ایک دوسرے

Referring to Each Other

Level 4

A relates to B, and B relates to A.

How It Works

ایک دوسرے expresses reciprocity between two or more participants. The sentence describes a relationship among them rather than each person acting only on themselves.

The following marker depends on the construction: ایک دوسرے کو for an object or recipient, ایک دوسرے سے with talking or asking, and ایک دوسرے کی مدد for helping.

In a genitive phrase, کا, کی, and کے still agree with what follows. The usual phrase ایک دوسرے can also refer to women, as in the first example.

Examples (4)

  1. مریم اور سارہ ایک دوسرے کی مدد کرتی ہیں۔

    Maryam and Sarah help each other.

    کی agrees with مدد; the usual reciprocal form ایک دوسرے also works for these female participants.

  2. ہم ایک دوسرے سے سوال پوچھ رہے ہیں۔

    We are asking each other questions.

    پوچھنا uses سے for the person being asked.

  3. دونوں دوست ایک دوسرے کو پیغام بھیجتے ہیں۔

    The two friends send each other messages.

    کو marks the recipients.

  4. تمام ساتھی ایک دوسرے کے کام سے واقف ہیں۔

    All the colleagues are familiar with one another’s work.

    Reciprocity can involve a group larger than two.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

ایک دوسرےLevel 4Referring to Each Other

Learn This First

Recognize a group whose members can act toward one another. Build reciprocal possession when the expression takes a genitive marker.

Words in This Pattern

دوسراایک