1.4.3 Courtesy phrases

Showing Courtesy in Everyday Urdu

In Urdu, politeness is extremely important in daily life. Even very simple sentences usually include a polite word or expression. In this chapter you will learn the most common courtesy phrases, how to use them, and how they sound in real mini dialogues.

We will only focus on set expressions of politeness here, not on introducing yourself or basic greetings, which have their own chapters.

Using “Please” in Urdu

The word برائے مہربانی and the softer جی

The most direct word for “please” is:

• برائے مہربانی barāye mehrbānī
  Literally “for kindness,” used in more formal or careful speech.

In everyday conversation, people also show politeness by adding:

• جی jī after a name or title
• polite verb forms like کیجئے kījiye “please do”

Examples:

• برائے مہربانی آہستہ بولیں۔
  Barāye mehrbānī āhista boleṅ.
  “Please speak slowly.”
• برائے مہربانی بیٹھیے۔
  Barāye mehrbānī baiṭhiye.
  “Please sit.”
• دروازہ بند کیجئے، برائے مہربانی۔
  Darvāza band kījiye, barāye mehrbānī.
  “Please close the door.”
• علی، پانی دینا، جی۔
  Alī, pānī denā, jī.
  “Ali, please give (me) water.”
  Here جی makes it softer and more polite.

Saying “Thank You”

Basic and stronger forms of thanks

The most common way to say “thank you” is:

• شکریہ shukriyā
  Neutral and suitable in almost all situations.

A slightly stronger form is:

• بہت شکریہ bohot shukriyā
  “Thank you very much.”

Examples:

• شکریہ، پانی کے لیے۔
  Shukriyā, pānī ke liye.
  “Thank you for the water.”
• بہت شکریہ، آپ نے بہت مدد کی۔
  Bohot shukriyā, āp ne bohot madad kī.
  “Thank you very much, you helped a lot.”

In more formal or religious speech, you may also hear:

• جزاک اللہ jazākallāh
  “May God reward you.”
  Often used among religious speakers.

Example:

• جزاک اللہ، آپ نے زحمت کی۔
  Jazākallāh, āp ne zahmat kī.
  “May God reward you, you made an effort (for me).”

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Responding to “Thank You”

When someone says شکریہ to you, you usually reply with something that means “you are welcome” or “no problem.”

Common replies:

• کوئی بات نہیں koī bāt nahīṅ
  “It is nothing.” / “No problem.”
• خوشی ہوئی khushī huī
  “I am glad.” / “It was a pleasure.”
• آپ کا شکریہ āp kā shukriyā
  Literally “Thanks to you,” used to return politeness.
• ارے نہیں، شکریہ کی کیا بات ہے
  Are nahīṅ, shukriyā kī kyā bāt hai.
  “Oh no, no need to thank (me).”

Mini dialogue:

• A: بہت شکریہ، آپ نے انتظار کیا۔
  Bohot shukriyā, āp ne intizār kiyā.
  “Thank you very much, you waited.”
• B: کوئی بات نہیں، بالکل ٹھیک ہے۔
  Koī bāt nahīṅ, bilkul ṭhīk hai.
  “No problem, it is completely fine.”

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Saying “Excuse Me” and “Sorry”

Urdu has a few different words for “excuse me,” “sorry,” and “pardon.” Context is important.

معاف کیجئے and سوری

• معاف کیجئے maf kījiye
  “Excuse me” / “Please forgive me”
  More formal and very polite.
• سوری sorry
  Borrowed from English, very common in casual conversation, especially among younger speakers.

Examples, for getting someone’s attention:

• معاف کیجئے، آپ کا نام کیا ہے؟
  Māf kījiye, āp kā nām kyā hai?
  “Excuse me, what is your name?”
• معاف کیجئے، بات سنیے۔
  Māf kījiye, bāt suniyē.
  “Excuse me, listen please.”

Examples, for apologising:

• سوری، میں دیر سے آیا۔
  Sorry, main der se āyā.
  “Sorry, I came late.”
• معاف کیجئے، میں غلطی پر تھا۔
  Māf kījiye, main ghalatī par thā.
  “Forgive me, I was wrong.”

Using برا نہ مانیں and ناراض نہ ہوں

These expressions soften what you say, especially if it might sound rude.

• برا نہ مانیں burā na māneṅ
  “Please do not take it badly.”
• ناراض نہ ہوں narāz na hoṅ
  “Please do not be angry.”

Examples:

• برا نہ مانیں، مجھے آپ کی بات سمجھ نہیں آئی۔
  Burā na māneṅ, mujhe āp kī bāt samajh nahīṅ āī.
  “Excuse me, I did not understand what you said.”
• ناراض نہ ہوں، میں آج نہیں آ سکتا۔
  Narāz na hoṅ, main āj nahīṅ ā saktā.
  “Please do not be upset, I cannot come today.”

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Asking for Permission Politely

To ask “May I…” or “Can I…” in a polite way, Urdu commonly uses:

• کیا میں … سکتا / سکتی ہوں؟
  Kyā main … saktā / saktī hūṅ?
  “Can I / May I … ?”
• اگر اجازت ہو تو …
  Agar ijāzat ho to …
  “If I have permission, then …”

Polite examples:

• کیا میں اندر آ سکتا ہوں؟
  Kyā main andar ā saktā hūṅ?
  “May I come in?” (male speaker)
• کیا میں اندر آ سکتی ہوں؟
  Kyā main andar ā saktī hūṅ?
  “May I come in?” (female speaker)
• کیا میں پانی لے سکتا ہوں؟
  Kyā main pānī le saktā hūṅ?
  “May I take some water?” (male)
• اگر اجازت ہو تو میں سوال پوچھوں؟
  Agar ijāzat ho to main sawāl pūchhūṅ?
  “If it is allowed, may I ask a question?”

