Directions

1. سیدھے جائیں

   si-dhe ja-yen

   Go straight

   Usage

   Used to direct someone to go straight ahead

   Grammar Note

   "Jayen" is the polite imperative of "jana" (to go). With friends, use "jao." The "-en" suffix marks polite/formal commands in Urdu

2. دائیں مڑیں

   da-yen mo-ren

   Turn right

   Usage

   Used to direct someone to turn right

   Grammar Note

   "Bayen" = left. Although Urdu is written right-to-left, directional concepts like right and left use the same spatial orientation as other languages

3. یہ جگہ کہاں ہے؟

   yeh ja-ga ka-han hai?

   Where is this place?

   Usage

   Used while showing a map or name to ask where a place is

   Grammar Note

   "Kahan" = where. Its counterparts: "yahan" (here), "vahan" (there). "Hai" is the third person singular copula (is)

4. کتنی دور ہے؟

   kit-ni dur hai?

   How far is it?

   Usage

   Used to ask how far away the destination is

   Grammar Note

   "Dur" (far) vs "nazdik" (near). "Kitni" is feminine because "duri" (distance) is feminine. "Paidal ja sakte hain?" (Can we walk?) is useful follow-up

5. قریب ترین میٹرو اسٹیشن کہاں ہے؟

   qa-rib tar-in me-tro is-te-shan ka-han hai?

   Where is the nearest metro station?

   Usage

   Used in cities like Lahore with metro systems to find the nearest station

   Grammar Note

   "Qarib" (near) + "-tarin" (superlative suffix) = "nearest." Lahore has the Orange Line Metro.

6. معافی چاہتا ہوں، راستہ بتائیں

   ma-a-fi cha-hta hun, ras-ta ba-ta-yen

   Excuse me, please show me the way

   Usage

   Used to politely ask a stranger for directions

   Grammar Note

   "Ma'afi chahta hun" = "I seek forgiveness" (excuse me). "Batayen" is polite imperative of "batana" (to tell). Pakistanis are generally very helpful with directions

7. اس سڑک پر ہے

   is sa-rak par hai

   It is on this road

   Usage

   Used to describe a location by specifying which road it is on

   Grammar Note

   Urdu uses postpositions (after nouns), not prepositions. "Par" shows location on a surface. "Mein" (in/inside), "ke pas" (near) are also common postpositions

8. گوگل میپس پر دیکھتا ہوں

   gu-gal maps par dek-hta hun

   I'll check on Google Maps

   Usage

   Used to indicate you will use Google Maps on your phone for navigation

   Grammar Note

   "Dekhta hun" is masculine first person of "dekhna" (to look). Female speakers say "dekhti hun." Google Maps works well in most Pakistani cities with good data coverage

9. اگلے موڑ پر بائیں مڑیں

   ag-le mor par ba-yen mo-ren

   At the next turn, go left

   Usage

   Used to give directions at a specific upcoming intersection or turn

   Grammar Note

   "Agla/agle" is an adjective meaning "next" that changes based on noun gender and case. Its counterpart "pichhla" means "previous/last." These are key direction words

10. کیا نقشہ ہے؟

    kya naq-sha hai?

    Is there a map?

    Usage

    Used at hotels or tourist offices to ask for a map

    Grammar Note

    Urdu questions are formed by placing "kya" at the start. "Naqsha" comes from "naqsh" (pattern/print).

11. دائیں

    da-en

    Right

    Usage

    A one-word card to hold up in a moving taxi; "daen muren" = turn right

12. بائیں

    ba-en

    Left

    Usage

    A one-word card to hold up in a moving taxi; "baen muren" = turn left

13. سیدھا

    si-dha

    Straight ahead

    Usage

    Point to this to mean keep going; "sidha jaen" = go straight

14. واپس

    wa-pas

    Go back

    Usage

    The single word to use when the driver has gone too far and needs to turn back

15. رکیں

    ru-ken

    Stop

    Usage

    Polite imperative for where you want to get out; readable at a glance while driving

16. شمال

    shu-mal

    North

    Usage

    Compass word for matching against maps and road signs

17. جنوب

    ja-nub

    South

    Usage

    Compass word for matching against maps and road signs

18. مشرق

    mash-riq

    East

    Usage

    Compass word for matching against maps and road signs

19. مغرب

    magh-rib

    West

    Usage

    The compass direction west; the same word also names the sunset prayer (Maghrib), so use it alongside a map or sign

20. ہوٹل

    ho-tal

    Hotel

    Usage

    Point to it as a destination. In Pakistan "hotel" can also mean an eatery, so show the hotel's name too

21. ایئرپورٹ

    air-port

    Airport

    Usage

    Point to it as a taxi destination; the Urdu "hawai adda" exists but the English loan dominates in speech

22. بس اسٹاپ

    bas is-top

    Bus stop

    Usage

    Point to it when asking where the nearest bus stop is

23. میٹرو اسٹیشن

    me-tro is-te-shan

    Metro station

    Usage

    Used for Lahore's Orange Line stations; in Islamabad and Lahore "metro" also commonly means the BRT bus stations

24. سفارت خانہ

    si-fa-rat kha-na

    Embassy

    Usage

    Destination if you lose your passport or run into trouble; embassies cluster in Islamabad's Diplomatic Enclave

25. اے ٹی ایم

    e ti em

    ATM

    Usage

    Point to it when asking where to withdraw cash; signage reads "ATM" in English

26. منی چینجر

    ma-ni chen-jar

    Money changer

    Usage

    Pakistani exchange shops go by this English-derived name and are signed "MONEY CHANGER"

27. لانڈری

    lan-dri

    Laundry shop

    Usage

    Coin-operated self-service laundries are essentially nonexistent in Pakistan; use this to find a drop-off shop, also called "dhobi"

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