Ways to say it
| Urdu | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| خُدا | xudā | masculine |
| دیوْتا | devtā | masculine |
| اِیشْوَر | īśvar | masculine |
| رَب | rab | masculine |
| بَھگْوان | bhagvān | masculine |
| اِلٰہ | ilāh | masculine |
| اِلٰہی | ilāhī | masculine |
All forms of the word for deity in Urdu are masculine. The term خُدا is a general term for God used widely across different religious contexts, though it is very common in Muslim-majority contexts. The related forms اللہ, خدا and پروردگار are used specifically when referring to the single deity of monotheism.
Which one should you use?
While خُدا is a general term, اللہ specifically refers to the one God in an Islamic context. The term رَب refers to God in the sense of 'Lord' or 'Sustainer' and is primarily used in an Islamic theological context. For Hindu religious contexts, the terms اِیشْوَر and بَھگْوان are used. The form دیوْتا and اِلٰہ and اِلٰہی are also available forms for a deity.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
xudā
When do people say it?
In Urdu, the phrase خدا حافظ (khuda hafiz) is a common way to say goodbye, translating to 'God be your protector'.
Did you know?
- Because Urdu is a hybrid language, it can describe a deity using words from three different language families: Semitic (اللہ), Indo-European (بَھگْوان) and Old Persian (خُدا).
- Although خُدا is central to Urdu, it is actually a Persian loanword. This reflects the deep historical influence of Persian culture on the development of the Urdu language.
- In many Urdu songs and poems, the word خدا is used to address a beloved human, treating the person as a divine figure through hyperbole.
Examples in context
- خدا ہمیں راستہ دکھائےMay God show us the way.
- خدا جانتا ہےGod knows.
- الله تم پر مہربان رہےMay God bless you.
- رب اسکی مدد کرےMay God help him/her.
- خُدا ہر جگہ موجود ہے۔khuda har jagah maujood hai.God is present everywhere.
- خُدا پر بھروسہ رکھیں۔khuda par bharosa rakhein.Have faith in God.
- خُدا آپ کی مدد کرے۔khuda aap ki madad kare.May God help you.
Example conversation
Ali and Zainab are discussing their faith during a quiet evening.
- علی Aliکیا آپ خُدا پر یقین رکھتی ہیں؟kya aap khuda par yaqeen rakhti hain?Do you believe in God?
- زینب Zainabجی ہاں، میں خُدا پر پورا یقین رکھتی ہوں۔ji han, mein khuda par poora yaqeen rakhti hoon.Yes, I have complete faith in God.
- علی Aliخُدا بہت مہربان ہے۔khuda bohat meharban hai.God is very kind.
- زینب Zainabبے شک، خُدا سب کا پالنے والا ہے۔beshak, khuda sab ka paalne wala hai.Undoubtedly, God is the provider for all.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “God” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
