Urdu punctuation (رموزِ اوقاف) looks similar to English punctuation, but several marks are different characters, and using the English version is one of the most common mistakes in digital Urdu. Here is each mark, how it is used, and how to get it on screen.
The main Urdu punctuation marks
| Mark | Urdu name | English | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| ۔ | ختمہ | Full stop | Ends a sentence. Urdu uses a dash-like mark, not the English dot. |
| ، | سکتہ | Comma | A short pause. Note it is turned the other way from the English comma. |
| ؟ | سوالیہ نشان | Question mark | Ends a question. Mirrored compared to the English “?”. |
| ؛ | وقفہ | Semicolon | A longer pause between closely linked parts of a sentence. |
| ! | ندائیہ / فجائیہ | Exclamation mark | Surprise, emotion or calling out. |
| : | رابطہ | Colon | Before a list, quote or explanation. |
| ” “ | واوین | Quotation marks | Around quoted words. |
Examples in sentences
- Full stop: آج بارش ہو رہی ہے۔ (It is raining today.)
- Comma: میں نے دودھ، روٹی اور سبزی خریدی۔ (I bought milk, bread and vegetables.)
- Question mark: آپ کب آئیں گے؟ (When will you come?)
- Semicolon: وہ تھکا ہوا تھا؛ پھر بھی کام کرتا رہا۔ (He was tired; still, he kept working.)
- Exclamation mark: کیا خوبصورت منظر ہے! (What a beautiful view!)
Why the right characters matter
An English full stop at the end of an Urdu sentence may look almost the same on screen, but it is a different character. That matters more than it seems: search engines, screen readers for blind users, spell checkers and text-to-speech tools all rely on the correct characters to understand where sentences end. Documents that mix English and Urdu marks also look untidy in print, especially in Nastaliq fonts where the Urdu full stop is designed to match the letters.
Urdu digits
Urdu has its own digits: ۰ ۱ ۲ ۳ ۴ ۵ ۶ ۷ ۸ ۹. They are common in books and official documents, while everyday digital writing often uses 0 to 9. Both are correct; stay consistent within one document.
The most common mistakes
- Using the English full stop “.” instead of ۔ at the end of an Urdu sentence.
- Using the English comma “,” instead of ،.
- Putting a space before the mark. Like in English, the mark attaches to the word before it: کیا حال ہے؟, not کیا حال ہے ؟.
- Forgetting right-to-left direction, which makes marks appear at the start of the line. See our Word guide.
How to type Urdu punctuation marks
- Urdu keyboard: the Urdu keyboards on Windows, Android and iPhone include these marks; on phones, look on the numbers-and-symbols page.
- Our Roman Urdu converter: type normal English punctuation. The converter changes
.,?;into ۔ ، ؟ ؛ automatically. - Voice typing: our voice typing tool has buttons for ۔ ، ؟ so you can add them as you speak.
Where the Urdu full stop and comma are on your keyboard
- Windows Urdu keyboard: the Urdu full stop ۔ is on the full stop key, the Urdu comma ، is on the comma key, and the question mark ؟ is Shift plus the slash key.
- Android (Gboard Urdu): the full stop key types ۔. Press and hold it to see ، and ؟.
- iPhone Urdu keyboard: tap the 123 key to open the symbols page, where the Urdu marks are.
Layouts differ slightly between keyboard apps and versions, so if a mark is not where this list says, look on the symbols page.
Punctuation in Urdu poetry and quotes
Poetry uses very little punctuation. A couplet (شعر) is usually written as two lines with no full stop. When you quote someone in prose, put the quoted words inside واوین and introduce them with a colon, as in English.
Frequently asked questions
What is punctuation called in Urdu?
Punctuation marks are called رموزِ اوقاف (ramooz-e-auqaf) in Urdu.
What is the Urdu full stop called?
The Urdu full stop ۔ is called ختمہ (khatma). It looks like a short dash on the line.
Is the Urdu question mark different from the English one?
Yes. The Urdu question mark ؟ faces the other way, to match right-to-left writing.
Should I use Urdu or English digits?
Both are correct. Use one style throughout a document.