میری جان
meri jaan
In Urdu, "my love" is expressed as میری جان (meri jaan).
میری جان is a term of endearment used to address someone who is deeply loved. While it can be used for romantic partners, it is also commonly used by elders or close friends to express deep affection or endearment.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "my life" (meri = my, jaan = life/soul).
How does it change in a sentence?
The possessive adjective meri (feminine) agrees with the noun jaan (feminine), even if the person being addressed is male.
How do you pronounce it?
meri jaan
Did you know?
- While meri jaan is an expression of love, saying jaan nikal gayi literally means 'my life has left' but is used idiomatically to describe extreme exhaustion or shock.
- Adding the suffix -u to the root creates janu, a more casual and modern 'slang' version of the phrase used predominantly by youth.
- The word جان is a Persian loanword, making it a linguistic cousin to the English word 'soul' through the shared Indo-European roots of many ancient concepts.
Examples in context
- میری جان، تم میری دنیا ہو۔My Love, you are my world.
- میری جان، تم کہاں ہو؟meri jaan, tum kahan ho?My love, where are you?
- خدا کرے تم ہمیشہ خوش رہو، میری جان۔khuda kare tum hamesha khush raho, meri jaan.May you always be happy, my love.
- تم میری جان ہو، سارہ۔tum meri jaan ho, Sarah.You are my love, Sarah.
Example conversation
Hamza and Sarah are talking on the phone in the evening.
- حمزہ Hamzaمیری جان، کیا تم ٹھیک ہو؟meri jaan, kya tum theek ho?My love, are you okay?
- سارہ Saraہاں حمزہ، میں بالکل ٹھیک ہوں۔haan Hamza, mein bilkul theek hoon.Yes Hamza, I am perfectly fine.
- حمزہ Hamzaمجھے تمہاری بہت یاد آ رہی ہے۔mujhe tumhari bahut yaad aa rahi hai.I am missing you very much.
- سارہ Saraمیں بھی تمہیں بہت یاد کرتی ہوں۔mein bhi tumhein bahut yaad karti hoon.I miss you a lot too.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries جان, CC BY-SA 4.0.
