Mehfil-e-Rashid محفلِ رشید

Glossary

The Urdu of these ghazals, one word at a time, for readers who meet it through the roman script. The glossary defines words, never verses; the meaning of a sher is yours to make.

aaj آج
today
aap آپ
you, in the reverent form; the collection addresses Rashid only as aap
adā ادا
a graceful gesture; a charm put on to be admired
āfat آفت
calamity
āge آگے
ahead, beyond
āghāz آغاز
beginning, the start of a thing
ajal اجل
the appointed hour of death
ajnabī اجنبی
stranger
ākhir آخر
at last, in the end
ākhirī آخری
last, final
alfāz الفاظ
words: the plural of lafz
ānā آنا
to come
andāz انداز
manner, style; the way a person carries a thing off
andherā اندھیرا
darkness
ās آس
hope
asar اثر
effect, trace
ashk اشک
tears
āwāz آواز
voice; a call
azal ازل
pre-eternity: the beginning before all beginnings
bāb باب
chapter; door
baccā بچہ
child
bachnā بچنا
to escape, to be spared
baʿd بعد
after
baghair بغیر
without
bahānā بہانا
to shed, to let flow
bāhar باہر
outside, out
bāheṅ باہیں
arms
baiṭhnā بیٹھنا
to sit
bajnā بجنا
to sound, to ring; of hands, to clap
bakhshnā بخشنا
to bestow, to grant
banānā بنانا
to make
banāwaṭ بناوٹ
artifice: something put on rather than true
banda بندہ
a human being; God's servant
bāndhnā باندھنا
to bind, to tie
bannā بننا
to become
bār بار
a time, a turn: bār bār, again and again
baṛā بڑا
big; grown
barāh-e-rāst براہِ راست
by the straight road: directly, first hand; also the phrase Urdu news channels use for a live broadcast
baras برس
year
baṛhānā بڑھانا
to increase; to add on
barzakh برزخ
the waiting place between death and the Day of Judgement
bas بس
just, only; enough
basānā بسانا
to settle someone, to make a home
basnā بسنا
to dwell
bāt بات
word, matter, thing said
bāzī بازی
a game, a round of play; a gamble, a stake
bazm بزم
gathering, assembly
bāzū بازو
arm; the arms
be-khauf بے خوف
fearless
be-khwāb بے خواب
sleepless
besura بےسُرا
off the note, out of tune
beṭā بیٹا
son
beṭī بیٹی
daughter
be-zubānī بے زبانی
wordlessness
bhar بھر
whole, entire: umr bhar, a lifetime long; rāt bhar, all night
bharnā بھرنا
to fill
bhūlnā بھولنا
to forget
bichhānā بچھانا
to spread out, to lay down
bikharnā بکھرنا
to scatter
bol بول
the words of a song, the lyric
bolnā بولنا
to speak, to say
bujhānā بجھانا
to put out, to extinguish
bunnā بُننا
to weave
chāhat چاہت
love, longing
chāṅd چاند
moon
chhat چھت
roof
chhupānā چھپانا
to hide
chhurī چھری
knife
chirāgh چراغ
lamp
choṭ چوٹ
a blow; in wit, the sting of a punchline
daagh-e-jigar داغِ جگر
the heart's scar (literally the liver's, where Urdu poetry keeps its deepest wounds)
daftar دفتر
office; ledger, file
dānish دانش
wisdom
dar در
door; as ḍar (ڈر), fear
dard درد
pain
darīchā دریچہ
window
dariyā دریا
river
ḍarnā ڈرنا
to fear
darwāzā دروازہ
door
daulat-e-auqāt دولتِ اوقات
the wealth of one's hours
davā دوا
medicine
denā دینا
to give
dil دل
heart
din دن
day
duʿā دعا
prayer; a blessing asked for someone
dulār دلار
tenderness, doting affection
duniyā دنیا
the world
dūr دور
far, distant
durust درست
sound, correct
dūsrā دوسرا
second; other
e'tibār اعتبار
trust
faisla فیصلہ
decision, judgment
fakhr فخر
pride
falak فلک
sky, the heavens
faqat فقط
only
farishtā فرشتہ
angel
filmī فلمی
of the films: a film song
galā گلا
neck, throat: gale lagānā, to embrace
gānā گانا
to sing
garajnā گرجنا
to thunder
gehrā گہرا
deep
gham غم
grief, sorrow
gham-gusār غم گسار
consoler: one who shares grief
ghar گھر
house, home
ghaṛī گھڑی
hour, moment
gharoṅdā گھروندا
a child's little play house
ghaṭnā گھٹنا
to lessen, to fade
ghazal غزل
a poem of couplets that share one rhyme and refrain, each couplet complete in itself
ghizā غذا
food, diet
gilā گلہ
complaint
girnā گرنا
to fall
