If you know how to speak Punjabi, you know that the very first expression or phrase to learn is Tuhāḍā nāma kī hai (ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਨਾਮ ਕੀ ਹੈ ) which means, “what is your name?”. These are common words. Here, we want to share words that represent Punjabi heritage, the exciting and awesome culture, and the endearing language. Join us in learning about famous Punjabi words!
Some famous Punjabi words have been used in Bollywood, and some are commonly used by people who speak Punjabi every day. That is why learning about them could help you better understand the language and the people that use it.
Word List: Famous Punjabi Words and Phrases
Famous Punjabi words translates to Maśahūra pajābī śabada (ਮਸ਼ਹੂਰ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਸ਼ਬਦ) in the Punjabi language. Many of these are also Punjabi slang words Pajābī bōlacāla dē śabada (ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਬੋਲਚਾਲ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਬਦ). But you cannot really find many Punjabi slang words and phrases in the dictionary. That is why we have this list with some words for you to start with.
| English Meaning/Context | Punjabi | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| Where are you from | ਤੁਸੀ ਕਿੱਥੋਂ ਦੇ ਹੋ | Tusī kithōṁ dē hō? |
| What is your name | ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਨਾਮ ਕੀ ਹੈ | Tuhāḍā nāma kī hai? |
| My name is… | ਮੇਰਾ ਨਾਮ ____ ਹੈ | Mērā nāma _____ hai |
| What’s up? | ਕਿੱਦਾਂ? | Kidāṁ? |
| Where are you going? | ਤੂੰ ਕਿੱਥੇ ਜਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ? | Tū kithē jā rihā hai? |
| Canada | ਕੰਨੇਦਾ | Kanneda |
| What the heck? | ਆ ਕੀ ਸਿਆਪਾ? | Ā kī si’āpā? |
| You mad, bro? | ਕਮਲਾ ਹੋ ਗਯਾ ਹੈ? | Kamalā hō gayā hai? |
| Yes | ਆਹੋ | Aaho |
| There | ਓਥੇ | Othe |
| Here | ਐਥੇ | Aithe |
| Cool | ਘੈਂਟ | Ghaint |
| Girl | ਕੁੜੀ | Kudi |
| Boy | ਮੁੰਡਾ | Munda |
| Good | ਚੰਗਾ | Changa |
| To roam around | ਗੇੜੀ | Gedi |
| Just like that | ਐਂਵੇ | Ainvaye |
| What’s it to me/We don’t care | ਸਾਨੂੰ ਕੀ | Sānū kī |
| Such a monkey | ਬਾਂਦਰ ਜੇਹਾ | Bāndara jēhā |
| Leave it | ਛੱਡ ਪਰੇ | Chaḍa parē |
| It’s ok | ਕੋਈ ਨਾ | Kō’ī nā |
| Quickly/ do it quickly | ਛੇਤੀ ਕਰੋ | Chētī karō |
Famous Punjabi Words In Bollywood
Some Hindi songs have made these trendy Punjabi slang words more popular all over India, all thanks to Bollywood. Here are some of them, with links for you to watch the videos!
Boy – Munda (ਮੁੰਡਾ)
The well-chiseled Salman Khan features as the young man in this Bollywood number. The apt way to describe him is “Munda” because he plays the role of a very attractive young man and potential suitor for the lead actress. The chorus of the song is “munda kamaal hain (ਮੁੰਡਾ ਕਮਾਲ ਹੈ),” which means “the lad is awesome”.
Just Like That – Ainvayi (ਐਂਵੇ)
Sung in the voice of Sunidhi Chauhan, this song and dance are to rip off the male lead who is trying to woo her. He declares that “ainvayi loot gaya (ਐਂਵੇ ਲੁੱਟ ਗਯਾ)“, just like that, I’ve fallen hard (for her). The word is repeated three times, making it extremely catchy.
What’s It To Me/ We Don’t Care – Sanu ki (ਸਾਨੂੰ ਕੀ)
This song declares the carefree life two college friends are living with a “whatever” attitude to anything and everything in life.
Go, Get Them/ Go For It – Chakde (ਚੱਕਦੇ)
This word is in the name of a popular movie: Chak De! India. It’s about a women’s cricket team that endures several hardships and discrimination but overcomes them all with this motivational word chakde (ਚੱਕਦੇ), meaning go get ’em or go for it!
Expressions Of Happiness/ Excitement – Balle Balle (ਬੱਲੇ ਬੱਲੇ) & Shava Shava (ਸ਼ਾਵਾ ਸ਼ਾਵਾ)
Any song in Bollywood is pure entertainment, but when these Punjabi words are on it, it’s bound to be a super hit. The joyous Punjabi men often say a cheerful Balle Balle, and in response, Shava Shava is said by the women. The two words are very common all over India and beyond, all thanks to Bollywood songs, too.
Pakistani Punjabi Slang Terms
As mentioned earlier, a large population uses Punjabi in Pakistan. Undoubtedly, some famous Punjabi words are bound to come from there. Let’s look at some expressions:
| English Meaning/Context | Punjabi (Shahmukhi Script) | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| Leave, Get out | کٹ لو | Kat lo |
| What a beauty! | مست مال | Mast maal |
| Too clever | دائر شریننے | Dair shareiny |
| Whatever | گھنٹہ | Ghanta |
| You will get a good beating/slapping | چمپا پردے | Champa parayde |
You must have noticed here that the Shahmukhi script of Pakistani Punjabi is different from the Gurmukhi script of the Indian Punjabi language. In another post, you can read all about Pakistani Punjabi.
Punjab—India
If you are learning to speak Punjabi, you might be curious to know a bit more about Punjab. It is a state in northern India known for its vibrant culture and beautiful landscapes. The state is home to five rivers—the Beas, Chenab, Jhelum, Ravi, and Sutlej—which form the lifeblood of the region and make it a lush agricultural area.
The unique culture of Punjab is a mix of Hindu, Sikh, and Islamic influences, and the state is home to some of the most important Sikh religious sites in the world. Punjab is also home to the famous Golden Temple in Amritsar, as well as several other important historical sites.
Learn The Punjabi Language With The Ling App
If you want to learn Punjabi, the best app to use is the Ling app, because it offers a comprehensive course that covers all aspects of the language. It has interactive lessons, audio recordings of native speakers, comprehensive quizzes, and flashcards. These are available in more than 62 languages!
It also has a wide variety of resources, such as Punjabi vocabulary lists, grammar lessons, and cultural tips. There is also a voice recognition feature to help with pronunciation and accent. Furthermore, the app is designed to be user-friendly and has a clean, modern design, making it easy to use with features to personalize it to your liking.
Whether you are traveling, commuting, or in between, you can pick up your language learning right where you left off! This is the convenience of learning with an app, with the added benefit that it’s all about learning through games. Picking up Punjabi will be quick and seamless.
So don’t wait any longer! Choose Ling and speak famous Punjabi words with your Punjabi friends! Find us at the Apple Store or Google Play Store today!
Updated by Punya
