میری بیوی
meri biwi
The English phrase "my wife" is translated into Urdu as میری بیوی (meri biwi).
This phrase is used by a married man to refer to his female spouse.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of میری (meri), meaning "my" and بیوی (biwi), meaning "wife".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
میری بیوی is the common way to say "my wife". However, میری بیگم is often considered more polite or higher status in social settings. For more formal, professional or literary contexts, you may use the phrase میری شریک حیات, which means "my life partner" or "my spouse".
How does it change in a sentence?
The possessive pronoun میری (meri) is the feminine form of "my", which must agree with the feminine noun بیوی (biwi).
How do you pronounce it?
meri biwi
Did you know?
- In poetic Urdu literature, a husband might refer to his wife using metaphors for the 'moon' or 'flower' rather than using the word بیوی.
- Depending on the region, some Urdu speakers may use گھر والی to mean 'the lady of the house' as a colloquial way to say 'my wife'.
- The term بی بی (bi-bi), which relates to بیوی (biwi), is still used in some South Asian contexts as a respectful way to address an older woman or a lady.
Examples in context
- آپ جاننا چاہتے ہو، میری بیوی نے مجھے کیوں چھوڑا؟Do you want to know why my wife left me?This example shows how to use میری بیوی when discussing a personal situation.Tatoeba #10815038 by Roomba_Unit, translation #7587150 by _undertoad
- میری بیوی بہت اچھی ہیں۔meri biwi bohat achi hain.My wife is very good.
- میری بیوی ڈاکٹر ہیں۔meri biwi doctor hain.My wife is a doctor.
Example conversation
Ali is introducing his spouse to Sarah.
- علی Aliسارہ، یہ میری بیوی ہے۔Sarah, yeh meri biwi hai.Sarah, this is my wife.
- سارہ Saraآپ سے مل کر خوشی ہوئی۔Aap se mil kar khushi hui.Nice to meet you.
- علی Aliوہ بہت اچھا کھانا بناتی ہے۔Woh bohat acha khana banati hai.She cooks very good food.
- سارہ Saraیہ تو بہت اچھی بات ہے!Yeh toh bohat achi baat hai!That is a very good thing!
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
