🧒 Free Urdu guide

Urdu for Kids: How to Teach Your Child Urdu at Home

Children learn Urdu best by hearing it and saying it every day: a few family words, short phrases and lots of praise. Start with words they will use with Nani and Dadi, and add letters later.

Tips

Start with familyWords like ammii, abbuu, Nani and Dadi make Urdu feel like theirs.
Little and oftenFive minutes a day beats an hour once a week.
Praise every trySay "shaabaash!" (well done) a lot.
Speak first, read laterLet them speak with Roman Urdu, then learn the Urdu letters a few at a time.

First words for children

Tap to hear.

Teaching your child Urdu when you're not fluent

You don't need to be fluent to help. Learn alongside your child: play the audio, both of you say it, and make it a game. Children love catching a parent out. Ask grandparents to use the same phrases on calls, so your child hears them from real people too.

Raising bilingual children with Urdu

Quick quiz

Listen and pick the meaning. Three questions.

Questions people ask

What age can children start learning Urdu?

Any age. Young children pick up sounds very easily. HeyUrdu is for all ages.

Is HeyUrdu safe for children?

Yes. Children under 13 never see ads from other companies, and nothing is tracked for advertising for anyone under 18.

Should my child learn the Urdu alphabet first?

No need. Speaking first builds confidence. Add the letters (the "qaida") when they are ready.

How do I teach my child Urdu if I am not fluent?

Learn together. Play real audio, say each phrase together, and ask grandparents to use the same phrases on calls.

Will learning Urdu confuse my child's English?

No. Children can learn two languages at once. Mixing words for a while is normal.

Keep learning

Mithu the parakeet

Learn to speak Urdu with HeyUrdu

Short daily lessons where you say real phrases out loud, in Roman Urdu with the Urdu script. Natural voices, Mithu the parakeet, and phrases for family life. For complete beginners and all ages.

Coming soon to iPhone and Android. Free to start.