Urdu was born in the 12th century from the regional Apabhramsha of northwestern India. This newly-born speech was a breed of amalgamation of the Hindu and Muslim cultures (during the 12th to 16th centuries); a composite product of Ganga-Jamuna tehzee ...continue reading

During the Victorian times, one unsaid phrase of caution was known by all women alike: ‘You must know how to say no. ...continue reading

This verse above by Faiz Sahab is inarguably among the most adored couplets of Urdu language. But besides its evocative imagery and nostalgic vibe, do you know what’s the secret behind Ghazal-lovers reciting it over and over, like a cryptic Mantra ...continue reading

How funny it is that the moment we hear someone go on a rant about their guts and grits, we know it's an act of bravado and almost instantly blurt out, ‘BaDe Tees Maar Khan Ho!’. But do you know how this backhanded compliment-cum-saying came about ...continue reading

Whether it’s Eid or Diwali; the daughter graduating or the son grabbing his first job; bringing home your first pet dog or that dog giving birth to a pup, however modest or momentous the occasion is, our expression is almost always the same, ‘Mubarak ...continue reading

Sayings are where the constraints of grammar fall flat. Sayings are where the limits of our language are pushed. Sayings are where everyday speakers insert their ‘Private Meanings’, (hello, Wittgenstein lovers) ...continue reading

‘To do, or to cook?’ shed some light on two of our most common verbs that we often use interchangeably. These are ‘Banaanaa’, to make, prepare; to contrive (slang), and ‘Pakaanaa’, to cook; to bore (slang) ...continue reading

‘Rihaaish’, a word that’s nowhere to be found in our classical poetry, but features a lot after its wane, means a stay, dwelling, residence, and also a delay (spatial) ...continue reading

Ustad, originally came from the Zend language, even appearing in the Zoroastrian religious text ‘Avesta’, meaning a knower of Avesta ...continue reading

KHulaasa actually means the purest part of something. A word that really can help us wrap our heads around it is the Hindi word NichoD, or the essence of a matter; ‘baat kaa nichoD yeh hai kih…’ ...continue reading