Meanings
to be unsuccessful in achieving a desired goal or outcome
کسی مطلوبہ هدف یا نتیجہ حاصل کرنے میں ناکام ہونا
ناکام ہونا
naakaam hona
Synonyms
Antonyms
Common Collocations
- fail an exam
- fail to meet expectations
- fail in business
Example Sentences
I worked hard but still failed the exam.
میں نے محنت کی لیکن پھر بھی امتحان میں ناکام ہوگیا۔
main ne mehnat ki lekin phir bhi imtihan mein naakaam ho gaya.
They failed to complete the project on time.
وہ اس منصوبے کو وقت پر مکمل کرنے میں ناکام ہوگئے۔
woh is mansoobe ko waqt par mukammal karne mein naakaam hogaye.
She doesn’t want to fail at anything she tries.
وہ کسی بھی کام میں ناکام نہیں ہونا چاہتی۔
woh kisi bhi kaam mein naakaam nahi hona chahti.
Easily Confused With
💡 Memory Tip
Remember: Fail and Fall sound alike, and both can indicate a drop.
Imagine a student failing an exam with a big red cross on the paper.
✍️ Urdu Poetry
میں غمِ ناکامی میں بھی خوش ہوں زندگی کی راہوں میں ہر ایک رنگ ہے
main gham-e-naakaami mein bhi khush hoon zindagi ki raahon mein har aik rang hai
I am happy even in the grief of failure; every path of life has its color.
— Unknown, Unverified
* Poetry attribution is AI-generated and may require verification.
🗣️ Urdu Proverb
ناکام رہنا بھی ایک طرح کا سبق ہے
naakaam rehna bhi aik tarah ka sabaq hai
Failure is also a kind of lesson.
📖 Etymology
Origin: Old French "faillir" — to fall short
First known use: 14th century
The word 'fail' has its roots in Old French 'faillir', which was used to indicate falling short or lacking in some way. It has been in use in Middle English since the 14th century.