gīt گیت
song
goya گویا
as if, as though
gunahgār گنہگار
sinner; the guilty one
gūṅgā گونگا
mute
gungunānā گنگنانا
to hum
gūṅjnā گونجنا
to echo, to ring
guzarnā گزرنا
to pass, to go by
hairānī حیرانی
wonder, astonishment
haṅsānā ہنسانا
to make someone laugh
haṅsī ہنسی
laughter
haṅsnā ہنسنا
to laugh
haq حق
right, rightful claim; truth; God's due
harf حرف
letter of the alphabet; a written character
hāshiyā حاشیہ
margin of a page
hāth ہاتھ
hand
hisāb حساب
account, reckoning
hisār حصار
fortress
hukm حکم
command
hunar ہنر
skill, craft
ʿibādat عبادت
worship
ikhtiyār اختیار
authority, control; the power to decide
ʿilāj علاج
cure, treatment
ʿillat علت
ailment
ʿilm علم
knowledge
ilzām الزام
blame, accusation
inʿām انعام
reward, prize
inkār انکار
refusal
insāf انصاف
justice
intikhāb انتخاب
choice, selection
intisāb انتساب
dedication, as of a book
intizār انتظار
waiting, awaiting
ishārā اشارہ
sign, gesture
iztirāb اضطراب
agitation, restlessness
jāgnā جاگنا
to stay awake, to wake
jahāṅ جہاں
the world; also: where, wherever
jalānā جلانا
to light, to kindle
jalnā جلنا
to burn, to be alight
janāb جناب
sir: a respectful address
janāzā جنازہ
funeral
jawāb جواب
answer
jīnā جینا
to live
jugat جگت
quick wordplay; the Punjabi art of the pun
kāghaz کاغذ
paper
kahānī کہانی
story
kahnā کہنا
to say
kaisā کیسا
what kind of, how
kalām کلام
speech, the word; a poet's collected word
kalima کلمہ
word; a solemn word
kam کم
less, little; kam honā, to lessen
kamānā کمانا
to earn
kamrā کمرہ
room
kandhā کندھا
shoulder
karghā کرگھا
loom
kārobār کاروبار
trade, business
kāṭnā کاٹنا
to cut
khabar خبر
news; awareness of something
khālī خالی
empty
khām خام
raw, unsound
khāmosh خاموش
silent
khāmushī خامشی
silence
khaṛā کھڑا
standing
khatm ختم
finished, ended
khauf خوف
fear
khel کھیل
game, play
ḳhitāb خطاب
address, speech
khonā کھونا
to lose
ḳhud خود
self, oneself
khulā کھلا
open
khwāb خواب
dream
kitāb کتاب
book
koī کوئی
someone, anyone; any
lab لب
lip
lagnā لگنا
to seem; to be attached, to strike; gale lagnā, to embrace
lamhā لمحہ
moment
lānā لانا
to bring
laṛakpan لڑکپن
boyhood
laṛkā لڑکا
boy
latīfā لطیفہ
joke
lauṭnā لوٹنا
to return
lenā لینا
to take; joined to another verb, to do the thing for oneself
lihāz لحاظ
regard, deference: the respect shown to something because of its standing
likhnā لکھنا
to write
liye لیے
for: ke liye, for the sake of
log لوگ
people
madrasā مدرسہ
school
magar مگر
but
maidān میدان
open field, arena; the ground of play or battle
maiṅ میں
I, me
māṅgnā مانگنا
to ask for, to seek
manzar منظر
view, scene
maqām مقام
place, rank, station
matla مطلع
the opening couplet of a ghazal, the only one that carries the refrain in both lines
mausam موسم
season; weather
maut موت
death
meharbānī مہربانی
kindness, mercy
mehfil محفل
a gathering of friends for poetry, music, or conversation
mehmān مہمان
guest
mehnat محنت
hard work
meṅ میں
in
milnā ملنا
to meet; to be found, to be received
minbar منبر
pulpit
mīṭhā میٹھا
sweet
miṭhāī مٹھائی
sweets
miṭṭī مٹی
soil, earth
moṛ موڑ
bend, turn
muhr مہر
seal
mulāqāt ملاقات
meeting
muṅh منہ
mouth, face: muṅh moṛnā, to turn one's face away
muqīm مقیم
dwelling, in residence
nādānī نادانی
innocence, naivety
namāz نماز
the ritual prayer, performed at its appointed hour
naujavān نوجوان
the young, youth
nāv ناؤ
boat
nayā نیا
new
nāz ناز
pride, the thing one is proud of; also the beloved's coquetry
nazar نظر
gaze, sight
nibhānā نبھانا
to keep faith with, to see through
nigāh نگاہ
gaze, glance
nigehbānī نگہبانی
watching over, guardianship
nihattā نہتا
unarmed
nikāḥ نکاح
the marriage ceremony
nikalnā نکلنا
to go out; to move past
nizām نظام
system, order
nuqta نقطہ
dot, point: the smallest mark of the script
pahle پہلے
