Ways to say it
| Urdu | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| بے وقوف | be-vaqūf |
| ناسمجھ | nāsamajh |
| مورکھ | mūrkh |
The term is used to describe someone lacking in intelligence.
What does it mean word for word?
The word بے وقوف is composed of the prefix بے (be-), meaning "without" and وقوف (vaqūf), meaning "awareness" or "knowledge". Literally, it means "without awareness".
Which one should you use?
While بے وقوف implies a lack of intelligence or foolishness, ناسمجھ is a milder term that often suggests a lack of understanding or being naive rather than a fundamental lack of intelligence. Additionally, مورکھ is used specifically in contexts influenced by Hindi or Sanskrit-derived vocabulary.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term مورکھ is more common in Hindi-influenced contexts or North Indian vocabulary.
How does it change in a sentence?
To use this adjective in a complete sentence to say "is stupid", you add the verb ہے (hai) after the adjective, resulting in the phrase بے وقوف ہے.
How do you pronounce it?
be-vaqūf
Did you know?
- The word مورکھ traces its lineage back to the Sanskrit word मूर्ख, connecting modern Urdu to ancient Indo-Aryan roots.
- The prefix بے is used in many Urdu words to denote a lack of something, turning positive attributes into negatives, such as turning 'care' into 'careless'.
- The word مورکھ is more likely to be heard in a folk tale or a poetic setting than in a modern city conversation.
Examples in context
- وہ ایک بے وقوف لڑکا ہے۔Woh ek bewaquf larka hai.He is a stupid boy.
- یہ ایک بے وقوف فیصلہ تھا۔Yeh ek bewaquf faisla tha.It was a stupid decision.
- تم اتنے بے وقوف کیوں ہو؟Tum itne bewaquf kyun ho?Why are you so stupid?
Example conversation
Ahmed and Fatima are discussing a silly mistake.
- احمد Ahmedمیں نے چابیاں گاڑی میں چھوڑ دیں۔Maine chabiyan gaari mein chhor diye.I left the keys in the car.
- فاطمہ Fatimaاحمد، تم کتنے بے وقوف ہو!Ahmed, tum kitne be-waqoof ho!Ahmed, how stupid are you!
- احمد Ahmedمجھے معاف کر دو، میں تھکا ہوا تھا۔Mujhe maaf kar do, main thaka hua tha.Forgive me, I was tired.
- فاطمہ Fatimaکوئی بات نہیں، اب اسے کھولتے ہیں۔Koi baat nahi, ab isey kholte hain.No problem, let's open it now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stupid” translations and entries ناسمجھ, مورکھ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries بے, مورکھ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
