Lesson 10 introduced وہ as the third-person pronoun covering he/she/it/they. Lesson 16 focused on وہ as "he." This lesson focuses on وہ in its core demonstrative role as "that" — pointing to something distant from the speaker. As a demonstrative adjective (that book, that man) and demonstrative pronoun (that is good), it is the distal counterpart of یہ (this). The distal demonstrative generates its own family: اُس (us, oblique singular), اُن (un, oblique plural), وہاں (vahāṅ, there), وہی (vahī, that very). Distinguishing یہ/اِس (this/near) from وہ/اُس (that/distant) is essential for all spatial and referential expression in Urdu.
Key Takeaways
- وہ (woh) = that (distal demonstrative) — adjective and pronoun - Oblique singular: اُس (us) — before postpositions: اُس کا، اُس میں، اُس سے - Oblique plural: اُن (un) — those (before postpositions) - Derived adverb: وہاں (vahāṅ) = there - Emphatic: وہی (vahī) = that very / precisely that - Oblique emphatic: اُسی (usī) = that very one (oblique) - Fixed expressions: اُس وقت (us waqt, at that time), اُس لیے (us liye, for that reason), اُس طرح (us tarah, in that way)
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22.1a وہ that کتاب book میری my-FEM ہے is 22.1b woh (woh) that kitāb (ki-TAAB) book merī (MAY-ree) my-FEM hai (hay) is
22.2a وہ that کیا what تھا was 22.2b woh (woh) that kyā (kyaa) what thā (thaa) was
22.3a اُس that-OBL کا POSS نام name کیا what ہے is 22.3b us (us) that-OBL kā (kaa) POSS nām (naam) name kyā (kyaa) what hai (hay) is
22.4a وہ those لوگ people کون who ہیں are 22.4b woh (woh) those log (log) people kaun (kawn) who haiṅ (hain) are
22.5a اُس that-OBL وقت time ہم we چھوٹے small-PL تھے were 22.5b us (us) that-OBL waqt (waqt) time ham (hum) we chhoṭe (CHHO-tay) small-PL the (thay) were
22.6a وہاں there مت don't جاؤ go-IMP 22.6b vahāṅ (va-HAAN) there mat (mat) don't jāo (JAA-o) go-IMP
22.7a وہی that-very بات matter صحیح correct ہے is 22.7b vahī (va-HEE) that-very bāt (baat) matter ṣaḥīḥ (sa-HEEH) correct hai (hay) is
22.8a اُس that-OBL طرح way کرو do-IMP 22.8b us (us) that-OBL tarah (ta-RAH) way karo (KA-ro) do-IMP
22.9a وہ that دن day یاد memory آتا comes-MASC ہے is 22.9b woh (woh) that din (din) day yād (yaad) memory ātā (AA-taa) comes-MASC hai (hay) is
22.10a اُس that-OBL نے ERG کیا what کہا said تھا was 22.10b us (us) that-OBL ne (nay) ERG kyā (kyaa) what kahā (ka-HAA) said thā (thaa) was
22.11a اُن those-OBL کو DAT کیا what چاہیے needed 22.11b un (un) those-OBL ko (ko) DAT kyā (kyaa) what chāhiye (CHAA-hee-yay) needed
22.12a وہ that گھر house اب now خالی empty ہے is 22.12b woh (woh) that ghar (ghar) house ab (ab) now khālī (KHAA-lee) empty hai (hay) is
22.13a اُسی that-very-OBL جگہ place-OBL پر at ملو meet-IMP 22.13b usī (u-SEE) that-very-OBL jagah (ja-GAH) place-OBL par (par) at milo (MI-lo) meet-IMP
22.14a وہ that بات matter اب now پرانی old-FEM ہو became گئی went-FEM 22.14b woh (woh) that bāt (baat) matter ab (ab) now purānī (pu-RAA-nee) old-FEM ho (ho) became gaī (ga-EE) went-FEM
22.15a اُس that-OBL کے POSS-OBL بعد after سب all بدل changed گیا went 22.15b us (us) that-OBL ke (kay) POSS-OBL baad (baad) after sab (sub) all badal (ba-DAL) changed gayā (ga-YAA) went
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22.1 وہ کتاب میری ہے۔ Woh kitāb merī hai. "That book is mine."
