What are different ways of saying "You" in Hindi or Urdu?

Question

I was thinking "Tu"! And i was wondering why does it mean "you" in so many different languages, its like a universal word :)

Answer 1

You -->

Tu - bit rude

Tum - shows respect

Aap - Shows more respect

Tusi or Tusee - shows respect (in Punjabi & urdu)

Answer 2

'Aap' is what you say when you want to show respect for an olderly person. 'Tu', on the other hand is used for some one your own age or younger.

Answer 3

www.tourismofindia.com

Answer 4

Tum

Aap

Answer 5

If you are calling elders and respected persons, the word 'Aap" is used.  Otherwise the word "Tum' is used.

Answer 6

In Hindi/ Urdu, Tu is usually used for people much lower in social status but is sometimes used to address very close people like the beloved and curiously, even God.

Urdu poet jan Nisar Akhtar whispers to his beloved in one of his romantic poems like this.

"Choo saki tujh ko kahan waq't ki baad e masmoom

  Tu wahi ek shigufta sa chaman aaj bhi hai."

And the great poet and philosopher Mohammad Iqbal  addresses to the Lord Almighty thus.

" Mera nasheman nahin dargah e mir o vazir

   Mera nasheman bhi tu, shakhe nasheman bhi tu."

'Tum' is used for people of equal status and age in Urdu. Ibne Insha, the noted Pakistani poet sings...

"Ek baar kaho tum meri ho!

Jab sawan badal chaye hon,

Jab phagun phool khilaye hon,

Jab chanda roop lutata ho,

Jab suraj dhop nahata ho,

Jab sham ne basti gheri ho.

Ek baar kaho tum meri ho."

Aap is used for elders, parents, teachers, respected people and to address strangers in general.

The famous leftist poet Sahir Ludhianvi writes cynically to an     arrogant 'Madam" from the Borguise class.

"Aap be waj'h pareshan si kyon hain Madam?

  Log kahtey hain to phir theek hi kahtey hongey.

  Merey ahbab ne tehzeeb na seekhi hogi,

  Main jahan hoon wahan insaan na rahtey hongey."......

Again, "mahboob", the omnipresent beloved of Urdu poetry too is often addrressed to as Aap. Urdu poet Mohsin Darbhangvi writes...

" Guft'gu mein aa gaya ek bewafa ka tazkira

   Aap keya samjhey ke mathey par pasina aa gaya?"

A poetess expresses her intense love beautifully to her mate this way.

" Har aan ek taaza shikayat hai aap sey

    Allah! Mujh ko kitni muhabbat hai aap sey!"

Sometimes, for very respected persons this word is used in third person as well. For example to say that Prophet Mohammad's (pbuh) mother's name was Amna, we don't say "his mother's name...." We tell, "Aap ki walda mohtarma ka naam Amna tha."

Urdu being a very sophisticated and cultured language, there are more words to address people of different levels. Examples are "Janab" and hazoor" etc.

Answer 7

Tu, Tum, Aap