واقعی
waqaī
The Urdu word for 'really' is واقعی (waqaī).
واقعی is used to mean 'actually' as an adverb, or 'real', 'actual' or 'true' as an adjective.
Meaning: actually (adv)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is derived from an Arabic root meaning 'real', 'actual' or 'true'.
How do you pronounce it?
waqaī
Did you know?
- In many Urdu-speaking social circles, if someone says something shocking, a common way to reply 'Really?' is to simply repeat the statement with a rising intonation rather than using the word واقعی.
- Because واقعی is an Arabic loanword, it carries a more formal and sophisticated tone than the native Persian or Prakrit-derived words often used in casual street slang.
- The word واقعی shares the same root as the Urdu word for 'event' or 'incident', واقعہ 'waqia', linking the idea of something being 'real' to something that has actually happened.
Examples in context
- واقعی کام آتا ہے۔It really comes in handy.This sentence shows how to use واقعی to mean 'really'.Tatoeba #12486781 by Roomba_Unit, translation #1170464 by CM
- اس کے ساتھ واقعی ایسا ہوا؟Did that really happen to him?Tatoeba #1505838 by nabeel_tahir, translation #1505485 by somekinda
- وہ واقعی بہت خوبصورت لگ رہی ہے۔She really looks pretty.Tatoeba #1440761 by nabeel_tahir, translation #1440592 by CK
Example conversation
Omar and Fatima are discussing a new restaurant.
- عمر Omarکیا وہ کھانا واقعی لذیذ تھا؟kya woh khana waqai lazeez tha?Was the food really delicious?
- فاطمہ Fatimaہاں، وہ واقعی بہت اچھا تھا۔haan, woh waqai bohat accha tha.Yes, it was really very good.
- عمر Omarفاطمہ، کیا ہم وہاں دوبارہ جائیں گے؟Fatima, kya hum wahan dobara jayenge?Fatima, will we go there again?
- فاطمہ Fatimaجی بالکل، عمر۔ji bilkul, Omar.Yes, definitely, Omar.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “really” translations and entries واقعی, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