22.2 وہ کیا تھا؟ Woh kyā thā? "What was that?"
22.3 اس کا نام کیا ہے؟ Us kā nām kyā hai? "What is that person's name?"
22.4 وہ لوگ کون ہیں؟ Woh log kaun haiṅ? "Who are those people?"
22.5 اس وقت ہم چھوٹے تھے۔ Us waqt ham chhoṭe the. "At that time we were young."
22.6 وہاں مت جاؤ۔ Vahāṅ mat jāo. "Don't go there."
22.7 وہی بات صحیح ہے۔ Vahī bāt ṣaḥīḥ hai. "That very thing is correct."
22.8 اس طرح کرو۔ Us tarah karo. "Do it that way."
22.9 وہ دن یاد آتا ہے۔ Woh din yād ātā hai. "That day comes to mind."
22.10 اس نے کیا کہا تھا؟ Us ne kyā kahā thā? "What had that person said?"
22.11 ان کو کیا چاہیے؟ Un ko kyā chāhiye? "What do those people need?"
22.12 وہ گھر اب خالی ہے۔ Woh ghar ab khālī hai. "That house is empty now."
22.13 اسی جگہ پر ملو۔ Usī jagah par milo. "Meet at that very place."
22.14 وہ بات اب پرانی ہو گئی۔ Woh bāt ab purānī ho gaī. "That matter has become old now."
22.15 اس کے بعد سب بدل گیا۔ Us ke baad sab badal gayā. "After that, everything changed."
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22.1 وہ کتاب میری ہے۔ 22.2 وہ کیا تھا؟ 22.3 اس کا نام کیا ہے؟ 22.4 وہ لوگ کون ہیں؟ 22.5 اس وقت ہم چھوٹے تھے۔ 22.6 وہاں مت جاؤ۔ 22.7 وہی بات صحیح ہے۔ 22.8 اس طرح کرو۔ 22.9 وہ دن یاد آتا ہے۔ 22.10 اس نے کیا کہا تھا؟ 22.11 ان کو کیا چاہیے؟ 22.12 وہ گھر اب خالی ہے۔ 22.13 اسی جگہ پر ملو۔ 22.14 وہ بات اب پرانی ہو گئی۔ 22.15 اس کے بعد سب بدل گیا۔
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These are the grammar rules for وہ as demonstrative "that."
The full وہ demonstrative paradigm
Nominative: وہ (woh) — that / those Oblique singular: اُس (us) — before postpositions: اُس کا، اُس میں، اُس سے، اُس پر Oblique plural: اُن (un) — those: اُن کا، اُن کو، اُن میں Emphatic singular: وہی (vahī) = that very Emphatic oblique: اُسی (usī) = that very one (oblique) Adverb: وہاں (vahāṅ) = there
Contrast with یہ paradigm
یہ (near) ↔ وہ (distant) اِس (near oblique) ↔ اُس (distant oblique) اِن (near plural oblique) ↔ اُن (distant plural oblique) یہاں (here) ↔ وہاں (there) یہی (this very) ↔ وہی (that very) اِسی (this very, oblique) ↔ اُسی (that very, oblique)
Key fixed expressions
- اُس وقت (us waqt) = at that time - اُس کے بعد (us ke baad) = after that - اُس طرح (us tarah) = in that way / like that - اُس لیے (us liye) = for that reason / therefore - اُس کے باوجود (us ke bāvajūd) = despite that - اُسی لیے (usī liye) = for that very reason
Scalar distance
Urdu uses یہ/وہ to locate things relative to the speaker: یہ = near, وہ = away. When both speaker and listener are present and something is near the listener but away from the speaker, وہ is appropriate. In narrative past tense, وہ is frequently used even for things nearby, as the distance is temporal rather than spatial.
