Table of Contents
Levels of Formality in Urdu
Urdu is famous for its politeness. It has clear layers of formality that change according to age, status, distance, and respect. In this chapter you will see how these levels work in everyday speech and in media and written communication.
Urdu formality is not only about vocabulary. It also affects pronouns, verb forms, greetings, and even which scripts or styles you choose in writing.
Key idea: The same message in Urdu can be expressed in several levels of politeness and formality. You choose level according to relationship, context, and social distance.
The three main “you” pronouns
The clearest sign of formality is the choice of “you.” Urdu has three main second‑person pronouns:
| Level | Pronoun | Typical English sense | Use with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intimate | تُو / تو | you (very intimate / very rude) | God in poetry, close friends in some regions, or as an insult |
| Informal | تم | you (informal, familiar) | Friends, siblings, people your age in relaxed settings |
| Formal | آپ | you (polite, respectful) | Strangers, elders, teachers, bosses, formal media |
In most modern urban settings, آپ is the safest default with anyone you do not know well.
Same sentence, different “you”
Examples with “Are you fine?”:
| Level | Urdu sentence | Situation |
|---|---|---|
| Formal | آپ ٹھیک ہیں؟ | To a teacher, elder, client |
| Informal | تم ٹھیک ہو؟ | To a close friend, younger sibling |
| Intimate / rude | تو ٹھیک ہے؟ | To God in poetry or very low‑register speech |
Notice the verb changes with the pronoun:
- آپ … ہیں
- تم … ہو
- تو … ہے
Rule: Pronoun and verb must match in formality and number, for example: آپ ہیں, تم ہو, تو ہے.
Verb choices and politeness
Formality also appears in which verbs and auxiliaries you choose, especially in requests, offers, and commands.
Requests: “Please give me water”
| Level | Urdu | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Formal | براہِ کرم مجھے پانی دے دیجیے۔ | Very formal, written or very polite speech |
| Neutral‑polite | پلیز مجھے پانی دے دیں۔ | Common in cities, polite but relaxed |
| Informal | مجھے پانی دے نا۔ | Between close friends or family |
Polite imperative forms often use دیجیے, کیجیے, لیجیے, بتائیے with آپ.
Examples:
- Formal:
- ذرا انتظار کیجیے۔ “Please wait a moment.”
- یہ فارم بھر دیجیے۔ “Please fill this form.”
- Informal (with تم):
- ذرا انتظار کرو۔ “Wait a bit.”
- یہ فارم بھر دو۔ “Fill this form.”
You will often hear English “please” adapted as پلیز in semi‑formal contexts, especially in cities and media.
Formal vs informal greetings
Greetings show social distance very clearly. Compare:
| English | Formal Urdu | Informal Urdu |
|---|---|---|
| Hello / Peace be upon you | السلام علیکم | السلام علیکم / ہیلو among friends |
| And peace be upon you (reply) | و علیکم السلام | و علیکم السلام |
| How are you? | آپ کیسے ہیں؟ (m), آپ کیسی ہیں؟ (f) | تم کیسے ہو؟ (m), تم کیسی ہو؟ (f) |
| Are you well? | آپ خیریت سے ہیں؟ | تم ٹھیک ہو؟ |
| Good morning | صبح بخیر (formal / media) | گڈ مارننگ (informal, English) |
| Goodbye | خدا حافظ | بائے / ٹاٹا (very informal) |
In formal writing and broadcast news you will see and hear:
- السلام علیکم
- صبح بخیر
- شکریہ
In casual speech and social media:
- ہائے, ہیلو
- گڈ مارننگ, گڈ نائٹ
- تھینکس
Titles, honorifics, and respect
A big part of formality is how you address people. Urdu has a rich system of titles and honorifics that often appear in media and official contexts.
Common respectful titles
| Title / form | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| صاحب | Mister, sir (after male name) | احمد صاحب |
| صاحبہ | Madam (after female name) | فاطمہ صاحبہ |
| سر | Sir (often for male teachers or bosses) | سر، ایک سوال ہے۔ |
| میڈم / میڈم | Madam (teachers, bosses, service staff) | میڈم، آپ سے بات کرنی تھی۔ |
| جناب | Sir, respected person | جنابِ والا, جنابِ صدر |
| محترم | Respected (before a name) | محترم علی خان |
| حضرت | Religious honorific | حضرت مولانا صاحب |
| ڈاکٹر | Doctor | ڈاکٹر سارہ |
| پروفیسر | Professor | پروفیسر احمد |
In formal letters and media you will see forms like:
- محترم سر, “Respected Sir”
- جنابِ صدر, “Mr President”
- معزز مہمانوں, “honoured guests”
Informally, people often just use:
- Uncle / آنٹی
- بھائی, “brother”
- باجی, “elder sister” (respectful term for young women)
- یار / دوست, “mate / friend”
Formal vs informal vocabulary choices
Some words have a formal, often Persian or Arabic origin version and a more casual or English‑influenced version. Media and official communication usually prefer the more formal choices.
