گاڑی
gāṛī/ɡɑː.ɽiː/feminine
The English word car is گاڑی (gāṛī) in Urdu. Wiktionary also lists کار (kār).
Meaning: automobile, a vehicle steered by a driver (noun)
Ways to say it
| Urdu | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| گاڑی | gāṛī | /ɡɑː.ɽiː/ (Standard, Urdu) | feminine |
| کار | kār | /kɑːɾ/ (Standard, Urdu) | feminine |
Both words refer to a vehicle steered by a driver. Note that the term Sheesha is used specifically for a windshield.
Which one should you use?
گاڑی is a general term that can refer to any vehicle, such as a train, cart or carriage. In contrast, کار is a direct loanword from English and is used specifically for an automobile.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both گاڑی and کار are feminine nouns, so any associated adjectives or verbs must follow feminine agreement. When using the plural form of گاڑی with postpositions, such as in the phrase 'in the cars', it becomes گاڑیوں.
How do you pronounce it?
gāṛī (/ɡɑː.ɽiː/)
Did you know?
- While کار is a loanword from English, it also exists as a distinct word in Persian and Sanskrit with different roots, meaning 'work' or 'doer'.
- Depending on the region, someone might use گاڑی to describe a train specifically, which could lead to confusion for a tourist looking for a car.
Examples in context
- آپ کی کونسی گاڑی ہے؟Which car is yours?This sentence is useful for asking about car ownership using گاڑی.Tatoeba #12902387 by Roomba_Unit, translation #2522334 by krisztianp
- اسے گاڑی چلانا نہیں آتی۔He isn't able to drive a car.This sentence is useful for describing the ability to drive a گاڑی.Tatoeba #1515444 by nabeel_tahir, translation #1135490 by CM
- گاڑی کا حادثہ کیسے پیش آیا؟How did the car accident come about?This sentence is useful for discussing a car accident using گاڑی.Tatoeba #1733361 by nabeel_tahir, translation #37560 by mailohilohi
- 15 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ali and Zainab are standing in a parking lot near a new car.
- علی Aliکیا یہ نئی گاڑی ہے؟Kya yeh nayi gaadi hai?Is this a new car?
- زینب Zainabجی ہاں، یہ میری نئی گاڑی ہے۔Ji haan, yeh meri nayi gaadi hai.Yes, this is my new car.
- علی Aliیہ گاڑی بہت خوبصورت ہے۔Yeh gaadi bohat khubsurat hai.This car is very beautiful.
- زینب Zainabشکریہ، میں اسے بہت پسند کرتی ہوں۔Shukriya, mein isay bohat pasand karti hoon.Thank you, I like it very much.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “car” translations and entries گاڑی, کار, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries کار, گاڑی, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
