سے

From Sanskrit सेतु (sétu), from Proto-Indo-Iranian *sáytuš, from Proto-Indo-European *seih₂- (“to bind”). Compare Kalasha siw.

سے (sē)

1. a bridge

From Sauraseni Prakrit [Term?], from Sanskrit सहित (sahita, “with; accompanying”).

Sometimes also thought to be from Sanskrit सम (sama). Compare Braj सौं (sa͠u).

• IPA^(key): /seː/

سے • (se) Hindi spelling: से (se)

1. indicates association or mutual dealing: by; with; to

   ‏وہ روز اپنے پڑوسی سے لڑتا ہے۔‎‎

   vo roz apne paṛosī se laṛtā hai.

   He fights with his neighbor every day.

   ‏میں نے اپنی ماں سے پوچھا۔‎‎

   ma͠i ne apnī mā̃ se pūchā.

   I asked mother.

2. indicates a sense of removal or going: from
   1. indicates exiting or separation

      ‏وہ گھر سے نکل کر ڈاک گھر چلا۔‎‎

      vo ghar se nikal kar ḍāk-ghar calā.

      He left from the house and went to the post office.

   2. indicates source, cause, reason

      ‏یہ تلوار دو صدیوں پہلے لوہے سے بنایا گیا تھا۔‎‎

      ye talvār do sadiyõ pahle lohe se banāyā gayā thā.

      This sword was made from iron two centuries ago.

   3. indicates origin, beginning

      ‏میں کراچی سے آیا ہوں۔‎‎

      ma͠i karācī se āyā hū̃.

      I've come here from Karachi.

      ‏کل سے‎ ― kal se ― since yesterday

3. comparative postposition: than

   ‏میں اُس سے ہوشیار ہوں۔‎‎

   ma͠i us se hośiyār hū̃.

   I'm smarter than him.

4. indicates passage of time

   ‏امی دیر سے یہاں بیٹھی ہوئی ہے۔‎‎

   ammī der se yahā̃ baiṭhī huī hai.

   Mom has been sitting here for a while.

5. indicates means or agency

   ‏اِس کپڑے کو پانی سے دھونا ہو گا۔‎‎

   is kapṛe ko pānī se dhonā ho gā.

   This cloth will have to be washed with water.

6. indicates manner of doing; forms adverbs

   ‏دھیان سے سنیں۔‎‎

   dhyān se sunẽ.

   Listen carefully.

   (literally, “Listen with attention.”)

   ‏میں بہت مشکل سے امتحان پاس ہوا۔‎‎

   ma͠i bahut muśkil se imtahān pās huā.

   I passed the exam with great difficulty.

• Platts, John T. (1884), “سے”, in A dictionary of Urdu, classical Hindi, and English, London: W. H. Allen & co.
• Qureshi, Bashir Ahmad (1971), “سے”, in Kitabistan's 20th Century Standard Dictionary, Lahore: Kitabistan Pub. Co.