The End
GLOSSARY OF URDU WORDS
Aambi Unripe mango
Ahmadiya The Ahmadiya movement was founded in 1889 in Northern India by Mirza Gulam Ahmed who proclaimed that he was the Promised Reformer whose advent was awaited by the adherents of Islam. This claim is contested throughout the Islamic world and the Ahmadiyas are denounced as blasphemers. There are, nevertheless, ten million Ahmadiya Muslims living in 120 countries around the world
Apa Form of address of older female
Asar Third prayer of the day
Baba Form of address for old man
Banéra Short wall or filigreed fence used to mark boundaries on flat roof
Bérry Large thorny tree bearing edible berry-like fruit; of jejube family
Bésan Gram flour
Bhoot Ghoul
Bote Fledgling
Burka Cloak
Chacha-zad Cousin
Chappati A flat bread
Chaval Rice
Chodhi Untouchable
Daig Cauldron
Dhi Daughter
Dhrake Tree of Margosa family
Djinn Spirit of supernatural power able to appear in human and animal forms
Eid Festival celebrating the end of the month of Ramadan
Fakir Ascetic/mendicant
Falsé Kind of berry
Ghat Approach to a river
Goonda Henchman
Gora White man
Gul-é-lala Tulip-like tropical plant (gul, flower; lala, red)
Harami Bastard
Hira mundi The district of prostitutes
Isha Last prayer of the day
Ishq-é-péchan Straggly trailing plant bearing pink and red flowers in bunches (ishq, a love affair; péchan, complex)
Jand Large tree with white flowers
Janvar Animal
Jinaza-gah Place assigned for funeral prayers
Kulcha Unleavened flat bread
Kurio Girls (sing, kuri)
Langra mango Superior variety of mango
Magrib Fourth prayer of the day
Mahfil An evening of pleasure
Mardood Corpse (used as swearword)
Maulana Title and form of address for Muslim clerics
Mazdoor-Kisan party Marxist party (mazdoor, labourer; kisan, farmer)
Méva Sweetmeat
Mimber Pulpit
Motya Jasmine
Mukaish Form of embroidery done with thin strips of silver
Na-pak Unclean
Neem Margosa tree
Nyka Female brothel keeper
Papiha Migratory bird of cuckoo family; in the poetic traditions of the land which is now Pakistan its cries are represented as heralding monsoon. In prose and in everyday life, the bird is referred to as koyal
Pir Holy man
Punjangala Bridal ornament covering back of hands
Putar Son
Sapas-nama Framed tribute presented to dignitary
Shahzadi Princess
Shamiana Marquee
Soor Swine
Spara Qur’anic reader
Sufi Mystic
Sunnat Guidelines derived from the Prophet’s daily conduct
Sura Section of the Qur’an. (The Qur’an is made up of thirty books: these books are further divided into sections called suras.)
Surkhi Lipstick
Talli Tree related to European beech
Tamasha Public show; a rowdy gathering
Teddy-paisa Popular name of the lowest denomination of coin
Tindé Small green vegetable
Tur Vegetable of cucumber family
Yaar Friend
Yarkan Jaundice
Zuhr Third prayer of the day