بہترین
behtareen
The English phrase "best" is translated into Urdu as بہترین (behtareen).
بہترین is the superlative of the adjective good (adj).
Meaning: superlative of the adjective good (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the Persian-derived root behtar (better) and the suffix -een which forms the superlative degree.
Which one should you use?
You can also use Sab se acha to mean "the best". For describing something as "first-class" or "top-tier", use Awwal darja. If you want to express something more informal and enthusiastic, such as something "exceptional", "marvelous" or "mind-blowing", use Lajawaab.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Urdu, the base adjective for "good" is achha. The comparative form "better" is behtar, whereas the superlative "best" is expressed as behtareen.
How do you pronounce it?
behtareen
Did you know?
- If you want to call something 'the best' in an emotional or hyperbolic way, you might use لاجواب (lajawaab), which literally translates to 'having no answer' or 'unanswerable'.
- The word بہترین is a loanword from Persian, reflecting how Urdu absorbed high-register vocabulary from the Mughal courts to express refinement.
- In poetic Urdu, the idea of the 'best' is often linked to کمال, which refers to perfection and the completion of a quality.
Examples in context
- کتاب میری بہترین دوست ہے۔My best friend is a book.This sentence uses بہترین to describe a book as a friend.Tatoeba #1946093 by nabeel_tahir, translation #657164 by Eldad
- پورے وقت کے لیے میں بس آپ کے بہترین مفاد کا خیال رکھ رہا تھا۔I had your best interest in mind the entire time.This sentence uses بہترین to refer to someone's best interest.Tatoeba #10815018 by Roomba_Unit, translation #7586877 by _undertoad
- یہ میرا بہترین تجربہ تھا۔Yeh mera behtareen tajurba tha.This was my best experience.
Example conversation
Hamza and Aisha are talking about a restaurant they visited.
- حمزہ Hamzaعائشہ، کیا یہ کھانا بہترین تھا؟Aisha, kya yeh khana behtareen tha?Aisha, was this food the best?
- عائشہ Ayeshaہاں، یہ اب تک کا بہترین کھانا ہے۔Haan, yeh ab tak ka behtareen khana hai.Yes, this is the best food so far.
- حمزہ Hamzaمجھے خوشی ہے کہ آپ کو یہ پسند آیا۔Mujhe khushi hai ke aap ko yeh pasand aaya.I am glad that you liked it.
- عائشہ Ayeshaحمزہ، آپ نے بہت اچھا انتخاب کیا ہے۔Hamza, aap ne bohat acha intekhab kiya hai.Hamza, you made a very good choice.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