before; first
paighām پیغام
message
panāh پناہ
refuge, shelter
Panjab پنجاب
Punjab: the land of five rivers
panjābī پنجابی
Punjabi: the language, and a song in it
parakhnā پرکھنا
to test, to appraise
parda-e-ulfat پردۂ الفت
the veil of love
paṛhānā پڑھانا
to teach
paṛhnā پڑھنا
to read, to study
parinda پرندہ
bird
parwāz پرواز
flight, the act of flying
pās پاس
near, beside: mere pās, to me
pehrā پہرہ
watch, vigil
phailānā پھیلانا
to spread
phal پھل
fruit
phalāṅgnā پھلانگنا
to leap over
phirnā پھرنا
to wander
phisalnā پھسلنا
to slip, to slide
phūlnā پھولنا
to bloom, to flourish
pichhaṛnā پچھڑنا
to fall behind
pidar پدر
father
pūchhnā پوچھنا
to ask
pukār پکار
a call, a cry
pūrā پورا
complete, whole
pyār پیار
love
qabr قبر
grave
qadam قدم
step
qāfilā قافلہ
caravan
qalam قلم
pen
qalam-kār قلم کار
writer: one who works the pen
qand قند
sugar
qānūn قانون
law
qasam قسم
oath, vow
qissā قصہ
tale
qubūl قبول
accepted, granted: said of a prayer that is received
Rab رب
the Lord, God
radif ردیف
the refrain: the word or phrase that ends every couplet of a ghazal
rāg راگ
raga: a melodic mode of the classical music
rakhnā رکھنا
to keep
rāstā راستہ
road, way
rāt رات
night
ravānī روانی
flow: the running of water, or of verse
rāz راز
secret
roz روز
day; daily
rukhsat رخصت
leave-taking, departure
ruknā رکنا
to stop
sā سا
like, -ish: khālī sā, empty-seeming
sabaq سبق
lesson
sādā سادہ
plain, simple, unadorned
sādgī سادگی
plainness, simplicity
sadhā سدھا
trained, schooled: of a voice brought under discipline
sadmā صدمہ
blow, shock
sahī سہی
granted, so be it: as in besura hi sahi, off-key then, fine
salām سلام
greeting of peace; a farewell salute
sālār سالار
commander; leader of a caravan
samajhnā سمجھنا
to understand
samar ثمر
fruit; reward
sanad سند
credential, licence
sārā سارا
all, whole
sawāb ثواب
spiritual merit
sawāl سوال
question
sāyā سایہ
shade, shadow; shelter
sāz ساز
a musical instrument
shab شب
night
shabāb شباب
youth, prime
shāʿir شاعر
poet
shak شک
doubt
shakhs شخص
person
shām شام
evening
sharamsār شرمسار
ashamed, abashed
sharār شرار
spark
sher شعر
a couplet; one two-line verse of a ghazal
shor-e-mahfil شورِ محفل
the noise of the gathering
shurū شروع
beginning, start
sudharnā سدھرنا
to be set right, corrected
sunānā سنانا
to tell, to recite to someone
sunnā سننا
to hear, to listen
sur سُر
the note, the pitch; being in tune
tabassum تبسم
smile
tajassus تجسس
curiosity
takalluf تکلف
formality; standing on ceremony
takht تخت
throne
tāl تال
the rhythmic cycle; the beat
tālī تالی
clapping, applause
tamām تمام
complete, entire
tārā تارا
star
taraf طرف
side, direction: har taraf, on every side
tarah طرح
way, manner
tarasnā ترسنا
to yearn, to go without
tayyār تیار
ready, prepared
thā تھا
was
thāmnā تھامنا
to hold, to grip
toofān طوفان
storm, tempest
toṛnā توڑنا
to break; to pluck down
ṭūṭnā ٹوٹنا
to break, to shatter
udhar اُدھر
over there, on that side
ʿumr عمر
life, age; a lifetime
un اُن
them; him or her, in the reverent plural the collection keeps for Rashid
ūnchā اونچا
high; of a voice, loud
uṛānā اڑانا
to send flying; haṅsī meṅ uṛānā, to laugh something away
uṛnā اڑنا
to fly
ustād استاد
master, teacher; in music, the one you learn from
utarnā اترنا
to descend, to come down, to settle
uṭhānā اٹھانا
to lift, to carry
virāsat وراثت
inheritance
wahī وہی
that very one, the same
wāʿiz واعظ
preacher
waqt وقت
time
waraq ورق
page, leaf of paper
yār یار
friend, dear companion
yun یوں
thus, like this
zabānī زبانی
by tongue, in someone's telling
zabar زبر
the small mark above a letter that gives it its vowel sound
zakhm زخم
wound
zanjīr زنجیر
chain
zer زیر
the small mark below a letter that gives it its vowel sound
zindagānī زندگانی
life, the living of it