Planning a trip to Punjab or getting married to a native Punjabi speaker? Need a quick vocabulary lesson? Then let’s learn some household items vocabulary in Punjabi in this post!
It is said that the easiest way to learn any language is to start retaining the names of objects around you. An easy and useful trick that I deploy is to put stickers on every object and surface in my house, named in the new language that I am learning. Easy peasy! Just make sure you use a permanent marker to write the names. Nah, just kidding! You don’t have to go to the extremes to learn Punjabi as this blog post is there to help you.
Household Items Vocabulary In Punjabi
The easiest way to start learning the vocabulary for household objects in the Punjabi language is by categorizing it utility-wise. So, let’s take a walk into a Punjabi household and start marking the items we find, one room at a time.
Living Room Items
| English | Punjabi | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| Sofa/ couch | ਸੋਫਾ | Sōphā |
| Table | ਟੇਬਲ | Ṭēbala |
| Chair | ਕੁਰਸੀ | Kurasī |
| Side Table | ਸਾਈਡ ਟੇਬਲ | Sā’īḍa Ṭēbala |
| Carpet | ਕਾਰਪੇਟ | Kārapēṭa |
| Rug | ਗਲੀਚਾ | Galīchā |
| Vase | ਫੁੱਲਦਾਨ | Phuladāna |
| Telephone | ਟੈਲੀਫ਼ੋਨ | Tailīfōna |
| Bookcase | ਕਿਤਾਬਾਂ ਦੀ ਅਲਮਾਰੀ | Kitābāṁ Dī Alamārī |
| Lamp | ਦੀਵਾ | Dīvā |
| Television | ਟੈਲੀਵਿਜ਼ਨ | Tailīvizana |
| Airconditioner | ੲੇ. ਸੀ | Ē. Sī |
| Tubelight | ਟਿਊਬਲਾਈਟ | Ti’ūbalā’īṭa |
Bedroom Items
| English | Punjabi | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| Bed | ਬਿਸਤਰਾ | Bisatarā |
| Mattress | ਗੱਦਾ | Gadā |
| Bedsheet | ਚਾਦਰ | Chādara |
| Blanket | ਕੰਬਲ | Kabala |
| Quilt | ਰਜਾਈ | Raja’i |
| Pillow | ਸਿਰਹਾਣਾ | Sirahāṇā |
| Mirror | ਸ਼ੀਸ਼ਾ | Śīśā |
| Almirah/ Cupboard | ਅਲਮਾਰੀ | Alamārī |
| Window | ਖਿੜਕੀ | Khiṛakī |
| Wall clock | ਕੰਧ ਘੜੀ | Kadha Ghaṛī |
| Wrist watch | ਗੁੱਟ ਘੜੀ | Guṭa Ghaṛī |
| Clothes | ਕੱਪੜੇ | Kapaṛē |
| Shoes | ਜੁੱਤੀਆਂ | Jutī’āṁ |
| Comb | ਕੰਘਾ | Kaghā |
| Turban | ਦਸਤਾਰ | Dasatāra |
| Scarf | ਦੁਪੱਟਾ | Dupaṭā |
| Socks | ਜੁਰਾਬਾਂ | Jurābāṁ |
| Shirt | ਕਮੀਜ਼ | Kamīza |
| Trouser | ਪੈਂਟ | Paiṇṭa |
| Perfume | ਅਤਰ | Atara |
| Make up | ਸ਼ਰ੍ਰੰਗਾਰ | Śarragāra |
| Jewelry | ਗਹਿਣੇ | Gahinē |
Kitchen Items
| English | Punjabi | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| Bottle | ਬੋਤਲ | Botala |
| Box | ਡੱਬਾ | Ḍabā |
| Basket | ਟੋਕਰੀ | Ṭōkarī |
| Cauldron | ਕੜਾਹੀ | Kaṛāhī |
| Saucepan | ਪਤੀਲਾ | Paṭi’lā |
| Pot | ਘੜਾ | Ghaṛā |
| Glass | ਗਲਾਸ | Galāsa |
| Kettle | ਕੀਤਲੀ | Kītali |
| Utensils | ਬਰਤਨ | Baratana |
| Grain | ਅਨਾਜ | Anāja |
| Jar | ਸ਼ੀਸ਼ੀ | Sisi |
| Knife | ਚਾਕੂ | Chākū |
| Ladle | ਚਮਚਾ | Chamachā |
| Spoon | ਚੱਮਚ | Chammacha |
| Fork | ਕਾਂਟਾ | Kāṇṭā |
| Butter knife | ਛੁਰੀ | Churī |
| Mug/ cup | ਪਯਾਲਾ/ ਪਯਾਲਿ | Payālā/ Payāli |
| Gas stove | ਗੈਸ ਦਾ ਚੂਲ੍ਹਾ | Gaisa Dā Chūl’hā |
| Refrigerator | ਫਰਿੱਜ | Pharija |
| Dining Table | ਖਾਣੇ ਦੀ ਮੇਜ | Khāṇē Dī Mēja |
| Table cloth | ਮੇਜ਼ਪੋਸ਼ | Mēzapōśa |
Bathroom Items
| English | Punjabi | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| Broom | ਝਾੜੂ | Jhāṛū |
| Bucket | ਬਾਲਟੀ | Bālaṭī |
| Brush | ਬੁਰਸ਼ | Buraśa |
| Tap | ਪਾਣੀ ਦੀ ਟੂਟੀ | Pāṇī Dī ṭūṭī |
| Washbasin | ਵਾਸ਼ਬੇਸਿਨ | Vāśabēsina |
| Towel | ਤੌਲੀਆ | Taulī’ā |
| Foam | ਝੱਗ | Jhaga |
| Toilet | ਟਾਇਲਟ | Tā’ilaṭa |
Miscellaneous Items
| English | Punjabi | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| Yarn | ਸੂਤ | Suta |
