People and family in Urdu
197 words in Urdu on the topic “people and family”: خاندان — family, ماں — mother, باپ — father, دادا — grandfather.
197 words on the topic
- خاندانkhandanfamilyLiterally "the holders of the house": the family in the wide sense, with grandparents and cousins. Friday is its day: the meal at the elders’
- ماںmanmotherThe nasal sign at the end: maa slips up into the nose. The shortest and the weightiest word of the course; one speaks of the mother as of an elder
- باپbapfatherOne syllable with a long aa. The partner of maa: together they are walidain, the parents. One speaks of them only with respect
- داداdadagrandfatherThe grandfather on the father’s side. The respect mark ji is added to family elders: Dada ji — a name they are called by even without one
- دادیdadigrandmotherThe grandmother on the father’s side, often the head of the family kitchen. Respectfully — Dadi ji; her stories are asked for, not offered
- بچہbachachildMasculine; the plural is bachche. Bachche are both children and chicks
- دوستdostfriendThe same dost the Persians keep: friendship of one root. A dost here is a friend and a tea companion alike — the rank is flexible
- دکاندارdukandarshopkeeperLiterally "holder of the shop": the familiar dukaan plus -dar, the one at the work. A bazaar trader is always dukandar, even if he trades from a crate
- خریدارkharidarbuyerFrom khareeda — bought: the buyer is the one who has bought or means to. It follows dukandar in the same family of trade words
- انسانinsanhumanThe human as a living, thinking being: the same root as "humane". The plural is insaan — the count does not bend it
- مردmardmanA short mard — a man: kin of the word for manliness in the far cousins of the languages. It is written on exactly those toilet doors
- عورتauratwomanAurat — the woman: bookish in origin, everyday in use. The plural is auratein
- نوجوانnaudzhawanyoung manLiterally "new-young": nau you know from naya, jawaan — young. Both the young man and the girl in her prime are naujawan
- لڑکیlarkigirlA girl and a little girl at once; the retroflex r in the middle. The boy is larka — the pair differs by one vowel
- بوڑھاburhaold manAn old man; the nasal sign at the end carries the sound into the nose. Age is spoken of politely as buzurg — elder, respected
- اجنبیadzhnabistrangerBoth unfamiliar and a stranger: the quality and the person in one word. The same word means "alien"
- بھیڑbhercrowdWith a breath: bh-er. Bher is the crowd — and also the sheep: on the bazaar square one implies the other, and the locals laugh at it themselves
- پڑوسیparosineighborLiterally "one living beside": from par — beside. Neighboring here is kinship: one does not borrow a stranger’s salt, a neighbor’s is taken without asking
- بیٹاbetasonBeta is the son; the daughter is beti. The same word affectionately names any child: ao, beta — come here, little one
- غیر ملکیghair mulkiforeignerLiterally "not-of-the-country person": ghair — non — and mulk — country. A foreigner is noticed at once here and met as a guest
- منیجرminidzhermanagerAn international word. In a small hotel the manager is the owner, the receptionist and the keeper of the keys at once
- مچھیراmachherafishermanStraight from the fish you know: "the fish person". Fishermen from the Indus bring the catch at dawn
- بالbalhairAlways plural: a single hair is not counted — and in talk about a hairstyle the word stands in the plural
- اونچاunchatallOf a person, a house and a price alike. The feminine — with the i
- نیچاnichashort (person)The partner of tall. Of a person’s height one speaks rarely and gently: "not very tall" is kinder
- جوانdzhawanyoungThe same word the Persians keep, and kin of the brawler of the steppe tales by sense: young and strong at once. A woman is young in the same word
- داڑھیdarhibeardThe retroflex d at the start. On the elders a beard is a mark of dignity, and the white one is honorable
- مونچھیںmunchhenmoustacheAlways plural with the nasal n: it escapes through the nose. A moustache is a matter of pride, and it is twirled
- دبلاdublathin (person)Of a person and an animal without offence: rather "slender". Of a woman the feminine form — and it sounds gentler
- موٹاmutafatThe retroflex t. Said of a person neutrally, of a notebook and a blanket too: simply thick