Everyday examples
| Meaning | More formal / Urduized | Informal / spoken / English mix |
|---|---|---|
| thanks | شکریہ | تھینکس, Thank you |
| sorry / excuse me | معاف کیجیے, معذرت | سوری |
| problem | مسئلہ | پرابلم |
| bus | بس | کوچ (in some formal contexts) |
| mobile phone | موبائل فون | فون, موبائل |
| program | پروگرام | شو (for TV show) |
| news | خبر, خبریں | نیوز |
| father | والد, والد محترم | ابو, ابا |
| mother | والدہ | امی, اماں |
| money | رقم | پیسے |
Formal written Urdu often prefers pure or Persianized vocabulary, while speech mixes in many English words.
Example sentences:
- Formal:
- براہِ کرم میری درخواست منظور کیجیے۔
“Kindly approve my request.” - Informal:
- پلیز میری ریکویسٹ منظور کر لو۔
“Please accept my request.”
Formal vs informal in media
Different platforms use different levels of formality.
TV news and official announcements
News reading in Urdu is usually very formal, with clear pronunciation and respectful terms.
Example, formal news style:
- آج وزیرِ اعظم نے قوم سے خطاب کیا۔
“Today the Prime Minister addressed the nation.” - ناظرین, خوش آمدید۔ آپ دیکھ رہے ہیں خبرنامہ۔
“Viewers, welcome. You are watching the news bulletin.”
Features:
- Use of titles: وزیرِ اعظم, صدرِ مملکت, نمائندہ
- Long, Persian‑Arabic compound nouns:
- خارجہ پالیسی, “foreign policy”
- تعلیمی ادارے, “educational institutions”
- Very polite forms:
- تشریف لائے, “honourably came”
- روانہ ہوئے, “departed”
Compare this with a casual report between friends about the same event:
- یار, آج پی ایم نے اسپیچ دی ٹی وی پر۔
“Dude, the PM gave a speech on TV today.”
Notice:
- یار, “dude / mate”
- پی ایم, اسپیچ, ٹی وی, English abbreviations
- Simple past, no titles, no honorific verbs
Talk shows and interviews
Style depends on guests and topic. Host usually stays polite:
- آپ نے بہت اہم بات کی۔ “You have made a very important point.”
- ناظرین, آج ہمارے ساتھ موجود ہیں ڈاکٹر فلاح۔
“Viewers, today Dr. Fulaan is with us.”
Guests may become more informal while arguing:
- دیکھیں بھئی, بات یہ ہے کہ…
- ارے یار, آپ میری بات سنیں۔
Formal writing vs informal writing
Formal writing examples
- Official letters, applications
- میں آپ کی خدمت میں یہ درخواست پیش کر رہا ہوں کہ…
“I hereby present this request to you that…” - براہِ کرم میری عرضداشت پر غور فرمائیں۔
“Kindly consider my petition.” - Newspaper editorials
- موجودہ حالات کے تناظر میں یہ کہنا غلط نہ ہوگا کہ…
“In the context of the current situation, it would not be wrong to say that…”
Characteristics:
- Longer sentences
- Abstract nouns: حالات, تناظر, استحکام, ترقی
- Honorific verbs: فرمائیں, عطا کریں, ملاحظہ فرمائیں
Informal writing examples
Mostly in:
- Text messages
- Social media posts
- Chats
Examples:
- کیا سین ہے آج؟
“What’s the plan today?” - کل کی پارٹی بہت زبردست تھی۔
“Yesterday’s party was awesome.” - میسج چیک کرو پلیز۔
“Check your message please.”
Features:
- Slang: سین, زبردست
- English words: پارٹی, میسج
- Short, incomplete sentences, no honorifics
Switching levels: same message in three styles
Consider the message: “I cannot come today, I am very busy.”
| Style | Urdu | Typical context |
|---|---|---|
| Formal | معذرت چاہتا ہوں, میں آج نہیں آ سکوں گا, میں بہت مصروف ہوں۔ | Email to teacher, boss, or official |
| Neutral‑polite | سوری, میں آج نہیں آ سکتا, میں بہت مصروف ہوں۔ | To older cousin, friendly colleague |
| Informal | یار, آج نہیں آ پا رہا, بہت کام ہے۔ | To close friend |
Notice:
- Formal: معذرت چاہتا ہوں, مصروف, auxiliary سکوں گا
- Neutral: سوری instead of معذرت, yet uses آپ‑level style with no slang
- Informal: یار, کام ہے, reduced structure, more natural in chat
Politeness strategies in Urdu
Urdu uses several patterns to sound more polite, especially in semi‑formal to formal spoken and written language.
Softening commands
Instead of giving a direct order, make it softer.
| Direct command (can sound rude) | Softer, polite alternative |
|---|---|
| دروازہ بند کرو۔ | براہِ کرم دروازہ بند کر دیجیے۔ |
| چپ رہو۔ | ذرا خاموش ہو جائیں، پلیز۔ |
| یہ کام کرو۔ | اگر آپ یہ کام کر دیں تو مہربانی ہوگی۔ |
Patterns:
- Use براہِ کرم, مہربانی ہوگی, ذرا
- Use polite imperative with آپ: کر دیجیے, ہو جائیں
Using apology and gratitude
Polite media and formal speech often repeats gratitude and apology.
