सफ़र
safar
/ˈsə.fər/
Definition
A journey or trip, especially one that covers some distance. It can refer to travel in a physical sense or, poetically, the journey of life.
Example
उसका सफ़र बहुत लंबा और थका देने वाला था।
Show translation
His journey was very long and tiring.
Etymology
From Arabic **سَفَر** (safar), meaning "travel" or "journey." The root س-ف-ر (s-f-r) is widely productive in Arabic, giving words like *musāfir* (traveller). The word entered Hindi via Persian and is deeply embedded in Urdu-influenced Hindi, especially in poetry and Bollywood.
Cultural note
सफ़र is a favourite word in Hindi film songs and Urdu-tinged poetry (*shayari*), where it frequently symbolises the journey of life, love, or spiritual seeking — not just physical travel. Famous lines like *"सफ़र में धूप तो होगी"* (There will be heat on the journey) carry philosophical weight. English speakers should note that the near-homophone *safar* (सफ़र) is unrelated to English "safari," though both ultimately trace back to the same Arabic root via different routes — Arabic into Hindi directly vs. Arabic → Swahili → English.