What is a Noun (Ism)?
In every language, a Noun is a naming word. It names a person, place, thing, or an idea. In Urdu grammar, it is called Ism. Without nouns, we wouldn’t be able to identify what we are talking about.
The Two Main Categories
In Urdu, nouns are primarily divided into two types:
- Ism-e-Ma’rifa (Proper Noun): Names of specific people or places. Example: Allama Iqbal, Lahore, The Quran.
- Ism-e-Nakra (Common Noun): General names for things. Example: Boy (Larka), City (Shehar), Book (Kitab).
Classification by Meaning
Urdu goes deeper into the types of Ism:
- Ism-e-Zat: Refers to the physical existence of a thing.
- Ism-e-Sifat: Refers to a quality (e.g., ‘Honest’ man).
Gender and Number in Nouns
Unlike English, every noun in Urdu has a gender (Masculine or Feminine). Even non-living things like “Table” (Mez – Feminine) or “Paper” (Kaghaz – Masculine) have a gender, which is a key part of learning correct Urdu grammar.
