Slang

1. یار

   yaar

   Mate / Dude

   Usage

   A filler address tacked on to a sentence. Friends your own age only — never to elders, shop staff or officials. Used by men and women alike

2. بھائی

   bhai

   Bro

   Usage

   Literally "brother". A friendly address to a man your age or a little older — safe with rickshaw drivers and stallholders too. Not used for women

3. باجی

   baji

   Big sister

   Usage

   The female counterpart of "bhai" and the most common address in Pakistan. Respectful to a woman who looks older than you — not for someone younger

4. ارے

   are

   Hey / Oh!

   Usage

   An interjection for surprise, calling out, or mild protest. Free with friends, but on its own at an elder it sounds brusque

5. اچھا؟

   achha?

   Oh really?

   Usage

   The all-purpose acknowledgement. Rising tone means "really?", falling tone means "I see". Safe with anyone

6. کیا بات ہے!

   kya baat hai!

   Nice one!

   Usage

   Literally "what a thing", used as a set phrase of praise. Safe with anyone for food, music or a view — keep the tone bright so it does not read as sarcasm

7. بہت خوب

   bohat khoob

   Very fine

   Usage

   The classic call of approval during a poetry reading or a song. It works in formal settings too, making it one of the few praise words you can aim at an elder

8. چلو

   chalo

   Come on, let's go

   Usage

   Both "let's go" and a way of closing a topic with "well, fine". This form is for peers — say "chalen" to someone senior

9. بس

   bas

   That's enough

   Usage

   The one word for "no more, thanks" when food is being ladled out. Raise a palm as you say it and it stays polite. It sounds identical to the vehicle "bus", so context does the work

10. جگاڑ

    jugaad

    A clever workaround

    Usage

    A South Asia-wide colloquialism for making do with what is at hand. Safe with anyone, though applied to someone's work it can read as "slapdash"

11. ٹینشن نہ لو

    tension na lo

    Don't stress

    Usage

    Built on the fully naturalised loan "tension". This imperative is for friends your age — say "fikr na karen" to someone senior

12. کمال

    kamaal

    Amazing

    Usage

    Literally "perfection". It stands alone as an exclamation and is safe with anyone

13. واہ

    wah

    Wow

    Usage

    An exclamation of admiration. Calling it out during a qawwali or a poetry gathering is the traditional way to praise. Safe with anyone

14. شاباش

    shabash

    Well done

    Usage

    Praise aimed downward — at a child, a junior, or a student. Said to someone senior it sounds condescending, so avoid it there

15. پکا

    pakka

    For sure

    Usage

    Used to nail down a promise or a fact. Ask "pakka?" back to mean "are you certain?". Safe with anyone

16. کیا سین ہے؟

    kya scene hai?

    What's the plan?

    Usage

    Karachi youth slang for both "what's going on?" and "what are we doing today?". Friends your age only — never with elders or someone you have just met

17. دیکھتے ہیں

    dekhte hain

    We'll see

    Usage

    The set phrase for avoiding a straight answer — it can mean "maybe" or a soft no. Safe with anyone

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