صرف
sirf/sɪɾf/
The English phrase 'just' is translated into Urdu as صرف (sirf).
صرف is used to express the sense of 'only' or 'just' when you want to indicate a limitation in quantity, amount or scope.
Which one should you use?
While صرف means 'only' or 'just' in the sense of limitation, it cannot be used to express 'just' in the sense of 'recently' (for example, to say 'I just arrived'). For informal situations, you might use بس to indicate a limited or specific quantity or duration.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Urdu, صرف typically precedes the noun or the phrase it is intended to modify, which is a similar position to its use in English.
How do you pronounce it?
/sɪɾf/
Did you know?
- While صرف is the standard word for 'only', the informal alternative بس is often used as a non-verbal signal to tell a server or street vendor to stop pouring tea or food.
- The word صرف shares a common ancestor with the Arabic word for 'exchange' or 'trading', as it originally referred to the act of turning or diverting something.
- In some grammatical contexts, the root of صرف is also used in the term 'Sarf', which refers specifically to the study of Arabic morphology.
Examples in context
- مجھے صرف ایک دفعہ جانے دے۔Let me go just once.This sentence shows how to use صرف to limit an action to once.Tatoeba #1812391 by nabeel_tahir, translation #241960 by CM
- شاید وہ صرف توارد ہے۔That's probably just a coincidence.This sentence demonstrates using صرف to express that something is merely a coincidence.Tatoeba #6313744 by eeyinn, translation #5132162 by CK
- تمہارا جواب بالکل صحیح تھا۔Your answer was just right.
- میں ابھی گھر سے نکلا ہوں۔I just left home.
Example conversation
Zainab is asking Umar about how much money he has.
- زینب Zainabعمر، کیا تمہارے پاس پیسے ہیں؟Umar, kya tumhare paas paisay hain?Umar, do you have any money?
- عمر Omarمیرے پاس صرف دس روپے ہیں۔mere paas sirf das rupay hain.I have just ten rupees.
- زینب Zainabیہ تو بہت کم ہیں۔yeh to bohat kam hain.That is very little.
- عمر Omarہاں، میں جانتا ہوں۔haan, mein jaanta hoon.Yes, I know.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry صرف, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries صرف, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
