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3.5.1 Agreeing and disagreeing

Degrees of Agreement and Disagreement in Urdu

In everyday Urdu conversations you very often react to other people’s opinions. You may agree completely, agree partly, or disagree politely or strongly. This chapter focuses on set phrases and small sentence patterns that let you do this naturally and politely.

Throughout, remember that Urdu usually prefers softer and more indirect expressions, especially when disagreeing.


Strong Agreement

Simple “Yes, I agree”

A very common way to agree with someone’s opinion is to use verbs like maan’na (to accept) or ittifāq rakhna (to agree).

Common patterns:

EnglishUrdu (Roman)Urdu (Script)
Yes, I agree.Haan, main mutaffiq hoon.ہاں، میں متفق ہوں۔
Yes, I agree with you.Haan, main aap se mutaffiq hoon.ہاں، میں آپ سے متفق ہوں۔
I completely agree.Main bilkul mutaffiq hoon.میں بالکل متفق ہوں۔

Key pattern:
“I agree with X”main X se mutaffiq hoon
Example: main aap se mutaffiq hoon (I agree with you).

More colloquial options:

EnglishUrdu (Roman)Urdu (Script)
Exactly.Bilkul!بالکل!
Exactly right.Bilkul theek!بالکل ٹھیک!
You are right.Aap theek keh rahe hain.آپ ٹھیک کہہ رہے ہیں۔
That is true.Ye baat sahi hai.یہ بات صحیح ہے۔

Note that bilkul is very common to show strong agreement.

Emphasizing strong agreement

You can add adverbs like bilkul, poori tarah, dūrust to sound stronger.

EnglishUrdu (Roman)Urdu (Script)
I completely agree with you.Main poori tarah aap se mutaffiq hoon.میں پوری طرح آپ سے متفق ہوں۔
You are absolutely right.Aap bilkul sahi keh rahe hain.آپ بالکل صحیح کہہ رہے ہیں۔
This is 100% correct.Ye sau fisad theek hai.یہ سو فیصد ٹھیک ہے۔

Short reactions in friendly speech:

Partial Agreement

Often you will want to say “yes, but…” or “in some ways yes, in some ways no.” Urdu has many soft expressions for this.

“Yes, but …”

Patterns:

EnglishUrdu (Roman)Urdu (Script)
Yes, but…Haan, lekin …ہاں، لیکن …
I agree, but…Main mutaffiq hoon, lekin …میں متفق ہوں، لیکن …
You are right, but…Aap theek keh rahe hain, lekin …آپ ٹھیک کہہ رہے ہیں، لیکن …

Example:

Soft partial agreement

These phrases show that you see the point, but not fully.

EnglishUrdu (Roman)Urdu (Script)
In a way, you are right.Ek hadd tak aap theek keh rahe hain.ایک حد تک آپ ٹھیک کہہ رہے ہیں۔
To some extent I agree.Kuch had tak main mutaffiq hoon.کچھ حد تک میں متفق ہوں۔
I understand your point.Main aap ki baat samajhta hoon.میں آپ کی بات سمجھتا ہوں۔
I see what you mean.Main samajh raha hoon aap kya kehna chahte hain.میں سمجھ رہا ہوں آپ کیا کہنا چاہتے ہیں۔

Examples in context:


  1. Kuch had tak main mutaffiq hoon, lekin sab ke liye ye sahi nahi hoga.
    کچھ حد تک میں متفق ہوں، لیکن سب کے لیے یہ صحیح نہیں ہوگا۔
    “To some extent I agree, but it will not be right for everyone.”

  2. Ek hadd tak aap theek keh rahe hain, magar waqt bhi kam hai.
    ایک حد تک آپ ٹھیک کہہ رہے ہیں، مگر وقت بھی کم ہے۔
    “In a way you are right, but there is also little time.”

Polite Disagreement

Direct “you are wrong” is usually too strong in Urdu, especially with elders or strangers. You normally use softening expressions before you disagree.

Softening expressions before disagreeing

Very useful “softeners”:

EnglishUrdu (Roman)Urdu (Script)
Actually…Dar asal…در اصل…
With respect…Ba-izzat arz hai…باعزت عرض ہے…
I have a different opinion.Mera khayal kuch aur hai.میرا خیال کچھ اور ہے۔
I think a bit differently.Main thoda sa mukhtalif sochta hoon.میں تھوڑا سا مختلف سوچتا ہوں۔

Common pattern:

Polite disagreement pattern:
Softener + lekin + your point
Example:
Dar asal, main aap se mutaffiq nahi hoon.
“Actually, I do not agree with you.”

