How to Learn Urdu

Use a dictionary to help you learn Urdu.

Learning a new language is extremely difficult. It will take time and memorization. Most importantly, it will take loads and loads of practice, preferably in an immersion environment. That being said, it can be done and done well by following a few simple steps as basic guidelines.

Things You'll Need

• Urdu-English dictionary
• English-Urdu dictionary
• A good Urdu grammar guide

Instructions

1. Learn the alphabet. Many people skip this part, or try to learn it later, concentrating solely on speaking, but this is a mistake. Knowing the alphabet well and in order will make it far easier to learn the language, as you will suddenly have a world of written material at your disposal. What's more, you'll be able to use an Urdu-English dictionary--an absolutely necessary skill.

2. Commit to learning a specific number of new words each day--nouns, adjectives, adverbs, and verbs. This number depends on the amount of free time available to you. If you are serious about learning Urdu, however, set this number at no less than five, preferably 10 to 20. Carry out Steps 3 through 7 simultaneously with this step.

3. Learn personal pronouns. In Urdu, there are personal pronouns that don't exist in English, based on levels of respect. Along with this, master Urdu's two genders. Select a good Urdu grammar guide to assist you.

4. Learn syntax, or sentence structure, including sentence structure for interrogatives. Perhaps the greatest difference between Urdu and English syntax is the placement of verbs; Urdu puts them at the end of the sentence while English typically places them in the middle. For example, "I am reading a book" becomes "I a book am reading."

5. Learn verb conjugations for all pronouns in all tenses. Get these down perfectly, to the point where you don't even have to think about it. If you can truly master conjugations, you've learned half the language. Use the Urdu grammar to assist you with this.

6. Learn plurals, postpositions, and numbers (both ordinal and cardinal). Go through a good Urdu grammar guide cover-to-cover, preferably one organized into lessons with practice exercises (and answers!) to go along with each concept. This will be laborious but it will also be worth it.

7. Speak and read as much as possible in Urdu. If you have an Urdu-speaking friend, arrange for consistent (at least weekly) meetings during which you read and converse together somewhat informally. Travel to India or Pakistan and practice with rickshaw drivers, vendors, and hotel staff. Read the newspaper in Urdu each morning online. Most of all, have fun and know that a whole new world is about to unfold before you.

Tips & Warnings

• Harvest words (see Step 2) from a source that has meaning to you, so that your expanding vocabulary reflects your own interests

• Once you've decided how many words you will learn each day, stick to it religiously. There is absolutely no substitute for a great vocabulary.

• Hiring a personal tutor to assist you, even for just one hour per week, will greatly enhance your abilities; not only will you be able to save questions throughout the week for your tutor, but you'll improve your own pronunciation skills by conversing with your tutor.

• Practice cannot be emphasized enough. Practice, practice, practice.

• Don't move from Step 1 to Step 2 until you've really learned to read and pronounce letters and words.

Resources

• BBC: Urdu version
• "Jang": Urdu-language Pakistani Newspaper