میں سو رہا تھا
main so raha tha
In Urdu, "I was sleeping" is said as میں سو رہا تھا (main so raha tha).
This phrase is used to describe the state of being asleep at a specific time in the past.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of میں (I), سو رہا (sleeping/the act of sleeping) and تھا (was).
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase changes to the feminine form میں سو رہی تھی if the speaker is female.
How do you pronounce it?
main so raha tha
Did you know?
- In Urdu, the act of sleeping is often described using the root سو, which is also the word for 'hundred'.
- The word for 'was', تھا, shares a common ancestor with the Latin 'status' and the French 'été', meaning 'been'.
- Urdu speakers often use the phrase سو رہا تھا figuratively to describe someone who was ignoring their duties or unaware of a crisis.
Examples in context
- میں سو رہا تھا جب فون بجا۔mein so raha tha jab phone baja.I was sleeping when the phone rang.
- جب تم نے کال کی، میں سو رہا تھا۔jab tum ne call ki, mein so raha tha.I was sleeping when you called.
- میں سو رہا تھا، اس لیے میں نے نہیں سنا۔mein so raha tha, is liye mein ne nahi suna.I was sleeping, so I didn't hear.
Example conversation
Ayesha asks Hamza why he didn't answer her call.
- عائشہ Ayeshaتم نے میرا فون کیوں نہیں اٹھایا؟Tum ne mera phone kyun nahi uthaya?Why didn't you pick up my phone?
- حمزہ Hamzaمعذرت عائشہ، میں سو رہا تھا۔Maazrat Ayesha, mein so raha tha.Sorry Ayesha, I was sleeping.
- عائشہ Ayeshaکیا تم بہت تھکے ہوئے تھے؟Kya tum bohat thake hue thay?Were you very tired?
- حمزہ Hamzaہاں، میں بہت تھکا ہوا تھا۔Haan, mein bohat thaka hua tha.Yes, I was very tired.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries تھا, سو, میں, CC BY-SA 4.0.
