Learn Punjabi
with Ling

The answer to this question depends on the language learner. According to the Foreign Service Institute (FSI), Punjabi is classified as a category III language. This means that it will take the average learner 1100 hours to reach proficiency.

If that number scares you, remember that no language is impossible to learn. Here are some basic facts and tips to make learning Punjabi easier:

• Grammar: Nouns in Punjabi are gendered, depending on how formal the situation is. There are also five cases of Punjabi nouns, which are determined by postpositions.
• Vocabulary: Punjabi is filled with slang with words that have several meanings. When you’re learning vocabulary, make sure to use an excellent memorization tool like the Ling App.
• Speaking/Listening:  Punjabi has 6 different tones. If possible, try to find a native Punjabi speakers to practice your pronunciation with, and make sure to master the difference between Gurmukhi pronunciation and Shahmukhi pronunciation.
• Reading/Writing: Punjabi generally uses the SOV (Subject-Object-Verb) word order. There are also two alphabets in Punjabi: Shahmukhi (شاہ مکھی), which is based on the Perso-Arabic script, and Gurumukhi (ਗੁਰਮੁਖੀ), which comes from Indic scripts.

Generally speaking, the difficulty level associated with learning either of these languages is almost equal. This is largely because Hindi and Punjabi are both Indo-Aryan languages and come from the Sanskrit alphabet, so they have mutually intelligibility words.

However, Punjabi does have fewer letters than Hindi. Punjabi has 35 letters while Hindi has 45. As a native English speaker, you might also find Punjabi easier to listen to and repeat since it doesn’t support half letters and pronounces fewer extra sounds than Hindi.

Self-learning is an excellent way to save money on how to learn Punjabi. Not to mention, nowadays, there are plenty of online resources!

Even with the right resource, it’s important that you put in the time and effort to learn how to speak Punjabi each day. If you find it challenging how to learn Punjabi language on your own, here are some tips to help:

• Don’t focus on achieveing perfection when trying to memorize pronunciation and vocabulary
• Begin each lesson by listening to podcasts and short stories for new Punjabi learners
• Address what makes learning difficult (if you’re too distracted when studying, try finding a more peaceful environment that encourages concentration)
• Listen to Punjabi music to practice pronunciation and help you recall words and phrases
• Practice your Punjabi alphabet and vowel diacritics by writing down what happened during your day in three to five basic sentences
• Befriend Punjabi native speakers
• Dedicate at least 10-15 minutes per day to speaking practice
• Download the Ling app for comprehensive Punjabi lessons, useful vocabulary, writing exercises, and fun speaking games

Discovering a new language allows you to uncover an entire history and culture, and the same is true for Punjabi. For example, did you know that Punjabi literature is incredibly diverse? Most of their literary works talk about independence, hope, and challenges. If you like to read, go and check out Punjabi books, poems, and short stories!

Here are some other reasons why you should learn Punjabi:

Widely Spoken Language

There are plenty Punjabi people that live outside of Pakistan and India. In fact, there are at least 500,000 Punjabi speakers in Canada, 300,000 in the United Kingdom, and 280,000 in the United States.

There are large communities of Punjabi speakers all over the world, so don’t be afraid to start learning the language and practicing with them!

Exercise Your Brain

Challenging yourself to learn a new language, especially one as complex as Punjabi, will help your critical thinking skills and boost your memory.

It has been proven time and time again that being bilingual has excellent benefits for your brain and mental agility.

Open Your Mind To A Beautiful Culture And People

As a language learner, you will love the culture and history of the Punjabi language.

Punjabi people are very warm-hearted and hospitable, even towards strangers, and they will appreciate anyone interested in their art, music, drama, crafts, and cuisine.

More Job Opportunities  

If you’re planning a trip to Pakistan or India or considering moving to either of these countries, speaking the local language will definitely come in handy.

When you go job hunting, employers are more likely to be impressed by you if you’re familiar with Punjabi. On the other hand, if your potential business partner is Punjabi then you might have a better chance of closing the deal if you can speak the language.

If you want to learn Punjabi, there are so many resources available online. The Ling app offers courses in over 60 languages, including Punjabi. With thorough lesson plans, fun mini-games, quizzes, and a chatbot to converse with, you’ll be communicating in Punjabi in no time!