Getting around
بس
کرایہ کتنا ہے؟
How much is it?
You hear this when the doors close or the next stop is called. It is written down too, so a missed word does not end the ride.
How the language is used
Urdu is the national language and the city's common language between communities. Sindhi is the provincial language, and many other languages are present too.
In this city
- Language
- Urdu
- Also heard
- Sindhi and English
- A local word
- چائے — One tea.
- Writing
- the Urdu script
What people say
Ordinary lines from this city: the ride, the counter, the food, and the greeting.
The counter
دکان
ایک چائے.
One tea.
This line is a whole order. You do not need a longer sentence.
The street
سڑک
السلام علیکم.
Hello.
People keep this line short. It is enough for the moment.
Food
دفتر
شکریہ.
Thank you.
The order is built in short pieces like this one.
The language through the day
Urdu is this city's common language between communities. You also hear Sindhi and English.
Around Saddar, Clifton, Empress Market, this is the ordinary sound of the day.
A first day in Karachi can run on four lines: “کرایہ کتنا ہے؟”, “ایک چائے.”, “السلام علیکم.”, and “شکریہ.”. Each one is already a complete moment.
If you are new here
- Stops, prices, and shop signs are written in the Urdu script.
- آپ is the polite you. تم is closer.
- If a spoken line goes past you, read the screen or the board. In Karachi, the stop and the price are written down.
One local word: چائے. It means One tea..
Places you can see
- Mohatta Palace — A pink stone mansion in Clifton, now a museum.
- Frere Hall — A Venetian Gothic hall set in a public garden.
- Empress Market — A colonial market hall in Saddar.
Food
Biryani and nihari are city staples, and the harbour supplies seafood.
Getting around
Buses and rickshaws cover a very spread-out city. You can use the bus corridors on the main roads.
Daily life
At a bus stop, Urdu often links people who speak Sindhi, Pashto, or Balochi at home.
A few everyday phrases
Urdu
| Phrase | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| سلام | Salaam | Hello |
| شکریہ | Shukriya | Thank you |
| صبح بخیر | Subah bakhair | Good morning |
| میرا نام… ہے | Mera naam… hai | My name is… |
