VAAV-E-ATF / CONJUNCT

In the previous units in this course, we have already seen that the letter ‘vaao’ can take upon the consonant sound ‘v’ (व) and three vowel-sounds ‘uu’ (ऊ), ‘o’ (ओ) and ‘au’ (औ).

In a few compound words of Perso-Arabic origin, the letter ‘vaao’ acts as a connector between two words and lends the sound of ‘o’ (ओ) to the first word. For example, in the word “dard-o-Gam” (दर्द-ओ-ग़म), meaning “pain and sorrow”, as shown below:

Above: The compound word “dard-o-Gam”. Notice the ‘vaao’ acting as a connector between the words “dard” and “Gam”.

DEFINITION

In the example above, the ‘vaao’ acts as a connector between the words “dard” and “Gam” thereby creating the compound word “dard-o-Gam”. Such a compound created by the ‘vaao’ is called vaav-e-atf (वाव-ए-अत्फ़) or conjunct.

Similarly, here’s another such conjunct - “aab-o-havaa” (आब-ओ-हवा), meaning “water and air”:

Above: The compound word “aab-o-havaa”

IMPORTANT

Most people, who read Urdu in Devanagari or Roman scripts, pronounce this ‘vaao’ placed between two nouns or adjectives as a separate ‘o’ sound. It should be noted that the sound of ‘o’ should be combined at the end of the first word.

For example, in the word “dard-o-Gam”, the first part should be read as “dardo” (दर्दो) and not two distinct words “dard” & “o”. Similarly, the second example should be read as “aabo” (आबो) and not “aab” & “o” separately. Listen to the comparative sounds below:

Above: Listen to the sounds carefully

Similarly, here’s another word we hear often in common usage - “ajiib-o-Gariib” (अजीब-ओ-ग़रीब), meaning “weird/strange”:

Above: The compound word “ajiib-o-Gariib”

And here’s another one found often in poetry and music - “shab-o-roz” (शब-ओ-रोज़), meaning “night and day”:

Above: The compound word “shab-o-roz”

22.1: ‘vaao’ as the short-vowel ‘u’

In a few words of Persian origin, the ‘vaao’ behaves differently when it appears after a ‘KHe’ in a word. One of these cases is when it takes upon the sound of the short-vowel ‘u’ (उ). Look at the words shown below:

Above: The words “KHud”, “KHush” and “KHurshiid”. Notice that the ‘vaao’ acts as the short-vowel ‘u’.

22.2: ‘vaao’ as a silent letter

Continuing from the previous rule, in a few words of Persian origin, when the ‘vaao’ is preceded by a ‘KHe’ and followed by an ‘alif’, the ‘vaao’ acts as a silent letter. Look at the examples shown below:

Above: The words “KHaab”, “KHaahish” and “darKHaast”. Notice that the ‘vaao’ is silent.

Having learnt these three tricks the ‘vaao’ had been hiding up its sleeve, we can now safely say that we have covered the letter ‘vaao’ in full-detail.

Let’s take upon another very interesting aspect in the Urdu language now - “izaafat”. Ready?