جاننا
jānnā/d͡ʒɑːn.nɑː/
The English phrase 'know' is translated into Urdu as جاننا (jānnā).
جاننا is a verb meaning to be acquainted or familiar with.
Meaning: be acquainted or familiar with (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the present tense, the form of the verb changes based on the subject. The masculine singular form is جانتا, while the feminine singular form is جانتی. For masculine plural subjects or when speaking politely, use جانتے. In the first person masculine, a common way to say 'I know' is جانتا ہوں.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /dʒɑːn.nɑː/. It has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- In Urdu, the root word for 'know' جان is also the word for 'life' or 'soul'. This creates a poetic overlap where knowing someone is often linked to the essence of life.
- The Urdu word جاننا is a very distant relative of the English word 'know'. Both descend from the same Proto-Indo-European root *ǵneh₃-.
- While جاننا means 'to know', the phrase جان نکلنا (literally 'life leaving') is used idiomatically to describe being extremely terrified or exhausted.
Examples in context
- یہ ہی تو میں جاننا چاہتا ہوں۔That's what I want to know.This sentence is useful for expressing what someone wants to know using جاننا.Tatoeba #1515436 by nabeel_tahir, translation #1256793 by CK
- آپ جاننا چاہتے ہو، میری بیوی نے مجھے کیوں چھوڑا؟Do you want to know why my wife left me?This sentence is useful for a question about why someone wants to know using جاننا.Tatoeba #10815038 by Roomba_Unit, translation #7587150 by _undertoad
- میں جاننا چاہتا ہوں۔I want to know.This sentence is useful for the simple statement 'I want to know' using جاننا.Tatoeba #13125628 by atitarev, translation #961147 by Adou_Fr
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a new student in class.
- عمر Omarکیا آپ نئے طالب علم کو جاننا چاہتے ہیں؟Kya aap naye talib-e-ilm ko janna chahte hain?Do you want to get to know the new student?
- زینب Zainabہاں، میں اسے جاننا چاہتی ہوں۔Haan, mein usay janna chahti hoon.Yes, I want to know him.
- عمر Omarوہ ایک بہت اچھا انسان ہے۔Woh ek bohat acha insaan hai.He is a very good person.
- زینب Zainabمیں اس سے ملنے کی کوشش کروں گی۔Mein us se milne ki koshish karungi.I will try to meet him.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry جاننا, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries جاننا, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
