ہمت
himmat/ɦɪm.mət̪/
The English word 'courage' is translated into Urdu as ہمت (himmat).
ہمت refers to the ability to do frightening things. In everyday Urdu, it is also frequently used to mean 'strength', 'energy' or 'the capacity to endure' something difficult.
Meaning: ability to do frightening things (noun)
Which one should you use?
The word بہادری is a more formal synonym for ہمت specifically when referring to physical bravery or heroism.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ɦɪm.mət̪/ (himmat).
When do people say it?
A common idiom involving this word is ہمت ہارنا, which means to lose heart or to give up due to lack of courage.
Did you know?
- The phrase ہمت can be used to describe the audacity or 'nerve' to do something rude, similar to saying 'how dare you'.
- The word ہمت is not native to Urdu but was borrowed from Persian and originally traces back to Arabic.
- The word ہمت is a linguistic traveler that is used almost identically in Punjabi, Gujarati and Marathi, despite the different scripts and origins of those languages.
Examples in context
- اس میں اتنی ہمت نہیں ہے۔is mein itni himmat nahi hai.He does not have that much courage.
- آج کل ہمت کی ضرورت ہے۔aaj kal himmat ki zaroorat hai.Nowadays, courage is needed.
- اس نے بہت ہمت سے کام کیا۔us ne bohat himmat se kaam kiya.She acted with great courage.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a difficult job interview.
- سارہ Saraکیا تم نے انٹرویو کے لیے ہمت دکھائی؟kya tum ne interview ke liye himmat dikhayi?Did you show courage for the interview?
- احمد Ahmedہاں، میں نے بہت ہمت سے بات کی۔haan, mein ne bohat himmat se baat ki.Yes, I spoke with much courage.
- سارہ Saraاحمد، تم بہت بہادر ہو۔ahmad, tum bohat bahadur ho.Ahmed, you are very brave.
- احمد Ahmedشکریہ، سارہ۔shukriya, sarah.Thank you, Sarah.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ہمت, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ہمت, CC BY-SA 4.0.
