Words & Language
Urdu Mahavray
Mahavray I learn from my mother, one at a time.
September 24: “Pehle toh karayla, oopar se karwa.”
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Akbi's Cultural Obsessions · Collection 11
Words & Language
Words, proverbs, poetry, translation, etymology, and the pleasures of saying exactly what you mean.
Words & Language
Izaafat (اضافت)
Word–e–word. Izaafat is the grammatical link that joins words with a little -e- sound in Persian and Persian-influenced Urdu. The words on either side supply the meaning; the -e- connects them.
Jaan-e-man (جانِ من): “my dear,” literally “life of mine.” The -e- is the bridge between jaan and man.
Zariya-e-ma‘āsh (ذریعۂ معاش): a means of earning a living, or a source of income. The -e- links zariya (“means”) and ma‘āsh (“livelihood”).
Qafas-e-‘unsurī (قَفَسِ عُنْصُری): literally “cage of elements”—a poetic name for the human body. The -e- joins qafas (“cage”) and ‘unsurī (“elemental”). Rekhta Dictionary ↗
In a kahani about a Jewish bride, she is said to take parwaaz—flight—from her qafas-e-‘unsurī: to leave her body.
You may also hear word–o–word in Urdu expressions. That -o- is called vaav-e-atf: it joins words in the sense of “and.”
Ciao, Ciao, Ciao
From Frank Moyo’s Italian instruction reels:
Italian: Ciao, ciao, ciao / Buongiorno / Come stai? / Grazie / Arrivederci / Ci vendiamo / Bye bye / Grazie / Prego / Per favore / Permesso / Grazie mille / Mi scusi / Ok, va bene.
English: Hi, hi, hi / Good day / How are you? / Thank you / Goodbye / Until we see each other again / Bye bye / Thank you / You’re welcome / Please / Permit me / A thousand thanks / Excuse me / Ok, all right.
Advertising & Product Language
Memorable Product Names, Advertising Slogans (Including Ones I Made Up)
Invented by Akbar Khan: The Honda Apology.
Found in the wild: Nutter Butter. The name on a package of peanut butter sandwich cookies sent me straight to Will & Grace: Will calls one of his boyfriends “Fluffer Nutter.” When someone else repeats it, he says, “It’s a little less special when you say it.”
On a pizza box: “Oven Fresh Hot Delicious.” Hmm. That brings certain vivid images to mind.
Compassionate Dentistry. As opposed to intentionally cruel periodontics.
Meow Mix: “Tastes so good, cats ask for it by name.”
Transcript: “Meow.”
Inside the collection
Parody Etymology
Vocal Fry
Literal Song Translations
Urdu to English and English to Urdu—translated literally, line by line.
Urdu
Urdu Familial Names
DR. MOMMY: So, so-and-so's Samdan.
ME: Mommy: I'm trying hard to learn all the Urdu Familiar Names, I am. But in regular conversation, I'm not going to know who a 'Samdan' is. And why do I need that level of specificity?
Another example comes from the 90s Bollywood classic, "Didi Tera Dewar Deewaanaa": "Older sister, your husband's younger brother loves me." But research has shown, when you put something to music it's not only easier to learn, but as you age songs are what you forget last.
Parody Etymology
“Loolcow: An Etymology of a Word That Did Not Exist Until I Misspelled It”
Lolcow (n.):
A person who generates laughter through an inexhaustible series of self-aware digressions, typographical mutations, and Broca-adjacent coinages. Unlike the lolcow, the loolcow retains narrative control and may be observed laughing harder than her audience.
From lolcow, through vowel lengthening—either for emphasis or because Akbi typed it wrong. First attested in the Akbi–Sajjad correspondence, September 17, 2026.
Usage: By the fourth new section of her website that morning, Akbi had achieved full loolcow status.