اَب
ab
The English word "now" is translated into Urdu using several forms, most commonly اَب (ab). Wiktionary also lists اَکْنُون (aknūn) and اَبھی (abhī).
Meaning: at the present time (adv)
Ways to say it
| Urdu | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| اَب | ab | |
| اَکْنُون | aknūn | |
| اَبھی | abhī | |
| حالا | hālā | /ɦɑː.lɑː/ (Standard, Urdu) |
| اَدُھنا | adhunā | |
| اِسی وَقْت | isī vaqt |
Which one should you use?
While اَب refers to the general present time, اَبھی is used to emphasize immediacy, meaning "right now" or "just this moment".
How do you pronounce it?
ab
Did you know?
- When someone says ابھی نہیں ('not now'), it is often a polite way of declining an invitation indefinitely rather than just postponing it.
- The word حالا is a linguistic traveler that moved from Arabic into Persian before it ever reached Urdu.
- The word ابھی can be used in a way that translates to 'still' in English, such as when saying something is 'still' happening.
Examples in context
- مجھے اب وقت کی ضرورت ہے۔I need time now.
- براہ کرم فوراً میرے پاس آئیں۔Please come to me right away.
- میں ابھی آرہا ہوں۔I'm coming now.
- اَب میں گھر جا رہا ہوں۔ab mein ghar ja raha hoon.I am going home now.
- اَب بہت دیر ہو گئی ہے۔ab bohat der ho gayi hai.It is very late now.
- اَب کام شروع کریں۔ab kaam shuru karein.Start the work now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “now” translations and entries حالا, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries حالا, CC BY-SA 4.0.
