پچھتاوا
pachtawa
The English verb 'regret' can be expressed in Urdu as پچھتاوا (pachtawa).
پچھتاوا refers to the feeling of regret or being sorry about a past action or event. To express the sentiment of regret in common speech, you might use the phrase مجھے افسوس ہے, which means 'I am sorry' or 'I regret.' If your regret is much stronger, you can add the adverb بہت (very) to the phrase, creating بہت افسوس ہے to mean 'I am very sorry.'
Meaning: feel sorry about some past thing (verb)
How do you pronounce it?
pachtawa
Did you know?
- The concept of regret in Urdu poetry is frequently linked to the theme of ہجر or 'separation', where the regret is not for an action but for the lost time spent apart from a lover.
- Urdu has several words for 'sorry' that distinguish between feeling regret for an event and asking for forgiveness for a transgression, a nuance English often collapses into one word.
- The word افسوس has Persian origins, making it a formal and poetic way to express regret compared to more colloquial Urdu terms.
Example conversation
Ali and Aisha are talking about a missed opportunity.
- علی Aliمیں نے وہ موقع گنوا دیا، مجھے پچھتاوا ہے۔Main ne woh mauqa ganwa diya, mujhe pachtawa hai.I missed that opportunity, I regret it.
- عائشہ Ayeshaپچھتاوا کرنے سے کچھ نہیں ملے گا۔Pachtawa karne se kuch nahi milega.Regretting it won't get you anything.
- علی Aliآپ صحیح کہہ رہی ہیں، عائشہ۔Aap sahi keh rahi hain, Aisha.You are right, Aisha.
- عائشہ Ayeshaاب بس آگے بڑھیں، علی۔Ab bas aage barhein, Ali.Now just move forward, Ali.