Offering Something Politely

Offering food, a seat, or help often includes kind phrases like:

• لیجئے lījiyē
  “Here, please take” / “Please have.”
• آئیے āiye
  “Please come.”
• بیٹھئے baiṭhiye
  “Please sit.”
• پلیز please or برائے مہربانی barāye mehrbānī can be added for extra politeness.

Examples:

• آئیے، آئیے، اندر آئیے۔
  Āiye, āiye, andar āiye.
  “Come in, come in, please come inside.”
• بیٹھئے، برائے مہربانی۔
  Baiṭhiye, barāye mehrbānī.
  “Please sit down.”
• چائے لیجئے۔
  Chāy lījiyē.
  “Have some tea, please.”
• پانی لیجئے، پلیز۔
  Pānī lījiyē, plīz.
  “Please have some water.”

Mini dialogue:

• A: چائے لیں گے؟
  Chāy leṅ ge?
  “Will you have tea?”
• B: جی، شکریہ۔
  Jī, shukriyā.
  “Yes, thank you.”
• A: لیجئے۔
  Lījiyē.
  “Here you are, please.”

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Polite Yes and No

Even saying “yes” or “no” can be more or less polite depending on the word you use.

Polite “yes”

• جی jī
  Very polite and respectful.
• جی ہاں jī hāṅ
  “Yes” with extra respect.
• ہاں hāṅ
  Plain “yes,” can be neutral or a little informal.

Examples:

• A: آپ پاکستانی ہیں؟
  Āp Pākistānī haiṅ?
  “Are you Pakistani?”
• B: جی ہاں۔
  Jī hāṅ.
  “Yes.”
• A: چائے چاہیے؟
  Chāy chāhiye?
  “Do you want tea?”
• B: جی، شکریہ۔
  Jī, shukriyā.
  “Yes, thank you.”

Polite “no”

• نہیں nahīṅ
  Basic “no.”
• نہیں، شکریہ nahīṅ, shukriyā
  “No, thank you” polite refusal.
• نہیں، تکلیف کی ضرورت نہیں
  Nahīṅ, taklīf kī zarūrat nahīṅ.
  “No, there is no need for trouble,” a very polite refusal.

Examples:

• A: آپ چائے لیں گے؟
  Āp chāy leṅ ge?
  “Will you have tea?”
• B: نہیں، شکریہ۔
  Nahīṅ, shukriyā.
  “No, thank you.”
• A: میں آپ کے لیے کچھ لاؤں؟
  Main āp ke liye kuchh lāūṅ?
  “Shall I bring something for you?”
• B: نہیں، تکلیف کی ضرورت نہیں۔
  Nahīṅ, taklīf kī zarūrat nahīṅ.
  “No, no need to bother.”

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Polite Forms of Address

How you address people is a big part of courtesy in Urdu.

Using آپ and جی

• آپ āp
  Polite “you,” used with adults, strangers, and in respectful speech.
• تم tum and تو to
  More informal or intimate, not polite for strangers or elders.

Adding جی jī after names or titles makes them more respectful.

Examples:

• علی جی
  Alī jī
  “Ali, sir” (friendly respect)
• امی جی
  Ammi jī
  “Mother” with affection and respect.
• استاد جی
  Ustād jī
  Respectful way to address a teacher or master.

Example sentences:

• آپ کیسے ہیں، استاد جی؟
  Āp kaise haiṅ, ustād jī?
  “How are you, teacher?”
• علی جی، یہاں آئیے، برائے مہربانی۔
  Alī jī, yahāṅ āiye, barāye mehrbānī.
  “Ali, please come here.”

Common Courtesy Phrases in Mini Dialogues

Here are some short dialogues that combine several of the phrases you learned.

Dialogue 1: In a shop

• Customer: معاف کیجئے، پانی کی بوتل ملے گی؟
  Māf kījiye, pānī kī botl mile gī?
  “Excuse me, can I get a bottle of water?”
• Shopkeeper: جی، لیجئے۔
  Jī, lījiyē.
  “Yes, here you are.”
• Customer: بہت شکریہ۔
  Bohot shukriyā.
  “Thank you very much.”
• Shopkeeper: کوئی بات نہیں۔
  Koī bāt nahīṅ.
  “You are welcome.”

Dialogue 2: Asking to sit

• A: معاف کیجئے، کیا میں یہاں بیٹھ سکتا ہوں؟
  Māf kījiye, kyā main yahāṅ baiṭh saktā hūṅ?
  “Excuse me, may I sit here?” (male)
• B: جی ہاں، بیٹھئے برائے مہربانی۔
  Jī hāṅ, baiṭhiye barāye mehrbānī.
  “Yes, please sit.”
• A: شکریہ۔
  Shukriyā.
  “Thank you.”

Dialogue 3: Refusing politely

• Host: چائے لیں گے؟
  Chāy leṅ ge?
  “Will you have tea?”
• Guest: نہیں، شکریہ، میں نے ابھی پی ہے۔
  Nahīṅ, shukriyā, main ne abhī pī hai.
  “No, thank you, I just drank some.”
• Host: اچھا جی، کوئی بات نہیں۔
  Achchā jī, koī bāt nahīṅ.
  “Alright, no problem.”

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Vocabulary List for This Chapter