Basic “I don’t agree”

EnglishUrdu (Roman)Urdu (Script)
I do not agree.Main mutaffiq nahi hoon.میں متفق نہیں ہوں۔
I do not agree with you.Main aap se mutaffiq nahi hoon.میں آپ سے متفق نہیں ہوں۔
I do not think so.Mujhe aisa nahi lagta.مجھے ایسا نہیں لگتا۔

More polite versions:

EnglishUrdu (Roman)Urdu (Script)
I am sorry, I do not agree.Maaf kijiye, main mutaffiq nahi hoon.معاف کیجیے، میں متفق نہیں ہوں۔
In my opinion it is not like that.Mere khayal mein baat aisi nahi hai.میرے خیال میں بات ایسی نہیں ہے۔

Example in context:

Strong Disagreement

Use these carefully. They are stronger and sound more direct.

Clear “No, I disagree”

EnglishUrdu (Roman)Urdu (Script)
No, I do not agree.Nahi, main mutaffiq nahi hoon.نہیں، میں متفق نہیں ہوں۔
I completely disagree.Main bilkul mutaffiq nahi hoon.میں بالکل متفق نہیں ہوں۔
I totally disagree with this.Main is baat se bilkul mutaffiq nahi hoon.میں اس بات سے بالکل متفق نہیں ہوں۔

Stronger “you are wrong” type comments, usually among friends:

EnglishUrdu (Roman)Urdu (Script)
You are wrong.Aap ghalat keh rahe hain.آپ غلط کہہ رہے ہیں۔
That is not true.Ye sach nahi hai.یہ سچ نہیں ہے۔
This is completely wrong.Ye bilkul ghalat hai.یہ بالکل غلط ہے۔

Example:

Because Urdu culture values politeness, such strong forms are often softened with something like shayed (maybe), mera khayal hai (I think), or mujhe lagta hai (it seems to me).


Expressing Personal Opinion When Agreeing or Disagreeing

Linking the opinion expression to agreement or disagreement helps you sound more natural. You already know basic opinion phrases from the parent chapter, so here we focus on combining them with agreeing or disagreeing.

Agreeing + opinion

Patterns:

  1. Opinion first, then agreement
    • Mere khayal mein aap bilkul theek keh rahe hain.
      میرے خیال میں آپ بالکل ٹھیک کہہ رہے ہیں۔
      “In my opinion you are absolutely right.”
  2. Agreement first, then support
    • Main aap se mutaffiq hoon, kyun ke ye zyada munāsib tareeqa hai.
      میں آپ سے متفق ہوں، کیونکہ یہ زیادہ مناسب طریقہ ہے۔
      “I agree with you, because this is a more suitable way.”

Disagreeing + opinion

Patterns:

  1. Soft disagreement + own opinion
    • Main aap se mutaffiq nahi hoon. Mere khayal mein hamein pehle plan banana chahiye.
      میں آپ سے متفق نہیں ہوں۔ میرے خیال میں ہمیں پہلے پلان بنانا چاہیے۔
      “I do not agree with you. In my opinion we should first make a plan.”
  2. Opinion contrasting
    • Aap ka nuqta nazar apni jagah, lekin meri rai mein ye mumkin nahi.
      آپ کا نقطہ نظر اپنی جگہ، لیکن میری رائے میں یہ ممکن نہیں۔
      “Your point of view has its place, but in my opinion this is not possible.”

Short Conversation Examples

Example 1: Strong agreement

A and B are talking about learning Urdu.

A:
Urdu seekhne ke liye roz practice zaroori hai.
اردو سیکھنے کے لیے روز پریکٹس ضروری ہے۔
“To learn Urdu, daily practice is necessary.”

B:
Bilkul! Main aap se mutaffiq hoon.
بالکل! میں آپ سے متفق ہوں۔
“Exactly! I agree with you.”


Example 2: Partial agreement

Talking about working late.

A:
Hamein roz der tak office mein rehna chahiye.
ہمیں روز دیر تک آفیس میں رہنا چاہیے۔
“We should stay late in the office every day.”

