Articles (حروفِ تعریف)

Urdu has no articles like "the," "a," or "an." This is one of the first major differences learners notice.
However, Urdu expresses the same ideas of definiteness and indefiniteness using context, demonstratives, and numerals.

No Direct Equivalent of "a/an/the"

In English, you say:

• "a book" → indefinite

• "the book" → definite

In Urdu, both would simply be:
کتاب — kitāb — book

Meaning depends on context or emphasis.

Indefinite Reference

Urdu uses the numeral ایک (ek) — meaning "one" — to serve the function of "a" or "an."

Examples:

• ایک کتاب میز پر ہے۔ — There is a book on the table.

• ایک آدمی دروازے پر کھڑا ہے۔ — A man is standing at the door.

• مجھے ایک سوال پوچھنا ہے۔ — I need to ask a question.

Although ایک literally means "one," it is commonly used to mean "a" or "an."
Sometimes it is emphasized with کوئی (koi) to mean "some" or "a certain."

Examples:

• کوئی آدمی آیا۔ — Some man came.

• کوئی مسئلہ نہیں۔ — It's not a problem.

Definite Reference

Definiteness is usually inferred from context or clarified using demonstrative adjectives:
یہ (yeh) — this / these
وہ (woh) — that / those

Examples:

• کتاب میز پر ہے۔ — The book is on the table.

• وہ کتاب میز پر ہے۔ — That book is on the table.

• یہ لڑکا میرا دوست ہے۔ — This boy is my friend.

When the speaker and listener both know which object is being referred to, no article is needed — the noun alone is enough.

Example:

• چائے تیار ہے۔ — The tea is ready.
  Context implies definiteness (the specific tea just made).

Generic Meaning

Urdu nouns can express general truths without articles, similar to "the" or "a" in English generics.

Examples:

• شیر خطرناک ہوتا ہے۔ — The lion is dangerous.

• انسان غلطی کرتا ہے۔ — Man makes mistakes.

• پانی زندگی کے لئے ضروری ہے۔ — Water is essential for life.

Here, شیر, انسان, and پانی have no article, yet refer generically to "the lion," "man," and "water."

Plural Reference

Plural nouns don't take any article, but meaning is again inferred:

• لڑکے کھیل رہے ہیں۔ — The boys are playing. / Boys are playing.

• کتابیں میز پر ہیں۔ — The books are on the table. / Books are on the table.

Context decides whether the meaning is definite or general.

Demonstratives as Definite Markers

Demonstratives یہ / وہ (this / that) function like English "the," when needed for clarity.

Examples:

• یہ گھر خوبصورت ہے۔ — This house is beautiful.

• وہ دریا بہت لمبا ہے۔ — That river is very long.

• یہ سب کتابیں نئی ہیں۔ — All these books are new.

Indefiniteness with "کوئی" and "کچھ"

Urdu sometimes uses کوئی (koi) or کچھ (kuch) for indefinite, nonspecific reference:

• کوئی شخص آیا۔ — Someone came.

• کچھ کتابیں غائب ہیں۔ — Some books are missing.

• کوئی بات نہیں۔ — It’s nothing / No problem.

Contrast Summary

English	Urdu	Example	Translation
a / an	ایک	ایک کتاب	a book
the	(none) / یہ / وہ	کتاب / یہ کتاب	the book / this book
some	کچھ / کوئی	کچھ لوگ	some people

Special Notes for Learners

1. No need for articles before professions or nationalities.
   وہ ڈاکٹر ہے۔ — He is a doctor.
   وہ پاکستانی ہے۔ — He is Pakistani.

2. Definiteness often comes from discourse.
   If something has already been mentioned, it is understood as "the."
   Example:
   ایک کتاب میز پر تھی۔ کتاب نئی تھی۔ — There was a book on the table. The book was new.

3. No indefinite plural article.
   English "some" is implied or made explicit with کچھ.
   Example: کچھ لوگ آئے۔ — Some people came.

Summary

• Urdu has no direct articles.

• ایک (ek) is used for "a" or "an."

• یہ (yeh) and وہ (woh) act like "the" when specifying something.

• Context provides definiteness.

• Plural nouns have no article — interpretation depends on situation.

• Generic statements use the bare noun.