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Description
• Type: Noun, Verb (English loanword)
• Origin: Direct loanword from American English.
• Definition: In Urdu, this word carries the primary meaning of the music genre "rock" or "rock and roll." It refers to a broad genre of popular music characterized by a strong beat, electric guitars, and often loud, amplified sound. By extension, it also refers to the subculture associated with this music.
• Secondary Meanings: It retains its original English meanings:
1. Noun: A stone or a large piece of stone.
2. Verb: To move gently back and forth or to sway (e.g., to rock a baby). Informally, it means to be excellent or exciting ("That song rocks!").
• Cultural & Modern Relevance: The music genre meaning is dominant among youth and urban populations. Pakistan has a significant and historic rock music scene (e.g., bands like Junoon, Vital Signs, and more recently, Strings, Call, and Bayaan) known for blending traditional Eastern sounds with rock music, creating a unique "Pak-Rock" identity.
Expanded Features:
• Polarity: Positive (Music), Neutral (Stone)
• Register: Informal, Modern, Youth Slang
• Pragmatic Sense: Music Taste, Youth Culture, Rebellion, Energy, Stability (as a stone)
Synonyms (Urdu):
• For Music: راک موسیقی (Rock Moseeqi)
• For Stone: پتھر (Pathar), چٹان (Chataan - large rock/cliff)
• For the verb: جھولانا (Jhoolana - to swing), ہلانا (Hilana - to shake)
Synonyms (English):
• rock and roll
• rock music
• stone
• boulder
Antonyms (Urdu):
• For Music: کلاسیکی موسیقی (Classical Moseeqi), غزل (Ghazal)
• For Stone: ریت (Reet - sand)
Key Nuances:
• Context is everything. "میں راک سنتا ہوں" clearly means "I listen to rock music." "وہ راک پر بیٹھا ہے" means "He is sitting on a rock."
• The verb form ("یہ گانا راک کرتا ہے") is used in very anglicized, casual slang.
Usage Contexts:
• Discussing music preferences and concerts.
• Referring to a literal rock or stone.
• Using modern slang to say something is great.
Example Sentences:
• Urdu (Music): پاکستان میں راک موسیقی کی ایک مضبوط تاریخ ہے۔
• English: Pakistan has a strong history of rock music.
• Urdu (Stone): میں نے ایک خوبصورت راک ساحل سمندر پر اٹھائی۔
• English: I picked up a beautiful rock at the beach.
• Urdu (Slang - Verb): یہ نئی ایلبم راک کرتی ہے!
• English: This new album rocks!
Cultural Insight:
The adoption of "راک" reflects the massive influence of Western popular culture, particularly from the late 80s onwards. However, Pakistani bands didn't just imitate; they indigenized it. Bands like Junoon became pioneers of "Sufi Rock," fusing the poetry of Bulleh Shah and Rumi with electric guitars, creating a powerful sound that resonated across borders and became a symbol of youthful expression and identity.
Related Terms:
• بینڈ (Band): Band
• گٹار (Guitar): Guitar
• ڈرم (Drum): Drums
• سٹیج (Stage): Stage
• concert (کانسرٹ): Concert
• موسیقار (Moseeqar): Musician