4.9.2 Code-switching with English

Understanding Code-switching with English in Urdu

Code-switching is the natural mixing of two languages in the same conversation, sentence, or even phrase. In Urdu, this often means switching between Urdu and English, especially in South Asia and in diaspora communities.

In this chapter, we focus on how Urdu speakers mix English, where this is common, what patterns you can copy, and which kinds of mixing are more informal or more formal.

Why Urdu–English Code-switching Is So Common

In many Urdu speaking contexts, English is associated with:

• education
• technology
• business and administration
• modern urban life

Because of this, speakers often move between Urdu and English to:

• sound more educated or professional
• talk about modern or technical topics
• sound relaxed, friendly, or “modern” with friends
• be precise where Urdu equivalents are long or rare

Urdu–English code-switching is not random. There are clear patterns that you can learn and use.

Types of Code-switching in Urdu

We will look at four useful patterns:

1. Inserting single English words into Urdu
2. Switching at phrase level
3. Switching at sentence or turn level
4. Borrowed English words that behave like Urdu

1. Single-word insertion

Here, the main structure is Urdu, but one content word is English.

Examples:

• میں نے آج meeting attend کی۔
  “I attended a meeting today.”
• وہ کل نئی job تلاش کر رہا ہے۔
  “He is looking for a new job tomorrow.”
• تم نے میرا phone دیکھا ہے؟
  “Have you seen my phone?”

Common word types inserted:

Note that the grammar around the English word is still Urdu.

Compare:

• میں نے email بھیجی۔
• میں نے report لکھی۔

The verb is Urdu, the object is English.

2. Phrase-level switching

Sometimes a whole phrase or short chunk is in English, but the sentence frame remains Urdu.

Examples:

• میں نے online class لی تھی کل۔
  “I took an online class yesterday.”
• آج team meeting at 3 o’clock ہے۔
  “Today there is a team meeting at 3 o’clock.”
• ہمیں feedback from clients ملا ہے۔
  “We received feedback from clients.”

The pattern is:

Urdu structure + English noun phrase + Urdu verbs / particles

For example:

• ہمیں online feedback چاہیے تھا۔
  “We needed online feedback.”

3. Sentence-level switching

Here, you switch languages between sentences, or after a pause in the same turn.

Example dialogue:

• A: میں نے report بنا لی ہے۔
• B: اچھا؟ You can send it to me by tonight.
• A: ٹھیک ہے, میں رات تک بھیج دوں گا۔

Another example:

• آج میں بہت تھک گیا ہوں. I think I need a break.

This kind of switching is very common among bilingual speakers who are comfortable in both languages.

4. Borrowed English words that “behave” like Urdu

Some English words are used so much in Urdu that they have Urdu style plurals, genders, and sometimes even pronunciation changes.

Examples:

Notice:

• Singular may be used like a masculine or feminine noun.
• Plural often follows Urdu patterns with the suffix ـیں or ـیں / ـیں.

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Common Domains of Urdu–English Mixing

Everyday informal conversation

Among young people and in cities, you hear heavy mixing, especially for:

• feelings
• plans
• opinions
• casual invitations

Examples:

• آج میرا mood اچھا نہیں ہے۔
  “My mood is not good today.”
• کل کے لیے کوئی plan ہے؟
  “Do you have any plan for tomorrow?”
• وہ بہت friendly ہے۔
  “He / she is very friendly.”

Education and work

In schools, universities, and offices, key terms are often English, even if the rest is in Urdu.

Examples:

• تم نے assignment submit کیا؟
  “Did you submit the assignment?”
• کل میری presentation ہے English میں۔
  “Tomorrow I have a presentation in English.”
• ہمیں یہ project دو ہفتے میں complete کرنا ہے۔
  “We have to complete this project in two weeks.”

Technology and social media

Technology and internet vocabulary is often fully English inside Urdu sentences.

Examples:

• مجھے تمہارا message نہیں ملا۔
• اس نے مجھے WhatsApp پر voice note بھیجا۔
• میں نے سب photos upload کر دی ہیں۔

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How Gender and Agreement Work with English Words

Even when a noun is English, Urdu still needs gender and agreement. Speakers assign a gender, often by:

• similarity to an existing Urdu word
• conventional usage in the community
• default masculine when unsure

Some common patterns:

Agreement examples:

• یہ نیا project بہت مشکل ہے۔
• یہ نئی job اچھی ہے۔

The English word stays the same, but the adjective and sometimes verb agree with the chosen gender.

Code-switching for Politeness and Register

Code-switching is also used to adjust register, that is, how formal or informal you sound.

Using English to sound more formal or professional

In work or academic settings, using certain English words can sound more official.

