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Description
Type: noun (agentive, person performing the act of listening)
Origin: Derived from the Urdu verb "سننا" (to hear/listen) with agentive suffix "والا"
Expanded Features:
Polarity: neutral
Register: common, conversational, literary
Pragmatic Sense: denotes the person who listens or pays attention to sounds, speech, or music
Synonyms (Urdu): سامع، شنونما، قارئین
Synonyms (English): audience, hearer, auditor
Antonyms (Urdu): بولنے والا، کہنے والا
Antonyms (English): speaker, talker, narrator
Key Nuances:
Can refer to someone actively listening or passively hearing
Common in both formal (lectures, speeches) and informal contexts (music, stories)
Sometimes used metaphorically for someone receptive or attentive
Usage Contexts:
Educational settings: teacher addressing students
Musical or artistic performances
Conversations or storytelling
Example Sentences:
Urdu: سننے والا ہر لفظ کو غور سے سنے
English: The listener should hear every word carefully,
Urdu: سامعین نے موسیقی کو لطف اندوز ہو کر سنا
English: The audience listened to the music with enjoyment,
Urdu: استاد نے بتایا کہ سننے والا ہمیشہ خاموش رہتا ہے
English: The listener always remains silent, the teacher explained.
Cultural Insight: In Urdu literature and poetry, the “سننے والا” is often portrayed as attentive, respectful, and a symbol of understanding or empathy.
Related Terms:
سامع (saami’): one who listens
شنونما (shunnunma): attentive listener
قارئین (qari’in): readers or listeners (context-dependent)