Urdu Language Blog

Pakistanis generally eat three meals a day just like most cultures: breakfast ناشتہ , lunch دوپہر کا کھانا , and dinner رات کا کھانا . During the evening, many families have tea which goes along with baked/fried snacks from local bakery (or prepared at home). During the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, the eating patterns change to: Sehr or Sehri and…

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When learning a language, especially a South Asian one such as Urdu, it is important to appreciate differences in registers. A register simply refers to a social level of speech, like the formal speech you would use in a term paper or while delivering a presentation at work as opposed to the informal/colloquial speech you…

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Iftar افطار or Iftari is a ritual observed by Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan. During the month of Ramadan, Muslims observe a daily fast during the daytime. They have a pre-dawn meal called Sehr سحر or Sehri سحری and go for fasting throughout the day and cannot eat or drink anything. They break their…

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Mango آم is the national fruit of Pakistan and very rightly so. Any summer in the Indo-Pak sub continent can never be complete without having Mango parties. The fruit is enjoyed by all regardless of the time of day. From mango juice or smoothies in the morning to Mango shakes in the afternoon and then as a…

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A samosa (Urdu: سموسہ‎) is a fried or baked pastry with savory fillings, such as spiced potatoes, onions, peas, lentils and sometimes ground lamb, ground beef or ground chicken. During Ramadan these days a samosa is a cherished treat at Iftaar افطار (when Muslims open fast). The samosa originated in the Middle East (where it is known as sambosa) prior to the 10th century. They were introduced…

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