- خوبصورتkhubsuratprettyLiterally "of good look": good and look — both pieces you have heard. Said of looks and of a deed alike
- شکل و صورتshakl o suratlooksA bookish pair, "shape and look": two synonyms glued into one phrase. By one’s looks one does not judge — the shape deceives
- مہربانmeharbankindThe familiar root from "please": kindness and mercy are one word here. The kind is the one from whom mercy flows
- خوش مزاجkhush mazadzhcheerfulLiterally "of good temper": the temper. Cheerfulness here is a quality like eye color — described, not praised
- سمجھدارsamajhdarsensibleFrom the familiar understanding: the sensible here is the one who understands. The -dar tail means "having": the sensible has understanding
- بد مزاجbad mazadzhill-temperedLiterally "of bad temper", the pair of the cheerful one. The bad is the same "badly" as in the bad hour; ill-tempered here leans toward insufferable
- پرسکونparsukoncalmLiterally "full of peace": the peace and the full. Said of a person, an evening and a room alike
- خوش اخلاقkhush akhlaqcourteousLiterally "of good manners": the manners and the bearing. Courtesy here is about behavior, not words: the courteous is the one one is well with
- سستsustlazyA short word: slow and lazy at once. Careful: a couple of letters away lives the cheap — do not mix them
- بہادرbehadurbraveThe very word the ear knows from the old title of the brave. Courage here has long been a rank, not just a trait
- ایماندارimandarhonestLiterally "of faith having": the faith and the honest word at once. The -dar tail you know: having
- مزاجmazadzhtemperThe same word the Persians keep: the temper and the well-being at once. "My temper is fine" — of character and of mood alike
- ویٹرwaiterwaiterAn international word with the retroflex t. One hails him with the polite "excuse me", not a whistle
- کھلوناkhelunatoyFrom the same game: "a thing to play with"
- دلہنdulhanbrideThe bride: in red, with henna hands, the center of the whole day
- دولہاdulhagroomThe groom; the pair of the bride — one letter apart. He arrives on a horse
- شادی کرناshadi karnato marryLiterally "to do a wedding"; said of man and woman alike
- طلاقtalaqdivorceA heavy word but a needed one: the papers go through it
- والدینwalidainparentsA respectful word: both parents at once, never named singly in polite talk
- بھائیbhaibrotherThe brother; the same word closes the names of friends and shopkeepers — a mark of warmth
- بہنbehansisterThe sister; the pair of the brother, not to be confused. The festival of sisters is a feast of its own
- نانیnanimaternal grandmotherThe grandmother on the mother’s side; the father’s one has its own word — the family keeps the sides apart
- ناناnanamaternal grandfatherThe grandfather on the mother’s side; the pair of the other grandmother
- چچاchachchauncle (paternal)The uncle; children call any elder so — respect wears family clothes
- خالہkhalaaunt (maternal)The aunt; the pair of the uncle. Any friend of the mother is an aunt too
- پوتاpotagrandsonThe grandson; the grandfather says "my boy" with pride
- رشتہ دارrishta darrelativeLiterally "a bond-holder": the bond is kinship. At a wedding they arrive by the busload
- کزنkazincousin (male)The same cousin. Cousins here are often as close as siblings
- اولادauladchildren (offspring)Children and offspring at once: even grown sons remain it
- لڑکاlarkaboyThe boy; the plural adds an e
- لڑکیlarkigirlThe girl; the pair of the boy: the ending decides
- بیٹیbetidaughterThe daughter; "my daughter" is said with pride and a raised chin
- تم کتنے برس کے ہو؟tum kitne bars ke ho?how old are you?Literally "you are of how many years": the year-word of the old speech. Age here is counted in years, not summers
- بڑے لوگbare logadultsLiterally "the big people": the child’s division of the world, kept by the language
- نوجوانnaudzhawanteenagerLiterally "new-young": the new and the young. The street’s word for anyone between boy and man
- چھوٹا بچہchhota bachainfantThe little — literally "a small child". Carried on a hip everywhere
- عمرumrageAge and lifespan at once: "all one’s age" — one’s whole life. Asked politely, of elders not at all
