Ways to say it
| Urdu | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| شَبْد | śabd | masculine | |
| بات | bāt | /bɑːt̪/ (Standard, Urdu) | feminine |
| کَلِمَہ | kalima | masculine | |
| لُغَت | luġat | masculine | |
| لَفْظ | lafz | masculine |
Urdu uses different terms for 'word' based on whether you are referring to a spoken matter, a linguistic unit or a religious concept. While شَبْد and لَفْظ generally refer to words, کَلِمَہ and کلام carry specific religious or formal weight.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends heavily on the intended meaning. بات is used to refer to words in the sense of 'matters' or 'speech' (e.g., 'a word he says'). کَلِمَہ is a formal or theological term often used for a single word or a specific religious phrase. کلام refers to speech or discourse and is specifically used in a religious context to refer to the Word of God. لَفْظ is a standard masculine term for a word.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The forms in Urdu have different genders which affect how adjectives and verbs are used in a sentence. بات is feminine, so any adjectives or verbs describing it must agree with its feminine gender. لَفْظ is masculine, so any adjectives or verbs describing it must agree with its masculine gender. شَبْد and کَلِمَہ are masculine.
How do you pronounce it?
śabd
Did you know?
- The Urdu word بات is an ancient relative of the English word 'word' via the Sanskrit 'vārttā', which originally meant 'news' or 'tidings'.
- In Urdu, the term کَلِمَہ is used to describe the formal testimonies of faith in Islamic tradition, giving the 'word' a ritual significance it lacks in English.
- In Urdu, the gender of the word for 'word' dictates the grammar of the entire sentence. Because بات is feminine and لَفْظ is masculine, every adjective and verb in the sentence must change to match the specific word you choose.
Examples in context
- تم اس کی کسی بات پہ اعتبار نہ کرنا۔You can't believe a word he says.This sentence shows how بات can be used when referring to what someone has said.Tatoeba #1470311 by nabeel_tahir, translation #1465883 by CH
Example conversation
Aisha and Omar are studying a book together.
- عائشہ Ayeshaعمر، یہ شَبْد کیسے پڑھتے ہیں؟Omar, yeh shabd kaise parhte hain?Omar, how do you read this word?
- عمر Omarاسے 'محبت' پڑھتے ہیں۔Isey 'muhabbat' parhte hain.It is read as 'muhabbat'.
- عائشہ Ayeshaشکریہ، یہ بہت خوبصورت شَبْد ہے۔Shukriya, yeh bahut khoobsurat shabd hai.Thank you, this is a very beautiful word.
- عمر Omarہاں، یہ میرا پسندیدہ شَبْد ہے۔Haan, yeh mera pasandeeda shabd hai.Yes, this is my favorite word.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “word” translations and entries بات, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries بات, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