Compare:

In emails and meetings in Pakistan and India, a common pattern is:

• English for key work terms
• Urdu for politeness and connectors

Example:

• Kindly report جلدی بھیج دیں so that we can finalize everything.

Using English to sound casual or “cool”

Among friends, extra English gives a relaxed, youthful tone.

Examples:

• یار, وہ movie honestly بہت boring تھی۔
• تم seriously آ رہے ہو یا just time pass ہے؟

Compare the feeling:

• تم آ رہے ہو؟ → neutral / plain
• تم آ رہے ہو نا؟ → friendly, soft pressure
• تم really آ رہے ہو نا؟ → even more casual, playful

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When to Avoid or Limit Code-switching

Although code-switching is natural, there are contexts where less mixing is better:

• formal speeches in pure Urdu (for example, poetry events, some TV programs)
• official written documents in Urdu
• exams that test Urdu language ability
• speaking with elders who prefer “purer” Urdu

A safer approach:

• With friends and peers: more mixing is usually fine.
• With elders, teachers, and in exams: prefer more Urdu, add English only where it is standard or necessary.

Example rephrasing:

Heavily mixed:

• سر, میں نے assignment late submit کیا کیونکہ میرا laptop crash ہو گیا تھا۔

More Urdu:

• سر, میں نے کام دیر سے جمع کیا, کیونکہ میرا کمپیوٹر خراب ہو گیا تھا۔

Both are understandable. The second sounds more “Urdu” and more suitable for formal writing.

Typical Patterns You Can Copy

Pattern 1: Urdu frame, English object

میں نے + English noun + Urdu verb

Examples:

• میں نے presentation تیار کی ہے۔
• میں نے meeting cancel کر دی۔
• میں نے email نہیں بھیجی ابھی تک۔

Pattern 2: Urdu subject and time, English predicate

آج + میں + English clause

Examples:

• آج میں work from home کر رہا ہوں۔
• آج میں not feeling well ہوں۔
• آج میں really busy ہوں۔

Pattern 3: English imperative + Urdu particle

Very common in casual speech:

• Come on, یار۔
• Wait, ذرا سنو۔
• Relax کرو۔
• Stop کرو, بس۔

Pattern 4: English adjective, Urdu noun

English adjective + Urdu noun

Examples:

• وہ بہت smart لڑکی ہے۔
• یہ بہت important بات ہے۔
• وہ busy آدمی ہے۔

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Code-switching in Short Dialogues

Dialogue 1: Friends making plans

• A: کل movie night رکھیں؟
• B: ہاں, sounds good۔ کون سی فلم دیکھیں گے؟
• A: کوئی light comedy دیکھتے ہیں۔
• B: ٹھیک ہے, میں tickets book کر لیتا ہوں۔

Notice the switches:

• movie night, sounds good, light comedy, tickets book → English chunks
• رکھیں، دیکھیں گے، دیکھتے ہیں، کر لیتا ہوں → Urdu grammar

Dialogue 2: At the office

• Boss: آپ نے نیا project proposal بنا لیا؟
• Employee: جی سر, میں نے draft بنا لیا ہے, آپ review کر لیں۔
• Boss: اچھا, مجھے email کر دیں, پھر ہم کل meeting میں discuss کریں گے۔

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Code-switching in Writing vs Speech

Speech

• Switching is faster and more frequent.
• Grammar can be looser.
• Short English phrases are common in the middle of Urdu sentences.

Informal writing (chats, social media)

• Similar to speech.
• Roman Urdu often used with English spelling.

Example (Roman + English):

• kal meeting hai, plz late mat aana.
• aaj mera mood bilkul theek nahi hai.

Formal writing

• Most formal Urdu writing, such as newspapers and essays, uses fewer English words.
• Some domains like technology or business still keep many English terms.

Example:

• کمپنی نے نیا marketing strategy تیار کیا ہے۔

Here, marketing strategy is often left in English even in otherwise formal Urdu.

Practical Tips for Learners

1. First learn to say everything fully in Urdu.
   Then add code-switching as a style choice, not as a crutch.
2. Copy real patterns, do not just throw random English into Urdu.
3. Listen for:
• which English words locals always keep in English
• which words usually get Urdu equivalents
4. When unsure about politeness:
• Use more Urdu with elders and in exams.
• Use moderate mixing with teachers and in semi formal contexts.
• Use heavier mixing with close friends if they do so too.
5. Pay attention to agreement:
• Keep verbs and adjectives consistent with your chosen gender and number, even around English nouns.

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Vocabulary List for This Chapter

These are not “new Urdu words,” but useful items related to code-switching and domains where it appears. English terms are included because you will often hear them inside Urdu sentences.

Use these items as you listen to native speakers. Try to notice how they place English inside Urdu sentences, and practice copying the same structures with your own vocabulary.