- میری عمر تیس برس ہےmeri umr tis bars haiI am thirtyLiterally "my age is thirty years": age belongs to one here, as everything does
- گھنگریالےghungrialecurlyA long word with two breathy gh: the curls of the child and of the sheep alike
- گنجاgandzhabaldA woman says it with the i. Of the word one speaks gently — as of the person
- سفید بالوں والاsafid balon walagrey-hairedLiterally "having white hair": the -wala of the people, now of hair
- قدqadheight (person)The first letter is the deep sound from the throat: height as one’s standing measure
- پتلاpatlaslenderIt follows gender: of a woman with the i. Of the thin you met, this is the kinder word
- درمیانہ قدdarmiana qadof average heightLiterally "middle height": the middle you met at the room
- فیاضfayazgenerousThe same name — generous. Generosity here is a virtue with a season: Ramadan
- صابرsabirpatientFrom the root of patience; the name is of the same stock. With children one must be patient
- محنتیmehnatihard-workingFrom the heavy toil. The praise every employer’s letter repeats
- بھروسے مندbharose mandreliableLiterally "having trust": the trust you met, now worn as a quality
- سادہsademodestBoth modest and plain: a simple life is said with the same word
- ملنسارmilansarsociableLiterally "laughing with people": the sociable as the one who mixes
- خیال رکھنے والاkhyal rakhne walacaringLiterally "the thought-keeping one": the caring as the keeper of thoughts of others
- سنجیدہsandzhidaseriousOf a person and of a matter: the grave word of meetings and of griefs alike
- تربیت یافتہtarbiyat yaftawell-brought-upLiterally "having received upbringing": the upbringing you met at the family
- مزاح کا شعورmazah ka shaursense of humourLiterally "the awareness of a joke": the joke’s own sense
- لالچیlalchigreedyFrom the greed. Said of children at the table and of traders at the scale alike
- ضدیziddistubbornFrom the stubbornness. Of a child it is said half fondly
- بدتمیزbadtamizrudeLiterally "of bad manners": the manners you met at courtesy
- بے حیاbe hayashamelessLiterally "without shame": the without working at full force
- چالاکchalakcunningKin of the word for gait: the cunning walks sideways
- باتونیbatonichattyFrom the word, the talk: the one who spends words without counting
- غافلghafilabsent-mindedLiterally "inattentive, asleep": the attention you met at the lesson
- جلد بازdzhald bazhot-temperedLiterally "quick of deed": praised in a worker, feared in a driver
- بے پرواbe parwacarelessLiterally "without care": the care you met at the fretting
- عادتadathabitThe same word as the custom: a habit is a custom of one
- صہیلیsahelifemale friendThe feminine friend: a separate word, not an ending
- جان پہچان والاdzhan pehchan walaacquaintanceLiterally "having recognition": the one known by face
- ٹیلنٹtalenttalentThe international talent: admitted at the interview, proven by the work
- پیدا ہوناpaida honato be bornTo be born: the first verb of every biography
- بچپنbachpanchildhoodThe childhood: the -pan tail you met at hunger, now holding the years
- جوانیdzhawaniyouthThe youth: the young you met, made a season of life
- جوانی کے بعد کی زندگیdzhawani ke bad ki zindagiadult lifeLiterally "the life after youth": the life that pays the bills
- نسلnaslgenerationThe generation: grandfather’s, father’s and the one on the phone
- آبائی شہرabai sheherhome townLiterally "the fathers’ city": the town of the ancestors, kept in the speech
- ملک میں پانچ سال گزارناmulk main panch sal guzarnato live five years in a countryLiterally "to pass five years in the country": the passing you met at the expiry
- یادyadmemoryThe memory: the same word as the missing and the memorizing
- پرانی تصویرpurani taswirold photographLiterally "an old picture": the picture you met at the messaging
- قسمتqismatfateThe fate: invoked at every mishap and every windfall
- نئی زندگی شروع کرناnai zindagi shuru karnato start a new lifeLiterally "to start a new life": the beginning you met at the workday
- شادی کرناshadi karnato start a familyLiterally "to do a wedding": the family begun at the wedding
- امیرamirrichThe rich: the children of rich families go to private schools
- غریبgharibpoorThe poor: from a poor family, yet hard-working
- روم میٹrum mitroommateTwo international words: the rent split in half with him
