Conundrum Meaning in Urdu | معمہ

noun B2 Late Latin (humorous coinage) → English origin

conundrum

/kəˈnʌndrəm/  ·  kuh-NUN-drum

معمہپہیلیمسئلہ

Roman Urdu: ma'amma

ENGLISH MEANING

A puzzling question or problem.

A conundrum is a difficult, often puzzling, problem that has no obvious solution. It is commonly used for riddles that require clever thinking, or for complex situations that demand strategic decisions. The word adds a sense of intrigue and intellectual challenge.

اردو معنی

conundrum کا مطلب ایک ایسا مشکل سوال یا مسئلہ ہے جس کے جواب آسانی سے واضح نہ ہوں۔ عام طور پر یہ پہیلی، ذہنی مشق یا کسی پیچیدہ معاملے کے لیے استعمال ہوتا ہے۔ اس لفظ کے استعمال سے گفتگو میں تجسس اور فکری چیلنج کا احساس پیدا ہوتا ہے۔

WORD ORIGIN & BREAKDOWN

First recorded in the 16th century as a fabricated Latin word, it entered English to describe a tricky puzzle or riddle.

con-

together, with

undrum

unknown; treated as a fanciful root meaning mystery

SAY IT OUT LOUD - 5 TIMES

kuh-NUN-drum


DAILY LIFE EXAMPLES

Work

‎The engineers faced a conundrum when the bridge design conflicted with environmental regulations.

انجینئروں کو ایک معمہ کا سامنا ہوا جب پل کی ڈیزائن ماحولیات کے قواعد کے خلاف تھی۔

Career

‎Choosing between two great job offers was a real conundrum for her.

دو شاندار جاب آفرز میں سے انتخاب کرنا اس کے لیے ایک سچا معمہ تھا۔

Home

‎The riddle 'What has keys but can't open locks?' is a classic conundrum for kids.

پہیلی "کیا چیز کے چابیاں ہیں مگر تالے نہیں کھول سکتی؟" بچوں کے لئے ایک کلاسیک معمہ ہے۔

Social

‎Politicians often present conundrums that require voters to weigh many factors.

سیاستدان اکثر ایسے معمہ پیش کرتے ہیں جن کے لئے ووٹرز کو کئی عوامل کا وزن کرنا پڑتا ہے۔

✅ SYNONYMS (مترادف)

puzzle

پہیلی

riddle

معمہ

enigma

پراسرار چیز

❌ ANTONYMS (متضاد)

solution

حل

answer

جواب

USE IT WHEN (کب استعمال کریں)

  • Describing a tricky riddle or brain‑teaser
  • Talking about a complex decision with no clear answer
  • Highlighting an intellectual challenge in a discussion

AVOID WHEN (کب نہ کریں)

  • Referring to a simple, straightforward problem
  • Describing an object that is not puzzling

RELATED WORDS - SAME FAMILY

conundrums (noun (plural)) — multiple puzzling problemsconundrumic (adjective) — relating to a conundrumconundrumize (verb) — to turn into a puzzling problem (rare)

COMMON MISTAKE PAKISTANIS MAKE

WRONG

The math homework was a conundrum, so I gave up.

CORRECT

The math homework was a conundrum, so I kept trying.

A conundrum does not imply giving up; it simply describes a puzzling situation. The wrong sentence suggests resignation, which changes the meaning.

💡 MEMORY TIP (یاد رکھنے کا آسان طریقہ)

Imagine a 'cone' filled with a 'drum' of mystery—con + undrum = conundrum.

سوچیں کہ ایک کون (cone) کے اندر ڈرم (drum) بھرے ہوئے ہیں، یعنی con + undrum = conundrum۔

QUICK QUIZ — TEST YOURSELF

What does the word 'conundrum' mean?

TODAY'S CHALLENGE

Write a short paragraph (4‑5 sentences) about a conundrum you faced at school or work and how you tried to solve it.

Posted on July 06, 2026 · Word Meaning in Urdu