The Liver & Language

In English, feelings are associated with the heart. But in Urdu, Persian, and other languages spoken in the region, we centre the liver. It refers to a range of connotations, such as courage, bravery and love.

Below are a few words from Urdu, most of which have originated in Persian, which depict the nature of the liver in our languages. To begin with, some everyday terms, Jaan-e-Jigar (the life of my liver), Jigarem (my liver), or Jigari Yaar (Friend of the Liver) are common terms of endearment, often used colloquially.

Moving on to formal and literary vocabulary, here are some words common between Urdu and Persian, which explain the framing of the liver being synonymous with the heart, as a centre of feeling:

Aah-e-Jigar:

the sigh of the heart (literally, liver)

Ahani’n Jigar:

hard-hearted or cruel (literally, the one with a liver of iron)

Be-Jigar:

cowardly

Chaak-e-Jigar:

dejected (literally, the one with a ripped/split liver)

Dard-e-Jigar:

anguish

Dood-e-Jigar:

the smoke which rises from a burning liver (in English, we’d say a heart on fire instead).

Jigar Afgaar:

troubled in the mind owing to heartbreak

Jigar Bereshta:

sad

Jigar Doz:

maddening

Jigar Gudaaz:

that which is daunting, and breaks your courage

Jigar-e-Sokhta:

deeply in love

Jigar Kharash:

tormenting (kharash refers to a small cut or scratch)

Jigar aab hona (Urdu):

it literally means the liver, which turns to water, i.e. equivalent to the phrase “it melted my heart” in English

Jigar parah, or Lakht-e-Jigar:

piece of the liver (often borrowed into colloquial as jigar ka tukra). It may be used for a dear friend, your child, or your beloved

Jigar Paivand:

the one who heals the liver (also a term of endearment)

Jigar Parvar:

the one who energises the liver, someone who boosts your morale

Jigar Soz:

deeply hurt

Lazzat-e-Resh-e-Jigar:

the relish of the wound of the liver

Tishna Jigar:

the one who yearns (in the context of romance)

Zakhm-e-Jigar:

the wound of love