- بچپن کا دوستbachpan ka dostchildhood friendLiterally "the friend of childhood": met yesterday, known for thirty years
- دور کا رشتہ دارdur ka rishta dardistant relativeLiterally "a far relative": comes to the wedding, remembered at the funeral
- بچوں کی تربیت کرناbachon ki tarbiyat karnato bring up childrenLiterally "the children’s upbringing": grandfather and grandmother help in it
- مشہورmeshhurfamousThe heard-of: the dessert famous through the whole city
- طاقتورtaqatwarstrongThe strength-having: arms that lift the heavy load
- منگنیmangniengagementThe asking: the family gathers for it first of all
- شادی کی انگوٹھیshadi ki angothiwedding ringLiterally "the wedding’s ring": worn on the left hand here
- شادی کا لباسshadi ka lebaswedding dressLiterally "the wedding’s dress": the bride’s is red
- عروس و دامادaros o damadnewlywedsLiterally "bride and groom": they come out before everyone
- شہد کا مہینہshehad ka mehinahoneymoonLiterally "the month of honey": the newlyweds mark it
- نیا گھرnaiya gharhousewarmingLiterally "the new house": everyone invited to it
- سوگsaugmourningThe mourning: after the crash the country was in it
- عقل مندaql mandsensibleThe sense-having: the sensible buys twice and pays once
- نیکیnekikindnessThe good: kindness as the deed done quietly
- حوصلہhauslafortitudeThe courage you met at the hold-on: the bearing that outlasts
- صبرsabarpatienceThe patience: the word of the queue, the fast and the fever alike
- خود غرضیkhud gharziselfishnessThe self-willedness: the selfishness of the last piece
- سستیsustilazinessThe slowness again: laziness blamed for what the fever did
- ضدzidstubbornnessThe stubbornness again: the mule’s virtue, badly timed
- تجسسtadzhasuscuriosityThe inquisitiveness: the curiosity that opens books and cupboards alike
- دیانتdiyanatintegrityThe honesty of the trusted: the integrity of the key-holder
- حاضرجوابیhazirdzhawabiquick witLiterally "present-answer-ness": the wit that answers before the echo
- بے فکریbe fikricarefreenessThe without-care: the carefree youth of the old photos
- پرعزمperazmresoluteThe resolve-bearing: resolute as the old mason’s line
- شرمیلاsharmilabashfulThe shy one again: bashful before the camera, bold at the board
- برا ماننے والاbura manne walathin-skinnedLiterally "the one taking it ill": offended by a weather report
- نرم مزاجnaryam mazadzhplacidThe soft-tempered: placid as the afternoon of the old street
- باریک بینbarik binmeticulousLiterally "fine-seeing": meticulous about the thread and the truth
- خود پسندkhud psandvainThe self-liking: vain as the rooster of the yard
- مددگارmadadgarhelpfulThe help-bearing: helpful before being asked
- تنہا پسندtanha psandsolitaryThe solitude-liking: solitary at the desk, kind at the gate
- کھراkharastraight-talkingThe standing: straight as the plumb line, and as welcome
- غیر متوقعghair mutawaggeunpredictableThe un-expected: unpredictable as the April sky and the electricity alike
- مانناmannato obeyThe accepting again: obeyed the mother and the traffic light alike
- شیخی بگھارناshikhi bagharnato boastLiterally "to sow a peacock feather": the boast planted, grown by evening
- چغل خوری کرناchughli khori karnato gossip (tell tales)The gossip again: tale-telling that costs friendships
- دکھاوا کرناdikhawa karnato pretendLiterally "to do the showing": the showing-off that fools no one long
- روک لیناrok lenato hold backThe stopping again: held back the anger and the word alike
- مذاق اڑاناmazaq uranato teaseLiterally "to raise a joke": the teasing of the old friends
- جھوٹ مارناjhut marnato tell a fibLiterally "to strike a lie": the small lie, struck and regretted
- کان لگاناkan laganato eavesdropLiterally "to apply the ear": the ear applied at the door
- دخل اندازی کرناdakhal andazi karnato meddleLiterally "to do interference": the meddling of the well-meaning
- وعدہ نبھاناwada nikhbhanato keep one’s wordLiterally "to nibble the promise"? No — to honour it: the promise kept
- حق دار بنناhaq dar bannato earn (a right)Literally "to become deserving": the respect earned, not requested
- طعنہ دیناtaana denato reproachLiterally "to give a taunt": the taunt wrapped in a blessing
- داد دیناdad denato praise (give due)Literally "to give the due": the praise that costs nothing and buys much
