ادھر آؤ
idhar aaoeveryday, friends and family
In Pakistan, where Urdu is the national language, people say ادھر آؤ (idhar aao) to a friend or a child. To an elder or a stranger, ادھر آئیں (idhar aaen) is the polite form. It is also called یہاں آئیں (yahan aaen).
Meaning: request to come closer (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Pakistan | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ادھر آؤ | idhar aao | everyday, friends and family |
| ادھر آئیں | idhar aaen | polite |
| یہاں آئیں | yahan aaen | polite |
ادھر (idhar) means "over here" and یہاں (yahan) means "here". Both work with آؤ (aao) or آئیں (aaen).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Urdu has three levels of "you". آ (aa) is very blunt and is kept for small children or very close friends. آؤ (aao) is friendly and آئیں (aaen) is respectful.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Using آ (aa) with an adult you do not know sounds rude. When in doubt, choose آئیں (aaen).
Did you know?
- باجی (baji) is how many Pakistanis call an older sister, and it is also used for older women outside the family.
Examples in context
- ادھر آؤ، بیٹا۔idhar aao, beta.Come here, son.
- براہ مہربانی ادھر آئیں۔barah-e-meharbani idhar aaen.Please come here.
- یہاں آئیں اور بیٹھیں۔yahan aaen aur baithen.Come here and sit down.
Example conversation
Nadia calls her little brother Hamza to the table in their home in Lahore.
- Nadiaحمزہ، ادھر آؤ۔Hamza, idhar aao.Hamza, come here.
- Hamzaجی باجی، کیا ہوا؟ji baji, kya hua?Yes sister, what happened?
- Nadiaکھانا تیار ہے، ہاتھ دھو لو۔khana tayyar hai, haath dho lo.Food is ready, wash your hands.
