ہِیرا
hīrāmasculine
The English word diamond is translated into Urdu as ہِیرا (hīrā). Wiktionary also lists اَلْماس (almās).
Meaning: gemstone (noun)
Ways to say it
| Urdu | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ہِیرا | hīrā | masculine |
| اَلْماس | almās | masculine |
The term refers to the gemstone.
Which one should you use?
The word 'hīrā' is the most common, everyday term for a diamond in Urdu. In contrast, the word 'almās' is a more formal or literary term for diamond, often used in poetry or high-register writing.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is hīrā.
Did you know?
- In many Urdu idiomatic expressions, a 'diamond' is contrasted with 'glass' (شیشہ) to differentiate between something that is truly authentic and something that is merely a deceptive imitation.
- The formal term اَلْماس is borrowed from Arabic, where it shares the same meaning, reflecting the deep historical influence of Arabic on Urdu literary terms.
- The term ہِیرا, which is used for a diamond, can also be used metaphorically to describe a person of exceptional character or a 'gem' of a human being.
Examples in context
- وہ خوبصورت ہیرا لائی۔She brought a beautiful diamond.
Example conversation
Omar and Zainab are looking at jewelry in a shop.
- عمر Omarزینب، یہ ہِیرا دیکھو۔Zainab, yeh heera dekho.Zainab, look at this diamond.
- زینب Zainabیہ تو بہت خوبصورت ہے!Yeh to bohat khoobsurat hai!It is very beautiful!
- عمر Omarمجھے لگتا ہے کہ یہ بہترین ہے۔Mujhe lagta hai ke yeh behtareen hai.I think it is the best one.
- زینب Zainabہاں، اس کی چمک لاجواب ہے۔Haan, is ki chamak lajawab hai.Yes, its shine is wonderful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “diamond” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
