خوبصورت
khoobsuratadjective, everyday
In Pakistan the everyday word for handsome is خوبصورت (khoobsurat), which means "beautiful" and works for men and women. وجیہ (wajeeh) is a more formal word for a dignified, good-looking man. It is also called خوش شکل (khush shakl) and ہینڈسم (handsome).
Meaning: good-looking man (adjective)
Ways to say it
| Pakistan | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| خوبصورت | khoobsurat | adjective, everyday |
| وجیہ | wajeeh | adjective, formal |
| خوش شکل | khush shakl | adjective, good looking |
| ہینڈسم | handsome | casual, English loan |
For a compliment you say آپ بہت خوبصورت لگ رہے ہیں (aap bohat khoobsurat lag rahe hain), "you look very handsome". To a friend, use تم (tum) and لگ رہے ہو (lag rahe ho).
Which one should you use?
خوش شکل (khush shakl) is literally "good-faced". The English ہینڈسم (handsome) is common among young people.
When do people say it?
Pakistanis often add ماشاء اللہ (mashallah) to a compliment, so people say ماشاء اللہ، بہت خوبصورت (mashallah, bohat khoobsurat), to protect against the evil eye.
Did you know?
- The phrase نظر نہ لگے (nazar na lage), "may the evil eye not touch you", is often said right after a compliment in Pakistan.
Examples in context
- ماشاء اللہ، آپ بہت خوبصورت لگ رہے ہیں۔mashallah, aap bohat khoobsurat lag rahe hain.Mashallah, you look very handsome.
- وہ ایک وجیہ آدمی ہے۔woh aik wajeeh aadmi hai.He is a dignified, handsome man.
- تمہارا بھائی بڑا ہینڈسم ہے۔tumhara bhai bara handsome hai.Your brother is quite handsome.
Example conversation
Before a wedding in Lahore, Sana compliments her cousin Hassan on his sherwani.
- Sanaحسن، تم تو بہت خوبصورت لگ رہے ہو!Hassan, tum to bohat khoobsurat lag rahe ho!Hassan, you look very handsome!
- Hassanشکریہ، شیروانی کا کمال ہے۔shukriya, sherwani ka kamal hai.Thanks, it is the sherwani.
- Sanaماشاء اللہ، نظر نہ لگے۔mashallah, nazar na lage.Mashallah, may no evil eye touch you.