Common Mistakes
Confusing اِس (near oblique) and اُس (distant oblique) — in unvocalised text they look identical. Context and intended meaning distinguish them. Also: وہ as demonstrative "that" vs وہ as pronoun "he/she/they" — always the same word, distinguished only by context.
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وہ دن یاد آتا ہے (woh din yād ātā hai, "that day comes to mind") is one of the most resonant constructions in Urdu for nostalgia and memory. The verb یاد آنا (yād ānā, literally "memory comes") is the standard expression for remembering — and وہ preceding the noun locates the memory in the past, at a distance. Urdu poetry is saturated with the distal demonstrative used in this nostalgic register: وہ زمانہ (that era), وہ لمحے (those moments), وہ دوست (that friend). The distance encoded in وہ is simultaneously spatial and temporal.
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From Mir Taqi Mir:
وہ کوئی اور تھا میں اور ہوں یہ کیا مجھ سے کہتے ہو تم جاننے والے
Woh koī aur thā maiṅ aur hūṅ Yeh kyā mujh se kahte ho tum jānne vāle
F-A: Intralinear Analysis
Line 1: وہ that-one کوئی someone اور other تھا was-MASC میں I اور other/different ہوں am
woh (woh) that-one koī (KO-ee) someone aur (or) other thā (thaa) was-MASC maiṅ (main) I aur (or) other hūṅ (hoon) am
Line 2: یہ this کیا what مجھ me-OBL سے from کہتے say-PL ہو are تم you جاننے knowing-OBL والے ones
yeh (yay) this kyā (kyaa) what mujh (mujh) me-OBL se (say) from kahte (KAH-tay) say-PL ho (ho) are tum (tum) you jānne (JAAN-nay) knowing-OBL vāle (VAA-lay) ones
F-B: Natural Text with Translation
وہ کوئی اور تھا، میں اور ہوں / یہ کیا مجھ سے کہتے ہو تم جاننے والے
"That was someone else; I am someone else now. What is this you say to me, O knowing ones?"
F-C: Original Script
وہ کوئی اور تھا میں اور ہوں یہ کیا مجھ سے کہتے ہو تم جاننے والے
F-D: Grammar and Vocabulary Notes
وہ...میں (woh...maiṅ) — the contrast between وہ (that past self, now distant) and میں (the present I) is the hinge of the couplet. اور here means "other/different," not "and" — context determines meaning. جاننے والے (jānne vāle, "ones who know / the knowing ones") is the construction: oblique infinitive + والا/والے — a very productive Urdu pattern: پڑھنے والا (one who reads), کرنے والا (one who does).
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A man returns to his childhood neighbourhood after many years. The distal وہ carries all his memories of the past.