| Screw Driver | ਪੇਚਕੱਸ | Pechakasa |
| Magnet | ਚੁੰਬਕ | Chumbaka |
| Mop | ਪੂੰਝ | Pūjha |
| Medicines | ਦਵਾਈਆਂ | Dava’i’am |
| Lock | ਤਾਲਾ | Tālā |
| Key | ਕੁੰਜੀ | Kuji |
| Kite | ਪਤੰਗ | Pataga |
| Pen | ਕਲਮ | Kalama |
| Hammer | ਹਥੌੜਾ | Hathaura |
| Umbrella | ਛੱਤਰੀ | Chatari |
| Uniform | ਵਰਦੀ | Varadi |
| Needle | ਸੁਹਾ | Suhā |
Traditional House Structures In Punjab
A house is called ghar (ਘਰ ) in the Punjabi language and household objects are called Gharēlu chīzān (ਘਰੇਲੂ ਚੀਜ਼ਾਂ ). Similarly, kitchen utensils are called Rasō’ī Dē Baratana (ਰਸੋਈ ਦੇ ਬਰਤਨ). Usually, traditional Punjabi houses are sprawling mansions with huge courtyards (Vihārē – ਵਿਹੜੇ) where the whole family spends most of their day sharing meals and gossip.
They have huge iron and wooden gates (Kapāt – ਕਪਾਟ) at the entrance that open into a courtyard which further leads to a verandah (Dalāna – ਦਲਾਨ) running along which is a row of rooms (pl. Kamarē – ਕਮਰੇ). One end could have a lineup with a kitchen (Rasoī – ਰਸੋਈ or Chaunkā – ਚੌਂਕਾ), a pantry (Paentarī – ਪੰਤਰੀ) or a small granary (Gudāma – ਗੁਦਾਮ), and a common bathroom (Isnānghar – ਇਸ਼ਨਾਨ ਘਰ).
Houses belonging to well-to-do farming families often have cattle sheds (Gaushālā – ਗਊਸ਼ਾਲਾ ) situated either within the house premise, or adjacent to it, or they are stand-alone structures somewhere along the fields. These grand houses might also have more than one terrace (Chhat – ਛੱਤ).
Punjabi Songs Based On Household Items
From kitchen utensils to household items, Punjabi folk songs have long been using these objects in the lyrics to tell umpteen stories of Punjabi households and their inhabitants. Let’s look at some of the popular Punjabi folk songs and the items mentioned in them.
- Sūhē vē chīrē vāli’āṁ maiṁ kahiṇī āṁ kara chatrī dī chāṁ maiṁ chānvāṁ bahiṇī āṁ (ਸੂਹੇ ਵੇ ਚੀਰੇ ਵਾਲਿਆਂ ਮੈਂ ਕਹਿਣੀ ਆਂ ਕਰ ਛਤ੍ਰੀ ਦੀ ਛਾਂ ਮੈਂ ਛਾਂਵਾਂ ਬਹਿਣੀ ਆਂ)
Translation: I said to him, who pricks a hole with a needle (suhā – ਸੁਹਾ), open the umbrella (chatrī – ਛਤ੍ਰੀ) as I want to sit under its shade. A bride-to-be is singing this song and praying to never be separated from her would-be husband.
2. Lathē dī chādara utē salēṭī raga māhī’ā (ਲੱਥੇ ਦੀ ਚਾਦਰ ਉੱਤੇ ਸਲੇਟੀ ਰੰਗ ਮਾਹੀਆ )
Translation: My beloved who drapes a grey sheet (chādara – ਚਾਦਰ) cut from the full length of cloth, come hither. The woman is pleading with her sheet-draped lover to not be angry with her anymore.
3. Kōṭhē tē ā māhī’ā milaṇā tāṁ mila ākē nahīṁ tā ḵẖasamāṁ nū khā māhī’ā (ਕੋਠੇ ਤੇ ਆ ਮਾਹੀਆ ਮਿਲਣਾ ਤਾਂ ਮਿਲ ਆਕੇ ਨਹੀਂ ਤਾ ਖ਼ਸਮਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਖਾ ਮਾਹੀਆ)
Translation: Come to the terrace (Kōṭhā – ਕੋਠਾ), my dear, come and meet me or you can go to hell! The two lovers are having a light-hearted go at each other, pulling each other’s legs.
Learn Punjabi With Ling
Punjabi is a fun language to learn, not only for a linguaphile but also for people who love to learn about new countries and their cultures. Punjab is a land brimming with culture. From folk and food to language and rituals, it is a melee of fun-loving people and age-old traditions.
Punjabi belongs to the Indo-Aryan language family and boasts a lot of character. With the Ling app, you can take your first step toward learning the Punjabi language. Simply go to the Google Play Store or Apple App Store and download the Ling app for free.
