کام
kām/kɑːm/masculine
The English word 'work' is translated to Urdu as کام (kām).
کام is a general noun meaning labour, employment, occupation or a job. When you want to express the action of working or functioning, you use the phrase کام کرنا. This phrase is used both for human labor and to describe whether a machine or a plan is functioning or 'working'.
Meaning: labour, employment, occupation, job (noun)
Which one should you use?
While کام is the general term for work, if you are referring specifically to professional employment or a job, the formal term ملازمت is used. Additionally, the word محنت is used specifically to refer to hard work or laborious efforts.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
کام is a masculine noun. To turn the noun into a verb meaning 'to work' or 'to do work', it is used with the auxiliary verb کرنا to form the phrase کام کرنا.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced kām (/kɑːm/).
Did you know?
- In Urdu, کام can refer to a job but also to a specific desire or wish. This second meaning comes from a separate Persian loanword that happens to be spelled the same way.
- While کام is the everyday word for work, the formal term ملازمت is derived from the Arabic root for 'attachment' or 'staying with'.
- The word کام has a unique history where it acts as a doublet to کار, another word for work or business that arrived in the language via Persian influence.
Examples in context
- آرام سے کام کرو۔Work slowly.This sentence is useful for practicing how to use کام to give an instruction.Tatoeba #2116704 by nabeel_tahir, translation #30124 by CK
- یہ کام نہیں کرے گا۔It won't work.This sentence demonstrates using کام to describe whether something functions.Tatoeba #1450822 by nabeel_tahir, translation #1335281 by CK
- بہت محنت والا کام تھا یہ۔It was real hard work.This sentence shows how to describe the intensity of کام.Tatoeba #1562497 by nabeel_tahir, translation #322188 by CK
- میں روزگار کے لئے کام میں مصروف ہوں۔I am busy with work for a living.
- اپنا کام دیر سے کرنے کے بجائے ابھی کر لیں۔Instead of doing your work later, do it now.
- 14 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sara and Ahmed are talking about their daily routines.
- سارہ Saraاحمد، آپ کا آج کا کام کیسا رہا؟Ahmed, aap ka aaj ka kaam kaisa raha?Ahmed, how was your work today?
- احمد Ahmedبہت اچھا رہا، سارہ۔Bohat achha raha, Sara.It was very good, Sara.
- سارہ Saraکیا آپ کو تھکن محسوس ہو رہی ہے؟Kya aap ko thakan mehsoos ho rahi hai?Are you feeling tired?
- احمد Ahmedجی ہاں، میں تھوڑا تھکا ہوا ہوں۔Ji haan, mein thora thaka hua hoon.Yes, I am a little tired.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “work” translations and entries کام, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries کام, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
