دوپٹہ
The English word headscarf is translated into Urdu as دوپٹہ.
Meaning: piece of material worn over the head (noun)
Which one should you use?
While the English term headscarf is a general word for any piece of material worn over the head, دوپٹہ implies a specific cultural garment that can be worn over the head or draped over the shoulders.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Punjab region, the informal term chunni is used to refer to a headscarf.
Did you know?
- Despite being a 'headscarf', a دوپٹہ is often significantly longer than a typical English 'scarf', sometimes reaching two to three meters in length.
- There are distinct styles of draping the دوپٹہ that can signal which region of Pakistan or India the wearer is from.
- In formal Urdu poetry, the way a دوپٹہ is draped can be used as a literary symbol to represent a character's modesty or social status.
Examples in context
- میرا دوپٹہ کہاں ہے؟merā dupatta kahāñ hai?Where is my headscarf?
- اس کا دوپٹہ بہت خوبصورت ہے۔is kā dupatta bahut khūbsūrat hai.Her headscarf is very beautiful.
- مجھے نیا دوپٹہ خریدنا ہے۔mujhe nayā dupatta kharīdnā hai.I need to buy a new headscarf.
Example conversation
Sarah is looking for her headscarf before leaving the house.
- سارہ Saraحمزہ، کیا آپ نے میرا دوپٹہ دیکھا ہے؟Hamza, kyā āp ne merā dupatta dekhā hai?Hamza, have you seen my headscarf?
- حمزہ Hamzaنہیں، میں نے نہیں دیکھا۔nahīñ, maiñ ne nahīñ dekhā.No, I haven't seen it.
- سارہ Saraیہ میز پر ہی ہونا چاہیے تھا۔yeh mez par hī honā chāhiye thā.It should have been right here on the table.
- حمزہ Hamzaشاید وہ صوفے پر ہے۔shāyad woh sofa par hai.Maybe it is on the sofa.
