Table of Contents
Understanding Common Greetings in Urdu
In this chapter you learn very common greetings in Urdu that you can start using immediately. All examples are written in Roman Urdu and Urdu script, with English meanings.
Urdu greetings are not only about the words. They also show respect, distance or closeness, and often carry a religious or cultural meaning. You do not need to be Muslim to use most greetings, but it is useful to know which ones are religious and which are neutral.
Basic Islamic Greeting: “Assalam-o-Alaikum”
This is the most common greeting in Urdu-speaking communities.
| Form | Script | Meaning | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assalam-o-alaikum | السلامُ علیکم | Peace be upon you | Standard greeting |
| Wa-alaikum-us-salam | وَعلیکمُ السلام | And peace be upon you | Standard reply |
Important rule:
If someone says “Assalam-o-alaikum”, you should answer “Wa-alaikum-us-salam”.
Never answer with “Assalam-o-alaikum” again.
Examples in context
- A: Assalam-o-alaikum.
السلامُ علیکم۔ - B: Wa-alaikum-us-salam.
وَعلیکمُ السلام۔ - A: Assalam-o-alaikum, aap kaise hain?
السلامُ علیکم، آپ کیسے ہیں؟
“Peace be upon you, how are you?” - B: Wa-alaikum-us-salam, main theek hoon.
وَعلیکمُ السلام، میں ٹھیک ہوں۔
“And peace be upon you, I am fine.” - At the door of a house
- Guest: Assalam-o-alaikum.
السلامُ علیکم۔ - Host (from inside): Wa-alaikum-us-salam, aaiye.
وَعلیکمُ السلام، آئیے۔
“And peace be upon you, please come in.”
This greeting is polite and acceptable in almost all situations: family, friends, shops, offices, and with strangers.
Neutral Everyday Greeting: “Hello” and “Hi”
Modern Urdu speakers often use English greetings, especially in cities and among younger people.
| Form | Script | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hello | ہیلو | Hello | Friendly, neutral |
| Hi | ہائے | Hi | Informal, casual |
You can say “Hello” with anyone, but “Hi” is more informal, for friends or people your own age.
Examples
- Hello, aap ka naam kya hai?
ہیلو، آپ کا نام کیا ہے؟
“Hello, what is your name?” - Hi, Ahmed!
ہائے، احمد! - Hello sir, aap kaise hain?
ہیلو سر، آپ کیسے ہیں؟
“Hello sir, how are you?”
Time-of-day Greetings
Urdu has daily greetings that are used with or without English words. Many people simply say “Good morning” and “Good night” in English, but there are Urdu versions too.
Morning, afternoon, evening, night
| English | Roman Urdu (common) | Script | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good morning | Good morning | گُڈ مارننگ | Very common, English-based |
| Good morning (Urdu) | Subah bakhair | صبح بخیر | More formal, sounds elegant |
| Good afternoon | Good afternoon | گُڈ آفٹر نون | Less common than “hello” |
| Good evening | Good evening | گُڈ ایوننگ | Common in polite settings |
| Good evening (Urdu) | Shaam bakhair | شام بخیر | Formal, polite |
| Good night | Good night | گُڈ نائٹ | Common in families, friends |
| Good night (Urdu) | Shab bakhair | شب بخیر | More literary, respectful |
“Subah bakhair,” “Shaam bakhair,” and “Shab bakhair” are from Persian and sound slightly formal or refined, but you can safely use them.
Examples
- Subah bakhair, Ammi.
صبح بخیر، امّی۔
“Good morning, Mom.” - Good morning, sir.
گُڈ مارننگ، سر۔ - Shaam bakhair, Abu.
شام بخیر، ابو۔
“Good evening, Dad.” - Shab bakhair, beta.
شب بخیر، بیٹا۔
“Good night, son.” - Good night, Ali.
گُڈ نائٹ، علی۔
You can also combine time-of-day greetings with “Assalam-o-alaikum”:
- Assalam-o-alaikum, subah bakhair.
السلامُ علیکم، صبح بخیر۔
“Peace be upon you, good morning.”
Asking “How are you?”
In greetings, people usually add a short question about health or well‑being. In this chapter we only introduce the most common ready‑made phrases.
