دَھنِک
dhanikmasculine
The English phrase 'rainbow' is translated into Urdu as دَھنِک (dhanik). Wiktionary also lists ہَفْت رَن٘گ (haft raṅg) and دَھنُش (dhanuś).
Meaning: multicoloured arch in the sky (noun)
Ways to say it
| Urdu | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| دَھنِک | dhanik | masculine |
| ہَفْت رَن٘گ | haft raṅg | |
| دَھنُش | dhanuś | masculine |
| قَوس و قُزَح | qaus o quzah | feminine |
| قَوسِ قُزَح | qaus-i quzah | feminine |
| رَن٘گِین کَمان | raṅgīn kamān | feminine |
In Urdu, several terms can be used to describe the multicolored arch in the sky.
What does it mean word for word?
The term قَوسِ قُزَح is composed of qaus meaning bow and quzah meaning rainbow/colors, literally meaning 'bow of colors'. The phrase ہَفْت رَن٘گ literally means 'seven colors', and رَن٘گِین کَمان literally means 'colorful bow'.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation for دَھنِک is dhanik.
Did you know?
- In formal Urdu poetry, the 'rainbow' is frequently used as a metaphor for the fleeting and transient nature of beauty or happiness.
- The phrase ہَفْت رَن٘گ is often used in South Asian art and textile design to describe a specific seven-color palette, even when no actual rainbow is present.
- The phrase قَوسِ قُزَح (qaus-e-quzah) uses a formal 'izafat' construction, a Persian grammatical device that links two nouns with a short 'e' sound to show possession or description.
Examples in context
- آسمان میں دَھنِک نظر آ رہی ہے۔Aasman mein dhanak nazar aa rahi hai.A rainbow is visible in the sky.
- بارش کے بعد دَھنِک بہت خوبصورت لگتی ہے۔Baarish ke baad dhanak bohat khoobsurat lagti hai.A rainbow looks very beautiful after the rain.
- کیا تم نے وہ دَھنِک دیکھی؟Kya tum ne woh dhanak dekhi?Did you see that rainbow?
Example conversation
Two friends are standing outside after a rain shower.
- زینب Zainabاحمد، دیکھو آسمان پر دَھنِک ہے!Ahmed, dekho aasman par dhanak hai!Ahmed, look, there is a rainbow in the sky!
- احمد Ahmedواہ، یہ کتنی رنگین ہے!Wah, yeh kitni rangeen hai!Wow, it is so colorful!
- زینب Zainabمیں نے زندگی میں اتنی بڑی دَھنِک نہیں دیکھی۔Mein ne zindagi mein itni bari dhanak nahi dekhi.I haven't seen such a big rainbow in my life.
- احمد Ahmedہاں، یہ منظر بہت پیارا ہے۔Haan, yeh manzar bohat pyara hai.Yes, this view is very lovely.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rainbow” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
