بیوی
bīvīeveryday
In Pakistan "wife" in Urdu is بیوی (bīvī) in daily talk. When speaking respectfully of another person's wife, people say اہلیہ (ahlīya). It is also called زوجہ (zawja).
Meaning: married woman (noun)
Ways to say it
| Pakistan | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| بیوی | bīvī | everyday |
| اہلیہ | ahlīya | respectful |
| زوجہ | zawja | formal, legal |
A man says میری بیوی (merī bīvī) of his own wife. Talking to a colleague about his wife one says آپ کی اہلیہ (āp kī ahlīya), "your wife", which is the polite choice.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
زوجہ (zawja) is a formal, legal word found in documents and news reports, not in conversation. Many husbands also use the family name for her, such as the mother of a child.
Did you know?
- The word بیوی (bīvī) is Persian in origin, and in Pakistan it is also commonly used as a respectful word for a lady.
Examples in context
- یہ میری بیوی ہے۔yeh merī bīvī hai.This is my wife.
- اس کی بیوی ڈاکٹر ہے۔us kī bīvī ḍākṭar hai.His wife is a doctor.
Example conversation
Colleagues Nadeem and Adnan chat during a break in an office in Lahore.
- Adnanندیم صاحب، آپ کی اہلیہ کیسی ہیں؟Nadeem ṣāḥib, āp kī ahlīya kaisī haiṉ?Mr. Nadeem, how is your wife?
- Nadeemجی الحمدللہ، ٹھیک ہیں۔jī alḥamdulillāh, ṭhīk haiṉ.Yes, thank God, she is fine.
- Adnanان کو میرا سلام کہیے گا۔un ko merā salām kahiyegā.Please give her my greetings.
