Meaning of Haraam

Have you guys noticed that the word Haraam has completely lost it’s real meaning in Urdu language? It’s used in a very derogatory sense. How did that happen? Any other word that came from Arabic language pretty much kept the meaning quite well in Urdu.

Well Sharaab is another example, but maybe the Sharaab we use may have a farsi root

Re: Meaning of Haraam

sharaab = shar +aab [Faarsii] = fitna/shar kaa paanii :)

Haraam also means 'exakted...like MoHarram ul Haraam

Haraam = sanctified

Re: Meaning of Haraam

Because of different grammatical structures, most arabic words lose their meaning when used in Urdu.

Shabaab is another example. Shabab in urdu has a romantic, almost sexual connotation...whereas in arabic it is simply used to refer to boys...youth.

Re: Meaning of Haraam

Shabab is jawani, and both are used in sexual way because that is when you are in your sexual peak, but I dont think that the word has lost its meaning.

Kkf, I dont think that sanctity is the correct meaning, though dictionary may tell you that. Haraam means something with restrictions. That is why khana e kaaba is called masjidul haram. Also there are restrictions about eating pork, so pork is haraam. We use the word as in ghaleez, paleed, untouchable

Re: Meaning of Haraam


the correct meaning even in Urdu for shabaab is the same as in Arabic...it means 'youth'...what you are referring is the applied meaning to it.

we commonly use the phrase "mausam pe shabaab aayaa huaa hai"...there is no sexual connotation attached to it...it simply means 'mausam jawaaN' hai. :)

Re: Meaning of Haraam


as i said, the correct meaning is 'sanctified' or 'sanctity'...the other usage are just variant form of meaning.

Re: Meaning of Haraam

Ghaleez also got different meaning in Arabic. Like Meethaqan Ghaleeza is Solid Agreement.

Zaleel also got different meaning in Arabic. Zaleel= weak unlike kameena in Urdu.

Re: Meaning of Haraam

I only know Punjabi slur word called ****** :)

Re: Meaning of Haraam

Punjabi might got a lot of Arabic words with different meaning from Arabic use. Such vocabulary might be used even among non-Muslim Punjabis especially Sikhs due to contribution of Muslim saints in Garanth Sahib.

Re: Meaning of Haraam

Technically Punjabi has lots of Arabic and Persian words and Sikhs can have name like Fateh,Zoravar etc but names are persian not Arabic.