کھیلنا
khelnā/kʰeːl.nɑː/
To play in Urdu is کھیلنا (khelnā).
The verb کھیلنا is used to describe acting in a manner such that one has fun. You can use it to describe playing specific activities, such as cricket khelna (کرکٹ کھیلنا) to mean to play cricket or tennis kheelna (ٹینس کھیلنا) to mean to play tennis. For example, khel raha hoon means "I am playing" and khel rahe hain means "they are playing".
Meaning: act in a manner such that one has fun (verb)
Which one should you use?
While کھیلنا is the verb used for playing games or sports, the noun ناٹک (nāṭak) is used specifically for a theatrical play.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /kʰeːl.nɑː/. It has two syllables.
Did you know?
- If you are 'playing' a melody on a flute, you are not 'playing' the flute, you are 'making the flute sound' using بجانا (bājānā).
- The root of کھیلنا (khelnā) is also used in the word کھلاڑی (khelāṛī), which means 'player' or 'athlete'. In common slang, calling someone a کھلاڑی can imply they are a 'player' in the romantic sense.
- Urdu distinguishes between 'playing' a game and 'playing' a role. To play a character in a ناٹک (nāṭak), speakers use the verb نبھانا (nibhānā), which means 'to fulfill' or 'to carry out'.
Examples in context
- مجھے کھیلنا پسند ہے۔I enjoy playing.
- وہ کرکٹ کھیل رہے ہیں۔They are playing cricket.
- وہ کرکٹ کھیل رہا ہے۔He is playing cricket.
- مجھے کرکٹ کھیلنا پسند ہے۔mujhe cricket khelna pasand hai.I like to play cricket.
Example conversation
Ali and Fatima are deciding what to do in the park.
- علی Aliفاطمہ، کیا آپ میرے ساتھ کھیلنا چاہتی ہیں؟Fatima, kya aap mere saath khelna chahti hain?Fatima, do you want to play with me?
- فاطمہ Fatimaہاں علی، میں کھیلنا چاہتی ہوں!Haan Ali, main khelna chahti hoon!Yes Ali, I want to play!
- علی Aliہم کیا کھیلیں؟Hum kya khelein?What shall we play?
- فاطمہ Fatimaآئیں فٹ بال کھیلتے ہیں۔Aayein football khelte hain.Let's play football.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “play” translations and entries کھیلنا, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
