مصروف
masrūf/məs.ɾuːf/
The English word 'busy' is translated into Urdu as مصروف (masrūf). Wiktionary also lists مشغول (maśġūl).
Meaning: engaged or preoccupied (adj)
Ways to say it
| Urdu | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| مصروف | masrūf | /məs.ɾuːf/ (Standard, Urdu) |
| مشغول | maśġūl | /məʃ.ɣuːl/ (Standard, Urdu) |
Both مصروف and مشغول are used to describe someone or something that is engaged, occupied or preoccupied.
Which one should you use?
While both words mean 'busy' or 'occupied', مصروف is the standard and more common form used in formal or standard written Urdu. مشغول is a common synonym that is used interchangeably with it.
How does it change in a sentence?
To use these adjectives correctly, you must pair them with the appropriate verb form. For 'I am busy', use مصروف ہوں (masrūf hū̃). For 'He/She/It is busy', use مصروف ہے (masrūf hai). For 'You are busy' (in a polite/formal sense) or 'They are busy', use مصروف ہیں (masrūf haĩ).
How do you pronounce it?
masrūf (məs.ɾuːf)
Did you know?
- Urdu speakers often use these words in a 'polite avoidance' strategy, where claiming to be مصروف is a social way to decline an invitation without saying 'no'.
- While مشغول means 'busy', it is also used in a more positive or leisurely sense to describe someone who is 'absorbed' or 'engrossed' in a hobby.
- The word مصروف is borrowed from Arabic, where its root is related to the idea of spending or diverting, similar to how one 'spends' their time.
Examples in context
- میں ابھی بھی مصروف ہوں۔I'm still busy.This sentence shows how to express being currently busy using مصروف.Tatoeba #1440824 by nabeel_tahir, translation #255663 by CK
- ٹام پیر کو شاید مصروف ہو گا۔Tom is probably going to be busy on Monday.This sentence uses مصروف to describe a future state of being busy.Tatoeba #4241543 by nabeel_tahir, translation #3620204 by CK
- تم یہاں کافی مصروف لگ رہے ہو۔You seem pretty busy here.This sentence uses مصروف to describe how someone appears to be busy.Tatoeba #2104935 by nabeel_tahir, translation #2046784 by CK
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hamza calls Sarah to see if she is free to talk.
- حمزہ Hamzaسارہ، کیا تم ابھی مصروف ہو؟Sara, kya tum abhi masroof ho?Sarah, are you busy right now?
- سارہ Saraنہیں حمزہ، میں مصروف نہیں ہوں۔nahi Hamza, mein masroof nahi hoon.No Hamza, I am not busy.
- حمزہ Hamzaکیا ہم فون پر بات کر سکتے ہیں؟kya hum phone par baat kar sakte hain?Can we talk on the phone?
- سارہ Saraجی ہاں، ضرور۔ji han, zaroor.Yes, certainly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “busy” translations and entries مصروف, مشغول, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries مشغول, مصروف, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
