چپل
cappal/t͡ʃəpː.əl/
The English word "slipper" is translated into Urdu as چپل (cappal).
The term refers to a low shoe usually worn indoors. In informal Urdu conversations, چپل is the most common and widely used word for a slipper.
Meaning: low shoe usually worn indoors (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Lahore, Khussa is sometimes used informally to refer to slippers.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced as /tʃəpː.əl/ (cappal).
When do people say it?
In many Urdu-speaking households, it is customary to remove one's چپل before entering a home or a prayer room.
Did you know?
- In many South Asian cultures, a چپل is not just a shoe but is often used as a humorous or hyperbolic symbol of a mother's discipline.
- The word چپل actually has its roots in South India, specifically from the Telugu word చెప్పు (ceppu), meaning 'slipper'.
- In some regions, throwing a چپل at someone is a culturally recognized sign of extreme public shaming or social rejection.
Examples in context
- میری چپل کہاں ہے؟meri chapal kahan hai?Where is my slipper?
- یہ چپل بہت آرام دہ ہے۔yeh chapal bohat aaram deh hai.This slipper is very comfortable.
Example conversation
At home, Sarah is looking for her footwear.
- سارہ Saraعمر، میری چپل نہیں مل رہی۔Umar, meri chapal nahi mil rahi.Umar, I cannot find my slipper.
- عمر Omarکیا وہ کمرے میں ہے؟Kya woh kamray mein hai?Is it in the room?
- سارہ Saraنہیں، میں نے وہاں دیکھ لیا۔Nahi, mein ne wahan dekh liya.No, I already looked there.
- عمر Omarوہ صوفے کے نیچے ہے۔Woh sofay ke neechay hai.It is under the sofa.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry چپل, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries چپل, CC BY-SA 4.0.