B:
Kuch had tak main mutaffiq hoon, lekin kabhi kabhi aaram bhi zaroori hai.
کچھ حد تک میں متفق ہوں، لیکن کبھی کبھی آرام بھی ضروری ہے۔
“To some extent I agree, but sometimes rest is also necessary.”


Example 3: Polite disagreement

Talking about public transport.

A:
Bus hamesha late hoti hai.
بس ہمیشہ لیٹ ہوتی ہے۔
“The bus is always late.”

B:
Maaf kijiye, mujhe aisa nahi lagta. Mere khayal mein aksar waqt par aa jati hai.
معاف کیجیے، مجھے ایسا نہیں لگتا۔ میرے خیال میں اکثر وقت پر آ جاتی ہے۔
“I am sorry, I do not think so. In my opinion it often comes on time.”


Example 4: Strong disagreement among friends

Friends discussing a movie.

A:
Wo film bohat buri thi.
وہ فلم بہت بری تھی۔
“That movie was very bad.”

B:
Nahi yaar! Main bilkul mutaffiq nahi hoon. Mere liye to bohat achi thi.
نہیں یار! میں بالکل متفق نہیں ہوں۔ میرے لیے تو بہت اچھی تھی۔
“No man! I completely disagree. For me it was very good.”


Useful Response Patterns

You can mix and match these pieces to react quickly:

FunctionPattern (Roman)Translation
Strong agreementBilkul, main aap se mutaffiq hoon.Exactly, I agree with you.
Mild agreementHaan, ek hadd tak aap theek keh rahe hain.Yes, in a way you are right.
Polite disagreementMaaf kijiye, main mutaffiq nahi hoon.Sorry, I do not agree.
Soft disagreementMujhe aisa nahi lagta.I do not think so.
ContrastAap ka nuqta nazar apni jagah, lekin…Your point of view has its place, but…
Ask for moreKya aap thoda aur wazeh karenge?Could you explain a bit more?

Asking for more explanation can also soften disagreement, because it shows respect for the other person’s view.


Practice: Transforming Reactions

Below are some typical English reactions. Try to say them in Urdu, then check the table.


English reactionPossible Urdu (Roman)Urdu (Script)
I totally agree with you.Main aap se bilkul mutaffiq hoon.میں آپ سے بالکل متفق ہوں۔
Yes, but it is difficult.Haan, lekin ye mushkil hai.ہاں، لیکن یہ مشکل ہے۔
I am sorry, I do not agree.Maaf kijiye, main mutaffiq nahi hoon.معاف کیجیے، میں متفق نہیں ہوں۔
In my opinion, this is wrong.Mere khayal mein ye ghalat hai.میرے خیال میں یہ غلط ہے۔
To some extent I agree.Kuch had tak main mutaffiq hoon.کچھ حد تک میں متفق ہوں۔
This is completely correct.Ye bilkul theek hai.یہ بالکل ٹھیک ہے۔
I think differently.Main mukhtalif sochta hoon.میں مختلف سوچتا ہوں۔

New Vocabulary for This Chapter

EnglishUrdu (Roman)Urdu (Script)
to agreemutaffiq honaمتفق ہونا
I agreemain mutaffiq hoonمیں متفق ہوں
to disagreemutaffiq na honaمتفق نہ ہونا
I disagreemain mutaffiq nahi hoonمیں متفق نہیں ہوں
point of viewnuqta nazarنقطہ نظر
opinionrai / khayalرائے / خیال
to some extentkuch had takکچھ حد تک
in a way / to a limitek hadd takایک حد تک
completely / absolutelybilkulبالکل
correct, righttheek, sahi, durustٹھیک، صحیح، درست
wrongghalatغلط
actuallydar asalدر اصل
I think somujhe aisa lagta haiمجھے ایسا لگتا ہے
I do not think somujhe aisa nahi lagtaمجھے ایسا نہیں لگتا
to understand (an idea)baat samajhnaبات سمجھنا
to explainwazeh karnaواضح کرنا
with respect (polite opening)ba-izzat arz haiباعزت عرض ہے
sorry / excuse memaaf kijiyeمعاف کیجیے
exactlybilkulبالکل
in my opinionmere khayal mein / meri rai meinمیرے خیال میں / میری رائے میں

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