دن
The English phrase 'days' is translated into Urdu as دن.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word دن serves as both the singular 'day' and the plural 'days' when it is not preceded by a number or a postposition. However, the form دنوں is used in the oblique case when the word is followed by a postposition, such as میں (in) or سے (from). For example, when expressing 'in [number] days', you should use the oblique form دنوں with the postposition میں to say دنوں میں.
Did you know?
- The word دن is a distant relative of the English word 'day'. Both descend from the Proto-Indo-European root *dyew- which referred to the sky or the shining light of the heavens.
- Even though Urdu is written in the Perso-Arabic script, the word دن is actually an ancient Sanskrit inheritance that has survived through Middle Hindi.
- In Urdu poetry and songs, the word دن is often paired with رات ('night') to symbolize the passage of a lifetime or the cycle of human existence rather than just a 24 hour period.
Examples in context
- چند دن کی چھٹی لے لو۔Take a few days off.This example shows how to use دن when suggesting someone take a few days off.Tatoeba #4327740 by nabeel_tahir, translation #3635959 by CK
- میں دو دن سے نہیں سویا۔I haven't slept for two days.This sentence uses دن to describe a period of two days.Tatoeba #13388327 by Roomba_Unit, translation #3243908 by mervert1
- تم تین سے چار دن تک بستر پر رہو۔You should stay in bed for three or four days.This example uses دن to specify a duration of three or four days.Tatoeba #1497712 by nabeel_tahir, translation #72764 by CK
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hamza and Zainab are discussing their upcoming travel plans.
- حمزہ Hamzaکیا ہم اگلے چند دن گھومنے جائیں گے؟Kya hum aglay chand din ghoomnay jayen gay?Will we go wandering for the next few days?
- زینب Zainabہاں، یہ دن بہت اچھے ہوں گے۔Haan, yeh din bohat achay hon gay.Yes, these days will be very good.
- حمزہ Hamzaمجھے وہ دن یاد رہیں گے۔Mujhay woh din yaad rahain gay.I will remember those days.
- زینب Zainabحمزہ، ہمیں تیاری شروع کرنی چاہیے۔Hamza, humein tayari shuru karni chahiye.Hamza, we should start preparing.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries دن, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
