بہتر
behtar/bɪɦ.t̪əɾ/
The English word 'better' is translated into Urdu as بہتر (behtar).
بہتر is used as the comparative form of the adjectives 'good' or 'well'. The phrase بہتر ہے کہ is commonly used to give advice or suggest a preferable course of action, similar to 'it is better that' or 'you had better'.
Meaning: comparative of the adjectives good or well (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'better than' in a comparison, the word سے is added after بہتر.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced as /bɪɦ.t̪əɾ/. It has two syllables.
Did you know?
- Urdu has a distinct way of expressing 'much better' by adding the word کہیں ('somewhere') before بہتر, which literally translates to 'better by some place'.
- Despite sounding almost identical to the English word 'better', بہتر has no linguistic connection to it. They are false cognates that coincidentally share a similar sound and meaning.
- While بہتر means 'better', Urdu speakers often use the phrase شکر ہے ('thanks be to God') as a culturally ingrained response when someone's health is described as بہتر.
Examples in context
- بہتر ہے کہ تم یہی رک جائو۔You had far better stay here.This sentence is useful for expressing the phrase 'you had better'.Tatoeba #1600202 by nabeel_tahir, translation #16712 by Dejo
- ٹوم کی طبیعت کافی بہتر ہو چکی ہے۔Tom is much better now.This sentence is useful for showing how to describe someone's health as being 'better'.Tatoeba #10775407 by Roomba_Unit, translation #6440209 by CK
- تم اس سے بہت بہتر تیرنا جانتے ہو۔You know how to swim much better than him.This sentence is useful for demonstrating a comparison using 'better than'.Tatoeba #12032630 by Roomba_Unit, translation #13388228 by Roomba_Unit
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ahmed and Aisha are discussing which movie to watch.
- احمد Ahmedیہ فلم پہلے والی سے بہتر ہے۔Yeh film pehle wali se behtar hai.This movie is better than the previous one.
- عائشہ Ayeshaہاں، اس کی کہانی بہت اچھی ہے۔Haan, is ki kahani bohat achi hai.Yes, its story is very good.
- احمد Ahmedکیا ہم اسے ابھی دیکھیں؟Kya hum isay abhi dekhein?Should we watch it now?
- عائشہ Ayeshaہاں، یہ ایک بہتر خیال ہے۔Haan, yeh ek behtar khayal hai.Yes, that is a better idea.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “better” translations and entries بہتر, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries بہتر, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
