ملکہ
malkanoun
In Pakistan the Urdu word for "queen" is ملکہ (malka). Another word, رانی (rānī), is common in stories and also works as a girl's name.
Meaning: female ruler or king's wife (noun)
Ways to say it
| Pakistan | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ملکہ | malka | noun |
| رانی | rānī | noun, also a girl's name |
ملکہ (malka) is the standard word for a ruling queen, as in ملکہ برطانیہ (malka-e-Birṭāniya), the Queen of Britain. It also describes someone who is the best in a field, for example ملکہ حسن (malka-e-husn), "beauty queen".
Which one should you use?
رانی (rānī) is used for a queen in older stories and for a king's wife in Indian and Pakistani history. Today it is more often heard as a pet name.
Did you know?
- ملکہ (malka) comes from Arabic and shares its root with ملک (malik), "king", although Urdu also uses بادشاہ (bādshāh) for a king.
Examples in context
- ملکہ نے سب کا استقبال کیا۔malka ne sab kā istiqbāl kiyā.The queen welcomed everyone.
- وہ ملکہ حسن بنی۔woh malka-e-husn banī.She became a beauty queen.
- کہانی کی رانی بہت مہربان تھی۔kahānī kī rānī bohat meharbān thī.The queen in the story was very kind.
Example conversation
Teacher Saima reads a history lesson to student Areeba in a school in Islamabad.
- Saimaاس ملک کی ملکہ بہت مشہور تھی۔is mulk kī malka bohat mashhūr thī.The queen of this country was very famous.
- Areebaمیڈم، ملکہ کا نام کیا تھا؟medam, malka kā nām kyā thā?Madam, what was the queen's name?
- Saimaیہ ہم کل پڑھیں گے۔yeh ham kal paṛheṉge.We will read that tomorrow.