Common expressions:
- بہت شکریہ۔ “Thank you very much.”
- آپ کا بہت بہت شکریہ۔ “Many thanks to you.”
- معاف کیجیے گا۔ “Please excuse me.”
- تکلیف کے لیے معذرت۔ “Sorry for the inconvenience.”
Example from a host:
- ناظرین, پروگرام دیکھنے کا بہت بہت شکریہ۔
“Viewers, many thanks for watching the program.”
Regional and age differences
Formality can shift with region and generation.
- Some older speakers use تم even with respect, especially with their own children, but still keep a polite tone.
- In some regions, تو among close friends is not rude, but in many urban contexts it is considered very low or insulting.
- Younger speakers mix English more, even in semi‑formal settings:
- سر, میٹنگ کس ٹائم ہے؟
“Sir, at what time is the meeting?”
When in doubt, choose:
- آپ instead of تم
- Simple polite words like شکریہ, براہِ کرم, معاف کیجیے
- Fewer slang or English words in first contact or official situations
Media examples: short dialogues in different registers
1. TV news anchor (very formal)
- اینکر: ناظرین, السلام علیکم۔ آپ دیکھ رہے ہیں سات بجے کا خبرنامہ۔ میں ہوں عائشہ خان۔
“Viewers, peace be upon you. You are watching the 7 o’clock news bulletin. I am Ayesha Khan.” - اینکر: آج کے اہم عنوانات ملاحظہ کیجیے۔
“Please look at today’s main headlines.”
Features:
- ناظرین, خبرنامہ, ملاحظہ کیجیے
- Very clear, neutral pronunciation
2. Radio show host (semi‑formal)
- ہوسٹ: جی السلام علیکم سامعین, میں ہوں آپ کا میزبان علی۔
“Peace be upon you listeners, I am your host Ali.” - ہوسٹ: اگر آپ ہمیں فون کرنا چاہیں تو ہمارا نمبر یہ ہے…
“If you would like to call us, our number is…”
Note: polite آپ, but slightly more relaxed vocabulary.
3. YouTube vlogger (informal)
- ولاگر: اسلام علیکم دوستو, کیا حال ہے سب کے؟
“Peace be upon you friends, how is everyone?” - ولاگر: آج کی ویڈیو میں ہم بات کریں گے ایک زبردست نئے گیم کے بارے میں۔
“In today’s video we will talk about an awesome new game.”
Here: دوستو, زبردست, گیم create an informal, friendly tone.
Choosing the right level in real life
When you speak or write, ask three questions:
- Who is the audience?
Elder, teacher, boss, stranger, friend, sibling, online followers? - What is the context?
Job application, exam, news report, group chat, private message, public post? - What is your goal?
To show respect, to be friendly, to sound serious, to entertain?
Guideline:
- With strangers, elders, officials: use آپ, polite verbs and more formal vocabulary.
- With close friends and younger people: you can use تم, casual words, and English mix.
- Avoid تو unless you clearly know the cultural context and relationship.
New vocabulary from this chapter
| Urdu | Transliteration | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| آپ | aap | you (formal) |
| تم | tum | you (informal) |
| تو / تُو | tu | you (intimate / very informal) |
| محترم | muhtaram | respected |
| جناب | janaab | sir, respected person |
| صاحب | sahib | sir, Mr (after a male name) |
| صاحبہ | sahiba | madam (after a female name) |
| معذرت | maazrat | apology |
| معاف کیجیے | maaf kijiye | excuse me, forgive me |
| براہِ کرم | baraahe karam | kindly, please |
| مہربانی | mehrbaani | kindness, favor |
| تکلیف | takleef | trouble, inconvenience |
| خطاب | khitaab | address (as a speech) |
| ناظرین | naazireen | viewers |
| سامعین | saamieen | listeners |
| خبرنامہ | khabarnama | news bulletin |
| خدمت | khidmat | service (in this context, “to you”) |
| ملاحظہ فرمائیں | mulaahiza farmaayen | please see / please look |
| درخواست | darkhwaast | request, application |
| عرضداشت | arzdaasht | petition, written request |
| میزبان | mezbaan | host (of a show) |
| دوستو | dosto | friends (vocative, “friends!”) |
| زبردست | zabardast | awesome, excellent |
| سین | seen | “scene,” situation (slang) |
| شو | show | show (TV, stage) |
| پروگرام | programa / programme | program |
| مسئلہ | masla | problem |
| رقم | raqam | amount (of money), sum |
| مصروف | masroof | busy |
| تشریف لانا | tashreef laana | to come (honorific) |
| روانہ ہونا | rawaana hona | to depart (formal) |
| خوش آمدید | khush aamdīd | welcome |
This vocabulary will help you recognize and produce both formal and informal styles in real conversations and in media.