You do not need Urdu to travel in Pakistan, since English is used in hotels, airports and by most tour staff, but a few Urdu phrases go a long way. Greeting people, asking for a price and saying thank you are the ones that change how you are treated. This guide gives the useful Urdu phrases for travellers in Roman Urdu, grouped by situation: greetings, hotels, food, transport, shopping and emergencies.
Spellings vary because Urdu is written in a different script, so read the Roman versions as a guide to sound. In the north, people also speak Balti, Shina, Burushaski, Pashto and other languages, but Urdu is understood almost everywhere. Our page on whether people speak English in Pakistan explains where English will and won't work.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Most useful five | Assalam o alaikum, shukriya, kitne ka hai, kam mirch, madad chahiye |
| Pronounce | "kh" as a rough "h" in the throat; "q" deeper than "k" |
| Numbers | Learn 1 to 10 and hundreds for bargaining |
| Politeness | Add "ji" to a name or answer for respect |
Greetings and basics
- Assalam o alaikum: "Peace be upon you." The standard greeting, used at any time of day. The reply is Wa alaikum assalam.
- Aap kaise hain? How are you? (Reply: Main theek hoon, shukriya: I am fine, thank you.)
- Shukriya: Thank you. Meherbani also means thanks or kindness.
- Jee or Ji: Yes, or a polite "pardon?". Haan is a plain yes; nahin is no.
- Meharbani karke: Please.
- Maaf kijiye: Sorry, or excuse me.
- Khuda hafiz: Goodbye.
- Mera naam ___ hai: My name is ___.
- Main samajh nahin paaya (or paayi): I did not understand. Men say "paaya", women "paayi".
- Aap English bolte hain? Do you speak English?
- Dobara boliye: Say that again.
At the hotel
- Kamra khaali hai? Is there a room available?
- Ek raat ka kiraya kitna hai? How much is it for one night?
- Mujhe do bistar wala kamra chahiye: I need a room with two beds.
- Garam pani hai? Is there hot water?
- Wi-Fi ka password kya hai? What is the Wi-Fi password?
- Naashta kis waqt milta hai? What time is breakfast?
- Bijli chali gayi hai: The power has gone.
- Kamra saaf karwa dijiye: Please have the room cleaned.
- Hisaab (bill) dijiye: The bill, please.
Hotels in Pakistan ask for your CNIC or passport at check-in. That is normal.
Food and drink
- Menu dikhaiye: Show me the menu.
- Yeh kya hai? What is this?
- Mujhe bhook lagi hai: I am hungry.
- Pani chahiye: I need water. Add botal wala for bottled.
- Kam mirch: Less chilli. Mirch kam rakhna is a polite instruction to the cook.
- Gosht nahin, sirf sabzi: No meat, only vegetables.
- Main gosht nahin khata (khati): I do not eat meat. Men say "khata", women "khati".
- Garam garam: Hot and fresh.
- Ek aur roti dijiye: One more roti, please.
- Chai, doodh patti: Milky tea. Sada chai or kahwa is plain or green.
- Bill lana: Bring the bill.
- Bohat lazeez tha: It was very tasty. Cooks and hosts appreciate this.
For more on ordering, see our Pakistani food guide and the note on dining etiquette.
Transport and directions
- Yeh kahan hai? Where is this?
- Seedha: Straight. Daayen: Right. Baayen: Left.
- Yahan rok dijiye: Stop here, please.
- Kitna kiraya hoga? How much will the fare be? Ask before you get in.
- Meter se chalein: Go by the meter.
- Kitni der lage gi? How long will it take?
- Ahista chalaiye: Please drive slowly. Useful on mountain roads.
- Petrol pump kahan hai? Where is the petrol pump?
- Bus adda kahan hai? Where is the bus stand?
- Raasta band hai? Is the road closed?
- Gaari kharab ho gayi hai: The car has broken down.
Fix taxi and rickshaw fares beforehand, or use a ride-hailing app in the big cities.
On the road in the mountains
Drivers and hosts in the north often speak Urdu as a second language, so simple phrases work well.
- Mausam kaisa hai? How is the weather?
- Aage raasta theek hai? Is the road ahead fine?
- Kitne ghante lagenge? How many hours will it take?
- Yahan network nahin hai: There is no signal here.
- Thodi der ruk jaayen: Let's stop for a little while.
- Mujhe chakkar aa raha hai: I feel dizzy. Useful at altitude, and worth learning before a high pass.
- Yahan tasveer le sakta (sakti) hoon? May I take a photo here? Ask before photographing people, checkpoints or military areas.
Shopping and bargaining
- Yeh kitne ka hai? How much is this?
- Bohat mehnga hai: It is very expensive.
- Thoda kam kijiye: Please reduce it a little.
- Aakhri qeemat kya hai? What is your final price?
- Mujhe yeh pasand hai: I like this. Mujhe pasand nahin aya: I don't like it.
- Rasid dijiye: Give me a receipt.
Numbers help. Ek, do, teen, char, paanch, chhe, saat, aath, nau, das are one to ten; sau is hundred and hazaar is thousand.
Bargain politely in bazaars; don't bargain in shops with fixed price tags.
Emergencies and health
- Madad chahiye: I need help.
- Mujhe doctor chahiye: I need a doctor.
- Meri tabiyat kharab hai: I am unwell.
- Hospital kahan hai? Where is the hospital?
- Police ko bulao: Call the police.
- Mera samaan kho gaya hai: I have lost my luggage.
In an emergency in Pakistan, the general emergency number for police is 15; 1122 is the rescue service in many provinces. Check the local number in the area you are visiting.
Politeness and titles
Urdu has formal and informal forms of "you". Use aap (formal) with everyone you meet as a visitor, and avoid tum and tu, which are for friends and children. Add ji after a name for respect: "Ahmed ji", or "Sahib" for men and "Sahiba" for women. Elders are addressed as uncle and aunty in English, or chacha and khala in Urdu, even by strangers. Right hand for handing things over, and a small nod with "shukriya", is enough.
How to be understood
Speak slowly, use short sentences and smile. Pakistanis are generous with language learners and usually reply in English if they can. Learn to greet, thank and ask a price, and you will be well served. If you want Pashto for the north-west, our basic Pashto phrases is a companion guide. For general travel questions, see our travel FAQs.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to learn Urdu to travel in Pakistan?
No. English is widely used in hotels and tourist services, but Urdu greetings and price questions make daily life easier, especially outside big cities.
What is the best way to say hello in Urdu?
"Assalam o alaikum", with the reply "Wa alaikum assalam". It works for everyone at any time of day.
How do you say thank you in Urdu?
"Shukriya" is the everyday word. "Meherbani" is also used.
How do I ask the price in Urdu?
"Yeh kitne ka hai?" means "How much is this?" Follow it with "Thoda kam kijiye" to ask for a small reduction.
Is Urdu the same as Hindi?
Spoken Urdu and Hindi are very close in everyday speech, but Urdu is written in a Persian-Arabic script and uses more Persian and Arabic vocabulary. Urdu is Pakistan's national language.
