کَلِیسا
kalīsāmasculine
The English word 'church' can be translated into Urdu using several forms, including کَلِیسا (kalīsā). Wiktionary also lists کَنِیسَہ (kanīsa) and گِرْجا (girjā).
Meaning: house of worship (noun)
Ways to say it
| Urdu | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| کَلِیسا | kalīsā | masculine |
| کَنِیسَہ | kanīsa | masculine |
| گِرْجا | girjā | masculine |
| چَرْچ | carc | masculine |
In Urdu, several words are used to refer to a church as a house of worship.
Which one should you use?
The term گِرْجا is very common in spoken Urdu and is often used to refer to the physical church building or the Christian community. For a more formal expression, you can use the phrase گرجا گھر.
How do you pronounce it?
kalīsā
Did you know?
- Because Urdu is a composite language, the different words for church reflect a blend of Greek, Hebrew and Persian influences in a single vocabulary.
- The term کَلِیسا is not just a translation but a linguistic cousin to the Greek 'ekklesia', linking Urdu religious vocabulary directly to ancient Mediterranean roots.
- The term گِرْجا (girjā) has roots in Persian, where it originally referred to a 'temple' or 'shrine' used for various religious purposes before being specifically associated with Christianity in Urdu.
Examples in context
- ہم نیچے گرجا گھر جا رہے ہیں۔We are going to the church downstairs.
- کچھ لوگ عیسائی عبادت گاہ جانے کے لئے یہاں سے گزرتے ہیں۔Some people pass by here to go to the Christian place of worship.
- وہ کَلِیسا بہت پرانی ہے۔Woh kaleesa bohat purani hai.That church is very old.
- آج کَلِیسا میں ایک تقریب ہے۔Aaj kaleesa mein ek taqreeb hai.There is an event in the church today.
Example conversation
Ali and Fatima are discussing a local landmark.
- علی Aliکیا آپ نے وہ کَلِیسا دیکھا؟Kya aap ne woh kalisaa dekha?Did you see that church?
- فاطمہ Fatimaہاں، وہ بہت پرانی عمارت ہے۔Haan, woh bohat purani imarat hai.Yes, it is a very old building.
- علی Aliکیا ہم اندر جا سکتے ہیں؟Kya hum andar ja sakte hain?Can we go inside?
- فاطمہ Fatimaجی، ہم ضرور جا سکتے ہیں۔Ji, hum zaroor ja sakte hain.Yes, we definitely can.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “church” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