- برا بھلا کہناbura bhala kehnato berateLiterally "to speak bad-and-good": scolded in full flow
- ساتھ چھوڑ دیناsath chhor denato let downLiterally "to leave the companionship": the friend who let them down
- قصد سےqasd seon purposeThe intention again: done on purpose, and admitted late
- نادانی میںnadani mainout of foolishnessLiterally "in the unknowing": the mistake made out of not-knowing
- اچھی نیتی سےachchhi niti sewith the best intentionsLiterally "with a good intention": the road paved so famously
- یہ اچھی بات نہیںye achchhi bat nahinthis is not doneLiterally "this is not a good thing": the reproach of the whole street
- اس کا مطلب برا نہ تھاis ka matlab bula na thahe meant no harmLiterally "his meaning was not bad": the apology of the clumsy
- اعتمادaitemadtrust (credit)The reliance again: the trust given once and lifetime-long
- حسدhasadenvy (feeling)The envy again: the feeling that eats the holder first
- ترسtaraspity (compassion)The pity you met at the consolation: felt for the old and the young alike
- رسوخrusukhinfluence (pull)The penetrating: the pull that opens the office door
- وقارwaqarauthority (standing)The dignity: the standing that silences the room
- باہمیbahamimutualThe between-ness: the mutual regard of the two old shops
- برابری سےbarabari seas equalsLiterally "with equalness": dealt with as equals
- مل جل کر رہناmil dzhal kar rehnato get alongLiterally "to remain mingled": living alongside in peace, which is the harder art by far
- الگ تھلگ رہناalag thalag rehnato keep apartThe apart doubled again: kept apart since the quarrel
- شوہرshauharhusbandThe word for a husband in the family and in the papers alike; to someone else’s, politely — shauhar ji. The wife is biwi
- بیویbewiwifeA village will say gharwali — "the one of the house" — the city says biwi. The word is affectionate: meri biwi — my wife
- لوگlogpeopleFrom "person" to a crowd: aap log — you all, woh log — they. One word gathers a whole bazaar
- شوہر کی ماںshauhar ki manmother-in-law (husband’s)No separate word exists: the mother of the husband is described. The tales of the bond are told everywhere
- ساسsasmother-in-lawOne word for the mother of the wife and of the husband: the family tree here has fewer branches
- سسرsusarfather-in-lawThe father of the spouse from either side. Worked beside in the fields and the shop alike
- دامادdamadson-in-lawThe son-in-law is honoured in the house: at the table he sits in the front
- بہوbahudaughter-in-lawThe son’s wife and the brother’s wife — one word. She runs the kitchen in time
- بھتیجاbhatidzhanephewThe brother’s son; the sister’s son carries another word — the sides are kept
- بھتیجیbhatidzhinieceThe feminine pair of the nephew: the -i tail decides
- پوتیpotigranddaughterThe son’s granddaughter; the daughter’s has her own word. Spoiled by both grandmothers equally
- جڑواں بچےdzhurwan bachetwinsLiterally "joined children": from the joining. Told apart by a mole or a temper
- برادریbaradarikinA collective: the whole kinship and clan at once. Weddings are counted by it
- بڑا بھائیbara bhaielder brotherSeniority is carried by the same big as in "too big": of people it means older
- چھوٹی بہنchhoti behanyounger sisterThe same short that meant little: of people it means younger
- اکلوتا بچہaklota bachaonly childFrom the alone: literally "a solitary child". Rare here, and remarked upon
- کزنkazincousin (female)An international word written in the local script: the feminine cousin
- سوتیلی ماںsoteli manstepmotherThe second, the other: one’s own mother is one. The tales are kinder here than elsewhere
- سوتیلا باپsotela bapstepfatherThe same second, only about the father. Respect first, love after — the order is fixed
- یتیمyatimorphanOne word for the orphan of either sex. Spoken of gently, and helped openly
- بیوہbewahwidowA word about a woman; of a man one says it descriptively. She keeps the house and the respect
- شوہرshauharhusbandThe household word for the husband: the wife names him so to others
- بیویbewiwifeThe wife in the home sense: the word from the phrase about his wife
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How it sounds in a sentence
A word list is a blank. Conversation is made of sentences, and these are the ones the words fit into most often.
