جاگنا
jāgnā/d͡ʒɑːɡ.nɑː/
The English phrase 'wake up' is translated into Urdu as جاگنا (jāgnā).
جاگنا is an intransitive verb, which means it describes the subject becoming awake. It does not mean to 'wake someone else up'. For that action, a different causative construction would be required.
Meaning: to (become) awake (verb)
Which one should you use?
While جاگنا is the standard way to express the act of waking up, different forms are used depending on your intent. Use جاگ جاؤ to issue a direct command like 'wake up!', whereas جاگ جائیں is used for a polite request such as 'please wake up'.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the present continuous 'is waking up' for a masculine subject, use the form جاگ رہا ہے.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /dʒɑːɡ.nɑː/. It has two syllables.
Did you know?
- In many Urdu-speaking households, instead of saying جاگنا, a person might use the term آنکھ کھلنا (aankh khulna), which literally translates to 'eyes opening'.
- The word for 'waking up' is often used metaphorically in Urdu poetry to describe a person becoming aware of a spiritual or political truth.
- Urdu uses the word جاگنا to describe the state of being 'alert' or 'vigilant', such as a guard who is 'awake' on duty even if they never fell asleep.
Examples in context
- وہ صبح سویرے جاگنا چاہتا ہے۔Woh subah sawere jaagna chahta hai.He wants to wake up early in the morning.
- بچے جلدی جاگنا پسند کرتے ہیں۔Bachay jaldi jaagna pasand kartay hain.Children like to wake up early.
- کیا آپ وقت پر جاگنا چاہتی ہیں؟Kya aap waqt par jaagna chahti hain?Do you want to wake up on time?
Example conversation
Ahmed and Zainab are discussing their morning routine at home.
- احمد Ahmedکیا تم صبح جلدی جاگنا چاہتی ہو؟Kya tum subah jaldi jaagna chahti ho?Do you want to wake up early in the morning?
- زینب Zainabنہیں، مجھے دیر سے جاگنا پسند ہے۔Nahi, mujhe der se jaagna pasand hai.No, I like to wake up late.
- احمد Ahmedلیکن کام کے لیے جلدی جاگنا ضروری ہے۔Lekin kaam ke liye jaldi jaagna zaroori hai.But it is necessary to wake up early for work.
- زینب Zainabٹھیک ہے، میں کوشش کروں گی۔Theek hai, mein koshish karungi.Okay, I will try.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wake up” translations and entries جاگنا, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