Part A — Intralinear Construed Text
22.16a کئی many سال years بعد after احمد Ahmad اپنے own-OBL پرانے old-OBL محلے neighbourhood-OBL میں in آیا came-MASC 22.16b kaī (ka-EE) many sāl (saal) years baad (baad) after Aḥmad (AH-mad) Ahmad apne (AP-nay) own-OBL purāne (pu-RAA-nay) old-OBL mahalle (ma-HAL-lay) neighbourhood-OBL meṅ (mein) in āyā (AA-yaa) came-MASC
22.17a وہ that گلی alley وہی that-very تھی was-FEM لیکن but کچھ something بدل changed گیا went تھا was 22.17b woh (woh) that galī (ga-LEE) alley vahī (va-HEE) that-very thī (thee) was-FEM lekin (LEK-in) but kuch (kuch) something badal (ba-DAL) changed gayā (ga-YAA) went thā (thaa) was
22.18a وہ that درخت tree اب now نہیں not تھا was جس which-OBL پر on وہ he چڑھتا climbed-MASC تھا was 22.18b woh (woh) that darakht (da-RAKHT) tree ab (ab) now nahīṅ (na-HEEN) not thā (thaa) was jis (jis) which-OBL par (par) on woh (woh) he chaṛhtā (CHARRH-taa) climbed-MASC thā (thaa) was
22.19a وہ that پرانی old-FEM دکان shop جہاں where وہ he گولیاں candies خریدتا bought-MASC تھا was بند closed تھی was-FEM 22.19b woh (woh) that purānī (pu-RAA-nee) old-FEM dukān (du-KAAN) shop jahāṅ (ja-HAAN) where woh (woh) he goliyāṅ (go-li-YAAN) candies kharīdtā (kha-REED-taa) bought-MASC thā (thaa) was band (band) closed thī (thee) was-FEM
22.20a اُس that-OBL کے POSS-OBL دل heart میں in وہ those دن days تازہ fresh ہو became گئے went-PL 22.20b us (us) that-OBL ke (kay) POSS-OBL dil (dil) heart meṅ (mein) in woh (woh) those din (din) days tāzā (TAA-zaa) fresh ho (ho) became gaye (GA-yay) went-PL
22.21a وہی that-very چھوٹا small-MASC گھر house اب now بھی also کھڑا standing-MASC تھا was 22.21b vahī (va-HEE) that-very chhoṭā (CHHO-taa) small-MASC ghar (ghar) house ab (ab) now bhī (bhee) also khaṛā (kha-RAA) standing-MASC thā (thaa) was
22.22a اُس that-OBL کے POSS-OBL باہر outside ایک a بوڑھی old-FEM عورت woman بیٹھی sitting-FEM تھی was-FEM 22.22b us (us) that-OBL ke (kay) POSS-OBL bāhar (BAA-har) outside ek (ek) a buṛhī (burrh-EE) old-FEM aurat (AUR-at) woman baiṭhī (BAITH-ee) sitting-FEM thī (thee) was-FEM
22.23a احمد Ahmad نے ERG پہچانا recognised-MASC وہ that اُس his-OBL کی POSS-FEM بچپن childhood-OBL کی POSS-FEM پڑوسن neighbour-FEM تھی was-FEM 22.23b Aḥmad (AH-mad) Ahmad ne (nay) ERG pahchānā (pa-hchaa-NAA) recognised-MASC woh (woh) that us (us) his-OBL kī (kee) POSS-FEM bachpan (BACH-pan) childhood-OBL kī (kee) POSS-FEM paṛosan (pa-RO-san) neighbour-FEM thī (thee) was-FEM
22.24a اُس her-OBL نے ERG بھی also احمد Ahmad کو DAT پہچانا recognised-MASC اور and کہا said وہی that-very آنکھیں eyes ہیں are 22.24b us (us) her-OBL ne (nay) ERG bhī (bhee) also Aḥmad (AH-mad) Ahmad ko (ko) DAT pahchānā (pa-hchaa-NAA) recognised-MASC aur (or) and kahā (ka-HAA) said vahī (va-HEE) that-very āṅkheṅ (AANH-ken) eyes haiṅ (hain) are
22.25a اُس that-OBL دن day وہ they دیر long تک until بیٹھے sat-PL پرانی old-FEM باتیں matters-FEM-PL کرتے doing-PL رہے remained-PL 22.25b us (us) that-OBL din (din) day woh (woh) they der (der) long tak (tak) until baiṭhe (BAITH-ay) sat-PL purānī (pu-RAA-nee) old-FEM bāteṅ (BAA-ten) matters-FEM-PL karte (KAR-tay) doing-PL rahe (ra-HAY) remained-PL
