobsurat hai.Yes Omar, it is very beautiful.
- عمر Omarہمیں اس کے قریب نہیں جانا چاہیے۔humein is ke kareeb nahi jana chahiye.We should not go near it.
- زینب Zainabآپ ٹھیک کہہ رہے ہیں، چلو یہاں سے چلیں۔aap theek keh rahe hain, chalo yahan se chalein.You are right, let's leave from here.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bee” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
