What does it mean word for word?
Literally, the phrase آپ سے مل کر خوشی ہوئی translates to "Meeting with you, happiness happened".
Which one should you use?
While آپ سے مل کر خوشی ہوئی is the standard polite form, you can use تم سے مل کر خوشی ہوئی in informal situations, such as when speaking to peers or people younger than you.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
آپ سے مل کر خوشی ہوئی is a polite and respectful expression. The use of آپ makes it suitable for addressing strangers or elders. Conversely, using تم instead of آپ makes the phrase informal.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase آپ سے مل کر خوشی ہوئی, the word khushi (happiness) is a feminine noun, which is why the verb hui (happened/occurred) is used in its feminine form.
How do you pronounce it?
aap se mil kar khushi hui
When do people say it?
When someone says they are happy to meet you, a common response is مجھے بھی آپ سے مل کر خوشی ہوئی, which means "I am also happy to meet you."
Did you know?
- The formal word for 'you' آپ is derived from an ancient root meaning 'breath' or 'spirit'.
- Using the informal تم (tum) instead of آپ (aap) when meeting a stranger can be perceived as an intentional insult rather than just being casual.
- While the phrase translates to 'happiness happened', Urdu frequently describes emotions as events that 'occur' rather than states that a person 'feels'.
Examples in context
- آپ سے مل کر خوشی ہوئی۔I am pleased/happy to meet you.
- آپ سے مل کر اچھا لگا۔I found meeting you to be good.
- آپ سے مل کر خوشی ہوئی، جناب۔aap se mil kar khushi hui, janaab.Nice to meet you, sir.
- آپ سے مل کر خوشی ہوئی، سارہ۔aap se mil kar khushi hui, Sarah.Nice to meet you, Sarah.
- جی، آپ سے مل کر خوشی ہوئی!ji, aap se mil kar khushi hui!Yes, nice to meet you!
Example conversation
Ahmed and Fatima are meeting for the first time at a social gathering.
- احمد Ahmedسلام، میں احمد ہوں۔salaam, mein Ahmed hoon.Hello, I am Ahmed.
- فاطمہ Fatimaسلام، میں فاطمہ ہوں۔salaam, mein Fatima hoon.Hello, I am Fatima.
- احمد Ahmedآپ سے مل کر خوشی ہوئی، فاطمہ۔aap se mil kar khushi hui, Fatima.Nice to meet you, Fatima.
- فاطمہ Fatimaمجھے بھی آپ سے مل کر خوشی ہوئی۔mujhe bhi aap se mil kar khushi hui.It was nice to meet you too.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries آپ, خوشی, سے, کر, CC BY-SA 4.0.
