Urdu, one of the rich and culturally significant languages, traces its origins back several centuries in the Indian subcontinent. Emerging as a blend of Persian, Arabic, Turkish, and local dialects, Urdu evolved into a language of poetry, literature, and refined expression.
Over time, Urdu became a symbol of cultural unity and sophistication, spreading across South Asia and gaining prominence in both spoken and written forms. Today, it is spoken by millions worldwide, primarily in Pakistan and India, and holds official status in Pakistan as well as regional recognition in India.
Urdu is written using a modified form of the Persian-Arabic script, known as Nastaliq. This script consists of 38 primary letters, making it distinctive and visually elegant. Additionally, Urdu shares linguistic and scriptural ties with several other languages, reflecting its deeply interconnected history and cultural richness.
Unlike English, where vowels are represented by standalone letters, in Urdu, short vowels are represented by special symbols placed above or below the letters, known as diacritics. Long vowels, however, are written using the letters (ا, ی, و) in combination with diacritics.
Urdu uses a script derived from Arabic, which primarily focuses on consonants, while vowels are either represented with diacritics or understood in the context of the word.
For example,
The word کتاب (kitaab, meaning "book") is written using only consonants:
The vowels i (short vowel) and aa (long vowel) are not explicitly written as separate letters.
The Urdu alphabet consists of 36 primary consonant letters.
These consonants are similar to those in the Arabic script from which Urdu is derived. Each consonant has its own distinct sound, and many consonants are paired with diacritical marks or vowels to form complete words.
Urdu uses a unique set of numerals derived from the Arabic numeral system. These numerals are written from left to right and are commonly used in everyday writing, such as in dates, prices, and addresses.
In formal writing, however, Urdu numerals are often used alongside Western Arabic numerals (0-9), especially in Pakistan and parts of India, where both numeral systems are recognized.
Urdu (اردو) is an Indo-Aryan language primarily spoken in South Asia, particularly in Pakistan and parts of India. It is spoken by over 230 million people worldwide. The Urdu script is derived from the Persian script, which itself is based on the Arabic script. However, over the course of history, different scripts have influenced Urdu, including the Arabic and Persian scripts.
Here is a quick summary:
| Pronunciation: | [ˈʊɾduː] |
| Native Name: | اردو (Urdu) |
| Number of Speakers: | 230 million |
| Language family: | Indo-European (Indo-Iranian) |
| First Written: | 16th century CE |
| Writing System: | Nastaliq (Perso-Arabic) Script |
| Spoken in: | Pakistan, India, and diaspora communities worldwide |
| Status: | Official language of Pakistan and one of the 22 scheduled languages of India. Widely spoken across South Asia, and a key literary language in the Muslim world. |
| Two digit language code: | ur |
Below is a list of complete Urdu Alphabet Chart
