Signification
Reporting a power failure.
Contexte culturel
In Pakistan, 'WAPDA' is the government body often blamed when 'bijli chali jati hai.' It's common to hear people jokingly curse WAPDA during a blackout. In cities like Delhi or Mumbai, 'Light chali gayi' is more common than 'Bijli chali gayi' due to heavy English influence. In villages, power cuts can last for days. The phrase is often followed by a discussion about the 'transformer' being burnt out. During major national grid failures, the phrase trends on Twitter. It becomes a moment of national bonding through humor and shared frustration.
Drop the 'Hai'
In an emergency or sudden blackout, just shout 'Bijli chali gayi!' The 'hai' is unnecessary when you're surprised.
Gender Matters
Never say 'Bijli chala gaya.' It's a dead giveaway that you're a beginner. Always keep it feminine.
Signification
Reporting a power failure.
Drop the 'Hai'
In an emergency or sudden blackout, just shout 'Bijli chali gayi!' The 'hai' is unnecessary when you're surprised.
Gender Matters
Never say 'Bijli chala gaya.' It's a dead giveaway that you're a beginner. Always keep it feminine.
The 'Light' Alternative
If you forget the word 'Bijli,' just say 'Light chali gayi.' Every Urdu speaker uses this daily.
Teste-toi
Choose the correct verb ending for 'Bijli'.
بجلی ______ گئی ہے۔
'Bijli' is feminine, so the verb must be 'chali'.
Complete the sentence to say 'The power went out again'.
پھر سے ______ چلی گئی۔
'Bijli' is the word for electricity.
Match the response to the situation.
Situation: You are in a dark room and the fan stops.
This is the standard reaction to a power cut.
Complete the dialogue between two neighbors.
Neighbor A: کیا آپ کے گھر لائٹ ہے؟ Neighbor B: نہیں، ابھی ______۔
The neighbor is confirming that they also have no power.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesبجلی ______ گئی ہے۔
'Bijli' is feminine, so the verb must be 'chali'.
پھر سے ______ چلی گئی۔
'Bijli' is the word for electricity.
Situation: You are in a dark room and the fan stops.
This is the standard reaction to a power cut.
Neighbor A: کیا آپ کے گھر لائٹ ہے؟ Neighbor B: نہیں، ابھی ______۔
The neighbor is confirming that they also have no power.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsIt is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend. It's a factual statement about a utility.
English loanwords are very common in urban Urdu. 'Light' is shorter and has become the standard colloquial term for electricity in the home.
'Bijli chali gayi' is the event (the power is out). 'Load shedding' is the reason (scheduled outage by the company).
No. For a phone, say 'Battery khatam ho gayi' (Battery is finished). 'Bijli chali gayi' is only for the building's power supply.
Say 'Bijli aa gayi!' (The power has come!)
Yes, but the context makes it clear. If you are looking at the sky, it's lightning. If you are looking at a dark TV, it's electricity.
It's a slangier version of 'the lights are out.' It can also mean someone is in trouble or confused.
Yes, Urdu and Hindi speakers both use this exact phrase, though Hindi speakers might write it in Devanagari script.
WAPDA is the Water and Power Development Authority in Pakistan. It's the 'villain' people mention when the power goes out.
Yes: 'بجلی کی فراہمی معطل ہے' (Bijli ki farahmi muattal hai - Power supply is suspended).
Expressions liées
بجلی آ گئی
contrastThe power is back!
لوڈ شیڈنگ
similarScheduled power outage.
بتی گل
slangLights out / Clueless.
بجلی کا بل
builds onElectricity bill.
