رونا
ronā/ɾoː.nɑː/
The English verb "cry" is translated into Urdu as رونا (ronā).
The verb رونا is an intransitive verb meaning to shed tears.
Meaning: intransitive: to shed tears (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that someone is currently crying, the continuous form is constructed using the auxiliary verb ہونا (to be), such as in رو رہا ہے. To express that someone will cry, the future tense is formed by adding the future suffix to the stem, such as in روئے گا.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced as /ɾoː.nɑː/. It has two syllables: ronā.
Did you know?
- While رونا refers to shedding tears, Urdu possesses different verbs for 'shouting' or 'crying out' in pain, so using the wrong one might suggest someone is merely weeping rather than screaming.
- Culturally, the act of رونا is often associated with the concept of غم ('grief'), a central pillar of Urdu ghazal poetry that treats sorrow as a refined aesthetic experience.
- While رونا is the standard word for crying, the term سسکنا is used specifically for 'sobbing' or 'gasping', describing the physical sound of the breath.
Examples in context
- وہ بہت رونا چاہتی ہے۔voh bohat rona chahti hai.She wants to cry a lot.
- رونا بند کرو۔rona band karo.Stop crying.
Example conversation
Zainab is upset after watching a sad movie.
- علی Aliزینب، کیا تم رونا چاہتی ہو؟Zainab, kya tum rona chahti ho?Zainab, do you want to cry?
- زینب Zainabہاں، یہ فلم بہت اداس ہے۔Haan, yeh film bohat udaas hai.Yes, this movie is very sad.
- علی Aliکوئی بات نہیں، رونا ٹھیک ہے۔Koi baat nahi, rona theek hai.It's okay, it is fine to cry.
- زینب Zainabشکریہ، علی۔Shukriya, Ali.Thank you, Ali.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cry” translations and entries رونا, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
