ایک
ek/eːk/
The Urdu word for 'one' is ایک (ek). Wiktionary also lists ١.
Meaning: cardinal number 1 (num)
Ways to say it
| Urdu | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ایک | ek | /eːk/ (Standard, Urdu) | |
| ١ | numeral |
The word ایک is the cardinal number 1. It can also function as a noun meaning 'digit' or 'figure'.
Which one should you use?
The written word ایک is used for the number, while ١ is the specific numeral form used for digits.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is ek. The IPA is /eːk/.
Did you know?
- The word ایک is part of a vast family of Indo-Aryan numbers that share a common ancestor with the English word 'one', tracing back to the same Proto-Indo-European root.
- In Urdu poetry, the concept of 'oneness' or 'unity' expressed through the idea of ایک is often used as a metaphor for the oneness of God, a central theme in Sufi literature.
- The numeral ١ is shared with Arabic and Persian, meaning that someone who cannot read the Urdu alphabet can still recognize the number 'one' in a text.
Examples in context
- یہ کتا ایک آنکھ سے اندھا ہے۔The dog is blind in one eye.This sentence shows how to use ایک when describing a single body part.Tatoeba #1733364 by nabeel_tahir, translation #48217 by CK
- ایک دن، ٹوم کو سمجھ آ جاےٴگا۔One day, Tom will understand.This sentence demonstrates using ایک to refer to a single day in the future.Tatoeba #10823908 by Roomba_Unit, translation #7591080 by AlanF_US
- وہ گھر ایک ہفتہ بعد ہی گر گیا۔The house fell down one week later.This sentence uses ایک to specify a single unit of time (a week).Tatoeba #2326422 by nabeel_tahir, translation #2067996 by CK
- 14 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ahmed and Aisha are at a cafe.
- عائشہ Ayeshaکیا آپ کے پاس ایک چمچ ہے؟kya aap ke paas ek chamach hai?Do you have one spoon?
- احمد Ahmedہاں، میرے پاس ایک چمچ ہے۔haan, mere paas ek chamach hai.Yes, I have one spoon.
- عائشہ Ayeshaبہت شکریہ، احمد۔bohat shukriya, Ahmed.Thank you very much, Ahmed.
- احمد Ahmedکوئی بات نہیں۔koi baat nahi.No problem.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “one” translations and entries ایک, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ایک, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
