چابی
cābī/t͡ʃɑː.biː/feminine
In Urdu, the word for key is چابی (cābī). Wiktionary also lists تالی (tālī).
Meaning: device designed to open and close a lock (noun)
Ways to say it
| Urdu | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| چابی | cābī | /t͡ʃɑː.biː/ (Standard, Urdu) | feminine |
| تالی | tālī | /t̪ɑː.liː/ (Standard, Urdu) | feminine |
The word چابی refers to a device designed to open and close a lock. It can be used to refer to literal and figurative keys.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun چابی is feminine. The plural form of this noun is چابیوں. Because the word ends in a long vowel, the base form چابی remains unchanged when used with postpositions like 'ne' or 'ko'.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced as /tʃɑː.biː/. It has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- The Urdu word چابی was borrowed from the Portuguese word chave.
- In Urdu, the phrase چابی دینا literally means 'to give the key' but is used as an idiom for handing over total control of a situation to someone else.
- The word چابی is used not only for door keys but also for the specific winding key used to power old mechanical toys and clocks.
Examples in context
- میری چابی گم ہو گئی ہے۔I've lost my key.This sentence is useful for expressing that you have lost your چابی.Tatoeba #1537986 by nabeel_tahir, translation #3950503 by sabretou
- مجھے أپنی چابی کو ڈھونڈنے کی ضرورت ہے۔I must find my key.This sentence is useful for expressing a necessity to find your چابی.Tatoeba #5398142 by eeyinn, translation #2387261 by CK
- کیا آپ کے پاس گاڑی کی چابی ہے؟Kya aap ke paas gaari ki chaabi hai?Do you have the car key?
Example conversation
Ali and Sarah are standing near their front door.
- علی Aliسارہ، کیا آپ کو گھر کی چابی مل گئی؟Sarah, kya aap ko ghar ki chaabi mil gayi?Sarah, did you find the house key?
- سارہ Saraنہیں، مجھے چابی نہیں مل رہی۔Nahi, mujhe chaabi nahi mil rahi.No, I cannot find the key.
- علی Aliفکر نہ کریں، میں آپ کی مدد کرتا ہوں۔Fikar na karein, mein aap ki madad karta hoon.Don't worry, I will help you.
- سارہ Saraشکریہ علی، یہ بہت مہربانی ہوگی۔Shukriya Ali, yeh bohat meherbani hogi.Thank you Ali, that would be very kind.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “key” translations and entries چابی, تالی, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries تالی, چابی, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
