laazim

Laazim (لازم) is an adjective meaning "necessary, required, obligatory, essential." It is widely used in Urdu and Hindustani, Persian, and Turkish, where it is borrowed from Arabic lazīm, meaning bound or obligatory. The word appears in everyday speech as well as formal contexts to indicate that something must be done or is indispensable.

Etymology and meaning: Laazim derives from the Arabic lazīm, rooted in a sense of binding or obligation. In many languages that borrow the term, it retains the core sense of necessity or compulsion and is used to describe tasks, conditions, or requirements that cannot be ignored.

Usage and examples: In Urdu and Hindi, laazim marks necessity or obligation. Examples include "Yeh kaam laazim hai" (This task is necessary/required) and "Waqt par pohanchna laazim hai" (We must arrive on time). The term often conveys a sense of constraint or obligation, though it can be used more loosely to express practical necessity as well as absolute obligation, depending on context.

Cross-linguistic notes: In Turkish, the cognate "lazım" is used commonly with the same general sense of "needed" or "required." In Persian, "lāzem" functions similarly to denote that something is necessary. The term thus forms part of a family of words across languages that express requirement and obligation.