Standard polite forms
| English meaning | Roman Urdu | Script | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| How are you? (polite) | Aap kaise hain? | آپ کیسے ہیں؟ | To men, polite / plural |
| How are you? (polite, to woman) | Aap kaisi hain? | آپ کیسی ہیں؟ | To women, polite |
| I am fine. | Main theek hoon. | میں ٹھیک ہوں۔ | Neutral, very common |
| I am fine, thanks. | Main theek hoon, shukriya. | میں ٹھیک ہوں، شکریہ۔ | Slightly more formal |
| And you? | Aur aap? | اور آپ؟ | Polite |
We will learn more about gender and verb forms in other chapters. For now just memorize the common patterns.
Ready formula:
Aap kaise hain? / Aap kaisi hain? → Main theek hoon. Aur aap?
Use this as a safe, polite greeting exchange with almost anyone.
Sample mini-dialogues
- With a man
- A: Assalam-o-alaikum, aap kaise hain?
السلامُ علیکم، آپ کیسے ہیں؟ - B: Wa-alaikum-us-salam, main theek hoon. Aur aap?
وَعلیکمُ السلام، میں ٹھیک ہوں۔ اور آپ؟ - With a woman
- A: Hello, aap kaisi hain?
ہیلو، آپ کیسی ہیں؟ - B: Main theek hoon, shukriya.
میں ٹھیک ہوں، شکریہ۔ - Informal, to a close male friend (you will learn more later, just for recognition)
- A: Assalam-o-alaikum, tum kaise ho?
السلامُ علیکم، تم کیسے ہو؟ - B: Main theek hoon, tum sunao.
میں ٹھیک ہوں، تم سناؤ۔
“I am fine, you tell (how are you).”
Greeting on the Phone
On the phone, Urdu speakers have more than one option. Often, they combine an Islamic greeting with an English “hello.”
| Situation | Roman Urdu | Script | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Answering the phone | Hello? | ہیلو؟ | Very common |
| Answering politely | Assalam-o-alaikum. | السلامُ علیکم۔ | Polite, respectful |
| Starting a phone talk | Hello, Ahmed, aap kahan hain? | ہیلو، احمد، آپ کہاں ہیں؟ | Mixed Urdu & English |
Phone examples
- Person A (answers): Hello?
ہیلو؟ - Person B: Assalam-o-alaikum, Ahmed, aap ghar par hain?
السلامُ علیکم، احمد، آپ گھر پر ہیں؟ - Person A: Assalam-o-alaikum.
السلامُ علیکم۔ - Person B: Wa-alaikum-us-salam, main Ali bol raha hoon.
وَعلیکمُ السلام، میں علی بول رہا ہوں۔
“And peace be upon you, I am Ali speaking.”
Greeting Groups and Strangers
You will often greet more than one person at the same time.
| English | Roman Urdu | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Peace be upon you all. | Assalam-o-alaikum sab ko. | السلامُ علیکم سب کو۔ |
| Hello everyone. | Hello sab log. | ہیلو سب لوگ۔ |
Examples
- At a small meeting
- You: Assalam-o-alaikum sab ko.
السلامُ علیکم سب کو۔ - Entering a room of friends
- You: Hello sab log!
ہیلو سب لوگ!
People may answer together with “Wa-alaikum-us-salam” or “Hello.”
Greeting in Formal vs Informal Contexts
Urdu has different levels of politeness. For now, you only need to choose between “Assalam-o-alaikum” and “Hello / Hi.”
Quick guide
| Situation | Safer choice | Avoid (for now) |
|---|---|---|
| With older people | Assalam-o-alaikum | Just “Hi” alone |
| With teacher / boss | Assalam-o-alaikum / Hello | Very casual slang |
| With same-age friend | Hi / Hello / Assalam-o-alaikum | Very formal old phrases |
| In a shop | Assalam-o-alaikum / Hello | Silence, no greeting |
| At an office | Assalam-o-alaikum / Hello | Only “Hi” with seniors |
Good habit:
When you are not sure, use “Assalam-o-alaikum” for greeting and “Aap kaise hain?” for “How are you?”
It is almost always polite and correct.
Greeting People for the First Time
When you meet someone new, you usually greet first, then exchange names. The detailed self-introduction comes in another chapter, so here we only show short patterns.