22.26a وہ those کہانیاں stories جو which وہ they بھول forgot بیٹھے were تھے were واپس back آ came گئیں went-FEM-PL 22.26b woh (woh) those kahāniyāṅ (ka-HAA-ni-yaan) stories jo (jo) which woh (woh) they bhūl (bhool) forgot baiṭhe (BAITH-ay) were the (thay) were vāpas (WAA-pas) back ā (aa) came gaīṅ (ga-EEN) went-FEM-PL
22.27a اُس that-OBL وقت time احمد Ahmad نے ERG سوچا thought-MASC کہ that وہ those دن days کتنے how اچھے good تھے were 22.27b us (us) that-OBL waqt (waqt) time Aḥmad (AH-mad) Ahmad ne (nay) ERG sochā (SO-chaa) thought-MASC ke (kay) that woh (woh) those din (din) days kitne (KIT-nay) how achhe (ACH-hay) good the (thay) were
22.28a لیکن but وہ that وقت time گزر passed گیا went تھا was 22.28b lekin (LEK-in) but woh (woh) that waqt (waqt) time guzar (GU-zar) passed gayā (ga-YAA) went thā (thaa) was
22.29a اُس that-OBL کے POSS-OBL بعد after وہ he ہر every سال year وہاں there جاتا went-MASC رہا remained-MASC 22.29b us (us) that-OBL ke (kay) POSS-OBL baad (baad) after woh (woh) he har (har) every sāl (saal) year vahāṅ (va-HAAN) there jātā (JAA-taa) went-MASC rahā (RAH-aa) remained-MASC
22.30a وہ that پرانا old-MASC محلہ neighbourhood اُس his-OBL کے POSS-OBL دل heart میں in ہمیشہ always زندہ alive رہا remained-MASC 22.30b woh (woh) that purānā (pu-RAA-naa) old-MASC mahalla (ma-HAL-la) neighbourhood us (us) his-OBL ke (kay) POSS-OBL dil (dil) heart meṅ (mein) in hamesha (ha-MAY-sha) always zinda (ZIN-da) alive rahā (RAH-aa) remained-MASC
Part B — Natural Sentences
22.16 کئی سال بعد احمد اپنے پرانے محلے میں آیا۔ Kaī sāl baad Aḥmad apne purāne mahalle meṅ āyā. "After many years Ahmad came to his old neighbourhood."
22.17 وہ گلی وہی تھی، لیکن کچھ بدل گیا تھا۔ Woh galī vahī thī, lekin kuch badal gayā thā. "That alley was the same, but something had changed."
22.18 وہ درخت اب نہیں تھا جس پر وہ چڑھتا تھا۔ Woh darakht ab nahīṅ thā jis par woh chaṛhtā thā. "That tree he used to climb was no longer there."
22.19 وہ پرانی دکان جہاں وہ گولیاں خریدتا تھا، بند تھی۔ Woh purānī dukān jahāṅ woh goliyāṅ kharīdtā thā, band thī. "That old shop where he used to buy sweets was closed."
22.20 اس کے دل میں وہ دن تازہ ہو گئے۔ Us ke dil meṅ woh din tāzā ho gaye. "In his heart those days became fresh again."
22.21 وہی چھوٹا گھر اب بھی کھڑا تھا۔ Vahī chhoṭā ghar ab bhī khaṛā thā. "That very small house was still standing."
22.22 اس کے باہر ایک بوڑھی عورت بیٹھی تھی۔ Us ke bāhar ek buṛhī aurat baiṭhī thī. "Outside it sat an old woman."
22.23 احمد نے پہچانا — وہ اس کی بچپن کی پڑوسن تھی۔ Aḥmad ne pahchānā — woh us kī bachpan kī paṛosan thī. "Ahmad recognised her — she was his childhood neighbour."
22.24 اس نے بھی احمد کو پہچانا اور کہا: وہی آنکھیں ہیں۔ Us ne bhī Aḥmad ko pahchānā aur kahā: vahī āṅkheṅ haiṅ. "She too recognised Ahmad and said: those same eyes."
22.25 اس دن وہ دیر تک بیٹھے پرانی باتیں کرتے رہے۔ Us din woh der tak baiṭhe purānī bāteṅ karte rahe. "That day they sat for a long time, sharing old stories."
