Ways to say it
| Urdu | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| گھر | ghar | /ɡʱəɾ/ (Standard, Urdu) | masculine |
| مکان | makān | /mə.kɑːn/ (Standard, Urdu) | masculine |
Both گھر and مکان are used to refer to a house or a structure in which someone lives. While گھر is the standard word for a home, مکان is typically used when the focus is on the physical building or dwelling itself.
Which one should you use?
گھر is the common, everyday word for home. In contrast, مکان is a more formal or technical term, often used in legal, real estate or official contexts to emphasize the physical structure of a house.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain parts of North India and Pakistan, the term کوٹھی is used specifically to refer to a large mansion or a stately house.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To say "in the house", you add the postposition میں after گھر to form گھر میں. To indicate possession or a relationship to the house, such as "of the house" or "house's", use the postposition کا after گھر to form گھر کا.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of گھر is ghar (/ɡʱəɾ/).
Did you know?
- The word گھر shares a very ancient ancestor with the English word 'garden', as both trace back to the Proto-Indo-European root *gʰerdʰ- meaning to enclose.
- The term کوٹھی does not just describe a large house, but historically referred to a counting-house or a warehouse used by officials during the Mughal era.
- In Urdu, the concept of 'home' often extends beyond a building to include the entire family unit, meaning گھر can be used to refer to one's household or family.
Examples in context
- ٹام گھر پہ ہے۔Tom's home.This sentence is useful for showing the location of someone using گھر.Tatoeba #2123944 by nabeel_tahir, translation #2107537 by CK
- گھر پہ کون ہے؟Who's at home?This sentence is useful for asking who is present at home using گھر.Tatoeba #10820146 by Roomba_Unit, translation #7593072 by feudalism
- میں گھر پہ ہوں۔I'm at home.This sentence is useful for stating that one is at home using گھر.Tatoeba #2116710 by nabeel_tahir, translation #404046 by zipangu
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sara and Umar are talking on the phone about their location.
- سارہ Saraکیا آپ ابھی گھر پر ہیں؟Kya aap abhi ghar par hain?Are you at home right now?
- عمر Omarجی، میں اپنے گھر پر ہوں۔Ji, mein apne ghar par hoon.Yes, I am at my home.
- سارہ Saraٹھیک ہے، میں گھر آ رہی ہوں۔Theek hai, mein ghar aa rahi hoon.Okay, I am coming home.
- عمر Omarمیں آپ کا انتظار کر رہا ہوں۔Mein aap ka intezar kar raha hoon.I am waiting for you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “home” translations and entries گھر, مکان, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries مکان, گھر, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
