The Power of E'raab: Shaping Urdu Words

E'raab is an Arabic word that means "diacritical marks," "vowel marks," or "diacritics" in script. It is also called “Harakaat,” meaning movements. In Hindi, e'raab is called maatraaen (मात्राएँ).

In Urdu script, most words usually do not have diacritics, which can cause considerable difficulty for beginners learning the language. This is because the difference created by diacritics can change the pronunciation and sometimes even the meaning of a word. As a famous Urdu poet once said:

maiñ muāfī chāhtā huuñ mujh se ġhalatī ho ga.ī
kuchh bhī mushkil thā nahīñ eraab dhoka de ga.e

"I want forgiveness for my mistakes,
Anything was not difficult, but diacritics would deceive."

Now, let's take a closer look at this issue. In Urdu, three vowel marks—zabar, zer, and pesh—are the most important, representing short vowel sounds. When placed above or below other letters in a word, they change the word's pronunciation:

1. Zabar represents the "a" sound, as in the "a" in "father," when placed above a letter. It indicates a short "a" vowel sound.
2. Zer represents the "e" sound, as in the short "e" in "bed." It is a diacritical mark placed below a letter to indicate this vowel sound.
3. Pesh represents the short "u" sound, similar to the "u" in the English word "put." It's a diacritical mark placed above a letter to produce this vowel sound.

Examples:

Use of Zabar:
کان کَن (kaan-kan) is a Persian word often used in Urdu for "miner." It is a compound word made up of kaan (mine) and kan (digger). The word kan is used as a suffix with many other words, such as کوہ کَن (kohkan), meaning "mountain digger."
In the famous Persian love story of Shirin and Farhad, Farhad, who dug a canal to bring milk from a mountain, was called kohkan.
Another similar word is گورکَن (gor-kan), which means "grave digger," where gor means "grave."

Use of Pesh:
Now, let's look at another word: کار کُن (kaar-kun). This is also a Persian compound word, made from kaar (work) and kun (one who does). It means "doer of work" or "worker."
This suffix also appears in the familiar word فیصلہ کُن (faisla-kun), meaning "decisive" (for example, in a football match, a "decisive goal" is called a "faisla-kun goal").
There are more such words like حیران کُن (hairaan-kun), meaning "astonishing" or "surprising," while پریشان کُن (pareshan-kun) means "troublesome" or "distressing," and مَدہوش کُن (mad.hosh-kun) means "intoxicating."

Additional Notes:
In Urdu, کَن (kan) is also used as a short form of kaan, meaning "ear." You might have heard the term kan-top, meaning a cap with ear coverings, or a person with a good ear for music is called kan-ras (کَن رَس).
Kan is also used for "corner." There's a commonly used expression in Urdu, کَن آنکھیوں سے دیکھنا (kan-a.nkhiyo.n se dekhna), which means "to look sideways" or "to cast a sidelong glance." This expression is often used in poetry, as in this verse by Bekhud Dehlvi:

vo dekhte jaate haiñ kanakhiyoñ se idhar bhī
chaltā huā jaadū hai mohabbat kī nazar bhī

He keeps looking through the corners of his eyes,
Walking, with the magic of love's gaze.

Use of Zer:
Let us take the example of two words: عالَم (aalam) and عالِم (aalim).

• عالِم (aalim) means learned person, scholar, or one versed in knowledge, while عالَم (aalam) means the world, universe, or the condition or state of affairs.

dekhne ke liye saarā aalam bhī kam
chāhne ke liye ek chehrā bahut

To see the whole world is still not enough
To desire only one face is overwhelming.

E'raab plays a crucial role in shaping the meaning, pronunciation, and beauty of Urdu words. The correct use of diacritics can transform the interpretation of a word entirely, making it essential for clear communication and deeper understanding in the Urdu language.