22.26 وہ کہانیاں جو وہ بھول بیٹھے تھے، واپس آ گئیں۔ Woh kahāniyāṅ jo woh bhūl baiṭhe the, vāpas ā gaīṅ. "Those stories they had forgotten came back."
22.27 اس وقت احمد نے سوچا کہ وہ دن کتنے اچھے تھے۔ Us waqt Aḥmad ne sochā ke woh din kitne achhe the. "At that moment Ahmad thought how good those days were."
22.28 لیکن وہ وقت گزر گیا تھا۔ Lekin woh waqt guzar gayā thā. "But that time had passed."
22.29 اس کے بعد وہ ہر سال وہاں جاتا رہا۔ Us ke baad woh har sāl vahāṅ jātā rahā. "After that he kept going there every year."
22.30 وہ پرانا محلہ اس کے دل میں ہمیشہ زندہ رہا۔ Woh purānā mahalla us ke dil meṅ hamesha zinda rahā. "That old neighbourhood always remained alive in his heart."
Part C — Target Language Only
22.16 کئی سال بعد احمد اپنے پرانے محلے میں آیا۔ 22.17 وہ گلی وہی تھی، لیکن کچھ بدل گیا تھا۔ 22.18 وہ درخت اب نہیں تھا جس پر وہ چڑھتا تھا۔ 22.19 وہ پرانی دکان جہاں وہ گولیاں خریدتا تھا، بند تھی۔ 22.20 اس کے دل میں وہ دن تازہ ہو گئے۔ 22.21 وہی چھوٹا گھر اب بھی کھڑا تھا۔ 22.22 اس کے باہر ایک بوڑھی عورت بیٹھی تھی۔ 22.23 احمد نے پہچانا — وہ اس کی بچپن کی پڑوسن تھی۔ 22.24 اس نے بھی احمد کو پہچانا اور کہا: وہی آنکھیں ہیں۔ 22.25 اس دن وہ دیر تک بیٹھے پرانی باتیں کرتے رہے۔ 22.26 وہ کہانیاں جو وہ بھول بیٹھے تھے، واپس آ گئیں۔ 22.27 اس وقت احمد نے سوچا کہ وہ دن کتنے اچھے تھے۔ 22.28 لیکن وہ وقت گزر گیا تھا۔ 22.29 اس کے بعد وہ ہر سال وہاں جاتا رہا۔ 22.30 وہ پرانا محلہ اس کے دل میں ہمیشہ زندہ رہا۔
Part D — Grammar Notes
بھول بیٹھنا (bhūl baiṭhnā, "to sit forgetting" = to have forgotten) in 22.26 — بیٹھنا as a light verb after another verb stem adds a sense of finality or inadvertent completion: one has settled into a state of forgetting. Similarly سو بیٹھنا = to have fallen asleep; رو بیٹھنا = to have started crying.
جاتا رہا (jātā rahā, "kept going") in 22.29 — the habitual continuative: present participle + رہنا in the past = continued doing something over a period. وہ ہر سال وہاں جاتا رہا = he kept going there every year (habitual, past).
کتنے اچھے تھے (kitne achhe the, "how good they were") — the exclamatory کتنا/کتنے introduces the quality: "how very good." This is the standard Urdu construction for exclamatory statements about past qualities.
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وہ (woh): a single syllable, the w is light and the o is rounded. In very fast speech often reduced to "wo."
وہاں (vahāṅ): va-HAAN. Two syllables; the ā is long; the final ṅ nasalises.
وہی (vahī): va-HEE. Two syllables; the ī is long and stressed.
اُسی (usī): u-SEE. Two syllables; the ī is long.
پہچاننا (pahchānnā): pa-hchaa-NAA. To recognise. Four syllables. Double n.
گلی (galī): ga-LEE. A narrow alley/lane — the characteristic unit of old South Asian neighbourhoods.
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