ہے
The English phrase "is" is translated into Urdu as ہے.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Urdu, the verb "to be" must agree in both number (singular/plural) and gender (masculine/feminine) with the subject. While ہے is used for singular subjects, you should use ہیں for plural subjects or to show respect to a single person. The word ہے is strictly for the present tense. For the past tense "was", you would use تھا (masculine) or تھی (feminine). To express "will be" instead of "is", you use future tense forms like ہوگا (masculine) or ہوگی (feminine).
Did you know?
- While ہے is the standard word for 'is', Urdu can omit the copula entirely in certain present-tense sentences. In these cases, the 'is' is understood through context rather than spoken.
- The word ہے is closely related to the Bengali word আছে and the Gujarati word છે. These words all evolved from similar roots in the ancient languages of the Indian subcontinent.
- The word ہے is used for 'is', but when Urdu speakers want to emphasize that something 'exists' or 'is present', they often use the word موجود alongside it.
Examples in context
- یہ بہت بڑا ہے۔This is too big.This example shows how to use ہے to describe size.Tatoeba #1487998 by nabeel_tahir, translation #55535 by CK
- یہ گھر خالی ہے۔The house is vacant.This example shows how to use ہے to describe the status of a house.Tatoeba #1580448 by nabeel_tahir, translation #68740 by CK
- کیا یہ سفید ہے؟Is it white?This example shows how to use ہے in a question about color.Tatoeba #2123938 by nabeel_tahir, translation #282567 by CK
- 263 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ali and Zainab are talking about the weather.
- علی Aliآج موسم بہت اچھا ہے۔Aaj mausam bohat acha hai.The weather is very good today.
- زینب Zainabہاں، دھوپ بہت تیز ہے۔Haan, dhoop bohat tez hai.Yes, the sunlight is very strong.
- علی Aliکیا ہوا بہت گرم ہے؟Kya hawa bohat garam hai?Is the air very hot?
- زینب Zainabنہیں، ہوا ٹھنڈی ہے۔Nahi, hawa thandi hai.No, the air is cool.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ہے, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
