1.2.4 Writing practice

Getting Ready to Write Urdu

In this chapter you will start actually writing Urdu. You already know about letters and basic connections from the previous chapters. Here we focus on simple, practical practice: how to form letters, how to combine them, how to build short words, and how to get used to right‑to‑left writing.

Remember, you do not need to write fast. Focus on clear, readable writing first. Speed will come later.

Basic Writing Habits

Right to left: line and page direction

Urdu is written from right to left, but pages and books are also organized from right to left.

• The first page of a book is on the right side, not the left.
• When you start a new line, you begin at the right margin and move left.
• Paragraphs usually start a little bit inside from the right margin, like an indent.

Practical tips:

• Draw a small arrow → at the top of your notebook page pointing from right to left to remind yourself.
• Draw light vertical margin lines on the right side of the page to mark where you start writing.

Line placement: using notebook lines

If possible, use lined or squared paper.

• Try to keep the base of the letters on the line.
• Letters such as ب, ت, ث, ن, ی usually sit on the line.
• Letters such as ل, ک, ط, خ can go above the main line.
• Parts of letters like the tail of ی or the final form of ر can go below the line.

You do not need to be perfect, but try to keep similar letters the same height each time.

Stroke Order and Pen Control

Smooth curves, not sharp angles

Nastaliq script uses many curves and slanted shapes. In the beginning:

• Do not worry about making it “beautiful,” just keep the strokes:
• continuous
• smooth
• not too shaky

Practice rule:

Simple warm‑up exercises

Before writing letters, warm up your hand:

1. Draw several horizontal lines from right to left.
2. Draw short curves like small “waves” from right to left.
3. Draw small circles, both clockwise and counter‑clockwise.

These warm‑ups help you get used to the movement of Urdu writing.

Practicing Isolated Letters

In earlier chapters you learned the isolated forms of letters. Here we focus on how to practice them.

Group 1: Letters with a simple bowl shape

Examples: ب, ت, ث, ن, ی

Common isolated pattern:

• A low bowl that opens to the left
• Dots above or below that change the letter

Practice row examples (isolated only):

Write each row from right to left, repeating one letter at a time.

Group 2: Vertical and tall letters

Examples: ا, ل, ک, ط, د

These letters often have a taller vertical part.

Practice row examples:

Focus on:

• Keeping vertical strokes straight
• Making the height similar across the row

Group 3: Looping letters

Examples: م, و, ق, ف

These letters use loops or rounded top parts.

Practice row examples:

Try to keep the loop sizes consistent.

Practicing Connecting Letters

You have already learned which letters connect and which do not. Here, we practice those connections on the page.

Two‑letter combinations

Start simple: connect two letters only.

Examples (read from right to left):

Practice line idea:

• با با با با با
• می می می می می

Write each pair 10–20 times.

Three‑letter combinations

After two letters feel easy, add a third.

Examples:

Sample practice lines:

• نم نم نم نم نم
• تن تن تن تن تن
• ولی ولی ولی ولی ولی

Try to write each full word in one continuous stroke if possible, without lifting your pen, except for dots.

Example process for تِن (tin):

1. Draw the connected shape for ت + ن.
2. Add one dot above ت.
3. Add one dot above ن.
4. Add the short vowel mark for i (if you are practicing with diacritics).

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Beginner‑Friendly Practice Words

Here are some very common, simple words that are good for early writing practice. Do not worry if you do not fully remember the meaning yet. You will meet them again in vocabulary chapters.

Simple nouns and pronouns

Practice ideas:

1. Write میں in a row:
• میں میں میں میں میں
2. Write تم in a row:
• تم تم تم تم تم
3. Alternate:
• میں تم میں تم میں تم

This helps your hand switch between different letters and shapes.

Very common verbs (basic forms)

You will study verbs in detail later. For now, use them as writing exercises.

Sample practice line:

• کرنا کرنا کرنا کرنا
• آنا آنا آنا آنا
• جانا جانا جانا جانا

Focus on connecting the middle letters smoothly.

Copying and Tracing Practice

Tracing over printed text

If you can print pages, this is very helpful:

1. Print large Urdu letters or words.
2. Place tracing paper or very thin paper on top.
3. Carefully trace over the letters several times.

If you do not have tracing paper, you can:

• Lightly write over the printed letters with a different colored pen.
• Or copy them by looking very closely and writing next to them.

Copying from a model

You can also:

• Write the word in large size on the top line.
• Then copy the same word under it, matching shapes and sizes.

Example practice page idea with the word کتاب (book):

Top line (model):
کتاب

Then several lines copying it:

• کتاب کتاب کتاب کتاب
• کتاب کتاب کتاب کتاب

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Spacing Between Words

When writing multiple words in a sentence, leave a small empty space between words.

Example phrase for practice:

• میرا نام … ہے
  "My name is ..."

Write:

1. میرا
2. (small space)
3. نام
4. (small space)
5. ہے

Then repeat the whole phrase in one line:

• میرا نام ہے
• میرا نام ہے

You can put dots or a short line as a temporary separator while practicing, then remove this habit later when you are comfortable.

From Print‑style to Flowing Handwriting

At first, it is normal if your writing looks more “printed” and less like natural Nastaliq. That is fine.

You can slowly make it more flowing:

• Join curves more smoothly.
• Let ending letters like ی and ر extend slightly to the left.
• Keep letters slightly slanted if that feels comfortable.

Compare:

• Very stiff: ب ا ت (letters far apart, hard to read)
• Better: بت, بات, باتیں (letters connected, word looks like a unit)

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Simple Dictation Practice

When you feel a little confident, try listening and writing.

You can:

1. Ask a friend to say a simple word you already know, such as
   "کتاب" or "گھر".
2. You write the word from hearing only.
3. Check with a printed version.

Or:

1. Say the word out loud yourself.
2. Picture each letter.
3. Write it slowly from right to left.

Start with words of 2 or 3 letters, then move to longer words.

Practice Routines

Here is a suggested daily routine for 10–15 minutes of writing practice:

1. Warm‑up (2 minutes)
• Lines, curves, and circles from right to left.
2. Isolated letters (3–4 minutes)
• Pick 3 letters you find difficult.
• Write each letter in one row.
3. Connected letters (3–4 minutes)
• Pick 2 simple two‑letter combinations, such as با and می.
• Fill one or two lines with each.
4. Word practice (3–5 minutes)
• Choose 3 useful words from the list below.
• Write each word 5–10 times.

If you follow this routine for a week, your writing will improve a lot.

Sample Practice Page Layout

Here is an example of how one full page of practice could look. You can imitate this structure in your notebook.

1. Row 1: Warm‑up curves and lines.
2. Row 2: isolated ب.
3. Row 3: isolated ت.
4. Row 4: isolated ن.
5. Row 5: با با با با با
6. Row 6: نا نا نا نا نا
7. Row 7: تم تم تم تم تم
8. Row 8: میں میں میں میں میں
9. Row 9: آنا آنا آنا آنا
10. Row 10: جانا جانا جانا جانا

Write carefully and stop when your hand starts to feel tired.

New Vocabulary from This Chapter

The focus of this chapter is writing, but here are the key Urdu words that appeared as practice examples. You do not need to memorize all meanings now. They will reappear in later chapters.

Use these words mainly as writing drills at this stage. Understanding and grammar will come in upcoming chapters.