صاف
sāf/sɑːf/
To say clean in Urdu, use صاف (sāf).
The word صاف is used to describe something that is free from dirt or grime. It is also the standard word used to mean 'clear' or 'transparent', such as when describing clear water or a clear sky. When you want to describe something that is not just clean but also neat and well-maintained, you can use the phrase صاف ستھرا.
Meaning: (transitive) to remove dirt from a place or object (verb)
Which one should you use?
While صاف is the standard term for hygiene-related cleanliness, it can also mean 'clear' in different contexts. If you wish to express the specific idea of 'clean and tidy', use the reduplicated form صاف ستھرا.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective صاف (clean) becomes the transitive verb 'to clean' by adding the auxiliary verb کرنا (to do), forming صاف کرنا. To express the act of 'keeping' something clean, you can use the phrase صاف رکھنا or the more idiomatic صاف ستھرا رکھنا.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is sāf and the IPA is /sɑːf/.
Did you know?
- The word صاف is often used in the idiom صاف گوئی, which refers to 'plain speaking' or being brutally honest.
- The word صاف traces its roots back to Classical Persian, which in turn borrowed it from the Arabic word صَافٍ.
- When an Urdu speaker says صاف صاف بتاؤ (tell me clearly), the repetition of صاف functions as an intensifier meaning 'straight up' or 'without hesitation'.
Examples in context
- میں اپنا کمرہ روزانہ صاف کرتا ہوں۔I clean my room almost every day.This sentence shows the use of صاف in the context of daily cleaning.Tatoeba #4269494 by nabeel_tahir, translation #1740399 by Amastan
- وہ اپنے کمرے کو ہمیشہ صاف رکھتا ہے۔He always keeps his room clean.This sentence demonstrates using صاف to describe keeping a room in a clean state.Tatoeba #12902382 by Roomba_Unit, translation #289209 by CK
- ہمیشہ اپنی نیت صاف رکھو.Always keep your intentions clean.This sentence shows the metaphorical use of صاف regarding intentions.Tatoeba #4568233 by tariquehussaing, translation #5909415 by actualtp
- کھانے کے برتن ہمیشہ پاک رکھیں۔Always keep the dishes clean.
- اپکی کار بہت صاف ستھری ہے۔Your car is very clean.
Example conversation
Fatima and Umar are at home discussing household chores.
- فاطمہ Fatimaکیا آپ نے میز صاف کی؟kya aap ne maiz saaf ki?Did you clean the table?
- عمر Omarجی، میں نے اسے ابھی صاف کیا۔jee, maine usay abhi saaf kiya.Yes, I just cleaned it.
- فاطمہ Fatimaبہت اچھا، اب کچن بھی صاف کر دیں۔bohat acha, ab kitchen bhi saaf kar dein.Very good, now please clean the kitchen too.
- عمر Omarٹھیک ہے، میں ابھی صاف کر دیتا ہوں۔theek hai, mein abhi saaf kar deta hoon.Okay, I will clean it right now.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry صاف, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries صاف, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
