چاہنا
cāhnā/t͡ʃɑːɦ.nɑː/
To want in Urdu is چاہنا (cāhnā).
The verb چاہنا is used to express a desire. In everyday spoken Urdu, instead of using the verb چاہنا, people often use چاہیے to express a need or desire.
Meaning: to desire (verb)
Which one should you use?
In common usage, speakers often use چاہیے (cāhiye) to express that something is needed or desired (for example, 'I want/need water').
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb 'cāhnā' must agree with the subject's gender in the present tense.
How do you pronounce it?
cāhnā (/tʃɑːɦ.nɑː/)
Did you know?
- The historical connection to Proto-Indo-European roots suggests that the desire expressed by چاہنا is linguistically related to very ancient concepts of 'looking' or 'seeking'.
- In many formal Urdu poems, the word چاہنا is used to express a spiritual or divine yearning rather than a mundane physical desire.
- In formal Urdu, چاہنا can be used to express a wish for someone else's well-being, making it a tool for prayer rather than just a personal demand.
Examples in context
- مجھے یہ کتاب چاہیےI want this book.
Example conversation
Hamza and Sara are discussing their goals.
- حمزہ Hamzaسارہ، آپ زندگی میں کیا چاہنا چاہتی ہیں؟Sara, aap zindagi mein kya chahna chahti hain?Sara, what do you want to desire in life?
- سارہ Saraمیں صرف خوشی چاہنا چاہتی ہوں۔Main sirf khushi chahna chahti hoon.I only want to desire happiness.
- حمزہ Hamzaیہ تو بہت اچھی بات ہے۔Yeh toh bohat achi baat hai.That is a very good thing.
- سارہ Saraاور آپ کیا چاہتے ہیں؟Aur aap kya chahte hain?And what do you want?
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry چاہنا, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries چاہنا, CC BY-SA 4.0.