Examples
- You: Assalam-o-alaikum, mera naam Ali hai.
السلامُ علیکم، میرا نام علی ہے۔
“Peace be upon you, my name is Ali.” - Other: Wa-alaikum-us-salam, main Sara hoon.
وَعلیکمُ السلام، میں سارہ ہوں۔
“And peace be upon you, I am Sara.” - You: Hello, main John hoon.
ہیلو، میں جان ہوں۔ - Other: Hello John, aap kaise hain?
ہیلو جان، آپ کیسے ہیں؟ - Short version, just a greeting
- You: Assalam-o-alaikum.
السلامُ علیکم۔ - Other: Wa-alaikum-us-salam.
وَعلیکمُ السلام۔
Cultural Notes about Greetings
A few simple habits help your greeting sound more natural.
Body language
You do not have to do these, but you will often see them.
| Gesture | Description | When |
|---|---|---|
| Light nod of the head | Small bow of the head | With “Assalam-o-alaikum” |
| Hand to chest | Right hand lightly to chest | Very respectful greeting |
| Handshake | Light handshake | Many men, sometimes women with women |
| Smile | Friendly facial expression | Almost always polite |
Example:
- Assalam-o-alaikum.
(Smile, light nod, maybe hand to chest.)
In many conservative situations men and women do not shake hands with the opposite gender. The safest option is just a smile and verbal greeting.
Mini Dialogues: Putting It All Together
Dialogue 1, at the office
- A: Assalam-o-alaikum, sir.
السلامُ علیکم، سر۔ - B: Wa-alaikum-us-salam. Aap kaise hain?
وَعلیکمُ السلام۔ آپ کیسے ہیں؟ - A: Main theek hoon, shukriya.
میں ٹھیک ہوں، شکریہ۔
Dialogue 2, between friends
- A: Hi, Ahmed!
ہائے، احمد! - B: Hello, Ali, kaise ho?
ہیلو، علی، کیسے ہو؟ - A: Main theek hoon.
میں ٹھیک ہوں۔
Dialogue 3, in a shop
- Customer: Assalam-o-alaikum.
السلامُ علیکم۔ - Shopkeeper: Wa-alaikum-us-salam.
وَعلیکمُ السلام۔
Dialogue 4, on the phone in the morning
- A: Assalam-o-alaikum, subah bakhair.
السلامُ علیکم، صبح بخیر۔ - B: Wa-alaikum-us-salam. Main theek hoon, aur aap?
وَعلیکمُ السلام۔ میں ٹھیک ہوں، اور آپ؟
New Vocabulary from This Chapter
| English meaning | Roman Urdu | Urdu script |
|---|---|---|
| Peace be upon you | Assalam-o-alaikum | السلامُ علیکم |
| And peace be upon you | Wa-alaikum-us-salam | وَعلیکمُ السلام |
| Hello | Hello | ہیلو |
| Hi | Hi | ہائے |
| Good morning | Good morning | گُڈ مارننگ |
| Good morning (Urdu) | Subah bakhair | صبح بخیر |
| Good afternoon | Good afternoon | گُڈ آفٹر نون |
| Good evening | Good evening | گُڈ ایوننگ |
| Good evening (Urdu) | Shaam bakhair | شام بخیر |
| Good night | Good night | گُڈ نائٹ |
| Good night (Urdu) | Shab bakhair | شب بخیر |
| How are you? (polite, to man) | Aap kaise hain? | آپ کیسے ہیں؟ |
| How are you? (polite, to woman) | Aap kaisi hain? | آپ کیسی ہیں؟ |
| I am fine. | Main theek hoon. | میں ٹھیک ہوں۔ |
| I am fine, thanks. | Main theek hoon, shukriya. | میں ٹھیک ہوں، شکریہ۔ |
| And you? | Aur aap? | اور آپ؟ |
| Sir | Sir | سر |
| Mom | Ammi | امّی |
| Dad | Abu | ابو |
| Son (address) | Beta | بیٹا |
| Morning | Subah | صبح |
| Evening | Shaam | شام |
| Night | Shab / Raat | شب / رات |
| Everyone / all | Sab | سب |
| People | Log | لوگ |
These expressions are enough to start greeting Urdu speakers politely and naturally in many everyday situations.