- خاندان بڑا ہےkhandan bara haiThe family is big
- ماں گھر ہیںman ghar hainMother is at home
- باپ بھی گھر ہیںbap bhi ghar hainFather is at home too
- دادا گھر ہیںdada ghar hainGrandfather is at home
- دادی کہاں ہیں؟dadi kahan hain?Where is grandmother?
- بچہ سکول جاتا ہےbacha skul dzhata haiThe child goes to school
What is worth knowing about these words
خاندان (khandan) — family. Literally "the holders of the house": the family in the wide sense, with grandparents and cousins. Friday is its day: the meal at the elders’.
ماں (man) — mother. The nasal sign at the end: maa slips up into the nose. The shortest and the weightiest word of the course; one speaks of the mother as of an elder.
باپ (bap) — father. One syllable with a long aa. The partner of maa: together they are walidain, the parents. One speaks of them only with respect.
دادا (dada) — grandfather. The grandfather on the father’s side. The respect mark ji is added to family elders: Dada ji — a name they are called by even without one.
Test yourself
Recalling a spelling from meaning is harder than recognizing a familiar word — and therefore more useful.
- How do you say “family” in Urdu?
Literally "the holders of the house": the family in the wide sense, with grandparents and cousins. Friday is its day: the meal at the elders’
- How do you say “shopkeeper” in Urdu?
Literally "holder of the shop": the familiar dukaan plus -dar, the one at the work. A bazaar trader is always dukandar, even if he trades from a crate
- How do you say “old man” in Urdu?
An old man; the nasal sign at the end carries the sound into the nose. Age is spoken of politely as buzurg — elder, respected
- How do you say “fisherman” in Urdu?
Straight from the fish you know: "the fish person". Fishermen from the Indus bring the catch at dawn
- How do you say “thin (person)” in Urdu?
Of a person and an animal without offence: rather "slender". Of a woman the feminine form — and it sounds gentler
How to learn the set instead of just reading it
Mum, friend, child, neighbour. The first thing people ask you about, and the first thing you tell about yourself.
A list is read in a minute and forgotten in a day. What works: hide the translation, try to recall, get it wrong — and come back to the same words tomorrow.
- Recalling beats re-reading. Covering the translation and trying to remember it does more than reading it ten more times.checked many timesAdesope, Trevisan & Sundararajan, 2017, Review of Educational Research 87(3) · 188 experiments, 272 comparisons. g = 0.61; against plain re-reading 0.51, against passive review 0.93.
- Study spread over days wins not only in experiments but in ordinary classrooms, with real students.checked many timesMawson & Kang, 2025, Behavioral Sciences 15(6):771 · 22 studies, d = 0.54 (confidence interval 0.31–0.77). The authors warn that individual studies disagree widely.
Frequently asked
How do you say “family” in Urdu?
«خاندان», read “khandan”. Literally "the holders of the house": the family in the wide sense, with grandparents and cousins. Friday is its day: the meal at the elders’. It is one of 197 words in the set “people and family” — the rest are in the table above.
How many family words do you need to start?
The whole set on this page is 197 words, but there is no need to start with all of it: the words you will need in the next few days are enough. Take them a few at a time — five to seven new ones per session.