یہ کیا بکواس ہے؟
yeh kya bakwas hai?
The English phrase "what the hell?" is translated into Urdu as یہ کیا بکواس ہے؟ (yeh kya bakwas hai?).
This phrase is used to express shock, disbelief or annoyance at a situation or someone's words.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, the phrase means "What is this nonsense?"
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
This phrase is informal and can be considered rude or aggressive depending on the tone.
How do you pronounce it?
yeh kya bakwas hai?
Did you know?
- The word یہ for 'this' shares a distant ancestor with the English word 'this' through the Proto-Indo-European root *éy.
- Urdu speakers may accompany this phrase with a sharp flick of the wrist or a shrug to emphasize their disbelief.
- Using بکواس in a formal setting, such as with a boss or elder, is considered a significant social taboo and is much more offensive than the English 'what the hell'.
Example conversation
Hamza is looking at a broken television in the living room.
- حمزہ Hamzaیہ کیا بکواس ہے؟ ٹی وی کیوں ٹوٹ گیا؟yeh kya bakwas hai? TV kyun toot gaya?What the hell is this? Why did the TV break?
- فاطمہ Fatimaحمزہ، میں نے اسے نہیں توڑا۔Hamza, mein ne isse nahi toda.Hamza, I didn't break it.
- حمزہ Hamzaتو یہ کیا بکواس ہے؟to yeh kya bakwas hai?Then what the hell is this?
- فاطمہ Fatimaشاید یہ خود ہی خراب ہو گیا۔shayad yeh khud hi kharab ho gaya.Maybe it just broke on its own.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries بکواس, کیا, یہ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
