Word Meaning
ख़राबा
kharāba
hinoun, masculine
Meaning
A ruined place, desolate wasteland, or ruins.
Detailed Meaning
Literally denoting a site fallen into ruin or devastation, 'kharaba' conveys total destruction and desolation. In this couplet, it illustrates the tragic downfall of Shahjahanabad (Delhi) from a densely populated, thriving metropolis to an empty ruin. It carries deep historical grief over a lost cultural world.
Etymology
Arabic 'kharāb' (ruined, spoiled) + Persian suffix '-a', forming 'kharāba' (a ruined place).
Usage
In classical Urdu poetry, 'kharaba' frequently symbolizes either the ravaged city of Delhi or the devastated, desolate heart of the grief-stricken lover.
Examples
The flourishing town turned into a silent ruin.
Wandering alone in the ruins of the past.
Synonyms
खंडहरवीरानाउजाड़
Related Words
ख़राबख़राबीवीरानी