اندھیرا
andherā/ən.d̪ʱeː.ɾɑː/
The English word 'dark' translates to Urdu as اندھیرا (andherā).
اندھیرا is used to describe having an absolute or relative lack of light. While it is technically a noun meaning 'darkness', it is frequently used in Urdu to function as the adjective 'dark' in common descriptive phrases. For formal settings, the term تاریک رات is used to mean 'dark night'. To convey the color black through the concept of darkness, the word سیاہ is often used and the word گہرا, which primarily means 'deep', can also be used metaphorically to describe darkness.
Meaning: having an absolute or relative lack of light (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the process of it becoming dark or night falling, use the phrase اندھیرا ہو جانا. To say 'it is dark' in a descriptive sense, use the form اندھیرا ہے.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ən.d̪ʱeː.ɾɑː/. The romanization is andherā and it has 3 syllables.
Did you know?
- The word اندھیرا shares a linguistic root with the word for 'blind' in several Indo-Aryan languages. This suggests an ancient conceptual link between the absence of light and the inability to see.
- The formal term تاریک used for 'dark' is borrowed from Persian. It is often reserved for high literature or formal descriptions of a 'dark' night, whereas اندھیرا is used in daily speech.
- Urdu speakers may use گہرا to describe a dark voice or a deep tone. This extends the concept of 'darkness' from visual light to auditory frequency.
Examples in context
- میں نے گھر پہنچنا ہے اس سے پہلے کہ اندھیرا ہو جائے۔I have to get home before it gets dark.This sentence is useful for expressing the need to reach home before it gets dark using اندھیرا.Tatoeba #13390865 by Roomba_Unit, translation #2764282 by verdulo
- باہر بہت اندھیرا ہے۔bahar bohat andhera hai.It is very dark outside.
- کمرے میں اندھیرا کیوں ہے؟kamray mein andhera kyun hai?Why is it dark in the room?
Example conversation
Hamza and Zainab are sitting in a room when the lights go out.
- حمزہ Hamzaاچانک بہت اندھیرا ہو گیا۔achanak bohat andhera ho gaya.It suddenly became very dark.
- زینب Zainabکیا حمزہ نے لائٹ بند کر دی؟kya Hamza ne light band kar di?Did Hamza turn off the light?
- حمزہ Hamzaنہیں، میں نے نہیں کی۔nahi, mein ne nahi ki.No, I didn't.
- زینب Zainabتو پھر یہاں اندھیرا کیوں ہے؟to phir yahan andhera kyun hai?Then why is it dark here?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dark” translations and entries اندھیرا, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
