Enamored by the colorful Punjabi clothes that your Punjabi friends flaunt often? Then here is your chance to learn all about the fabulous traditional outfits of Punjab. We’re talking bold and beautiful Punjabi suits, flowy kurtas, and colorful saris. These clothes really showcase the lively spirit of the region with their vibrant hues, fun patterns, and ornate embroidery.
Whether you’re getting down at a bhangra dance or attending a wedding, Punjabi styles add major flair to any event. The fashions range from elaborate and fancy to simple and elegant. Read on for an interesting 101 on these awesome traditional outfits and what they are called in the Punjabi language!
Clothing In Punjab
Punjabi clothes are different from regular Western clothes, and thus you should know the relevant words if you are interested in buying clothes of good quality. In this blog post, you will learn about different types of Punjabi clothes along with the epic Punjabi clothes vocab, which will further assist you in choosing the best clothes for yourself.
The word for clothes is Kapaṛē (ਕੱਪੜੇ) in Punjabi. Punjabis are very concerned and sensitive about their culture and clothing. They find it offensive if someone disobeys or mocks their clothing style, especially the turban worn by Sikh men. Therefore, not knowing their way of dressing while living there causes a problem.
The lavishing clothes in Punjab give an insight into the vibrant, dazzling lifestyle and culture of Punjab. One of the best art form of fabric art from Punjab is Phulakārī (ਫੁਲਕਾਰੀ) that was originated in the 15th century. The word means “flower craft”. Bright colored silk threads are used to embroider intricate flower patterns on a piece of fabric. This phulakārī fabric can be woven into other clothing items like shawls, kurtas, lehengas, and dupattas.
You can check a Punjabi calendar and look for the appropriate culture events to wear a traditional phulakārī outfit. And why not? Punjabi dresses are always a merger of beauty, comfort, and colors. These cultural and traditional dresses show the harmony of modernity of the people living there.
Traditional Punjabi Clothes
Since a long time, Punjabi people wear prefer wearing cotton clothes. Both men and women wear knee-length tops called Kurta with loose bottoms known as salwar. Let’s look at some most common clothes in Punjab.
1. Loose trousers – Suthāna (ਸੁਥਾਨ)
Suthāna, which got its name from the Punjabi region of Suthana, is a type of loose trousers which can either be tapered or loose around the ankles. It is both a men’s and women’s garment, but women mainly wear it with a Kuṛatā. Punjabi people mostly wear it and do not wait for a specific date and time.
2. Knee-Length Shirt – Kuṛatā (ਕੁੜਤਾ)
Worn in Northern India, a Kuṛatā is generally a knee-length long and loose fitted shirt. It is a daily wear garment for both men and women as it gives a lot of comfort due to it being a loose fit garment.
3. Combination Of Trousers and Shirt – Śalavāra kamīza- (ਸ਼ਲਵਾਰ ਕਮੀਜ਼)
Śalavāra kamīza is a Punjabi dress worn by people in all five provinces of Pakistan as well in most of north India. It consists of a straight-cut Śalavāra and Kuṛatā.
This Punjabi suit is stitched from different styles worn by people in cities and villages. The kamīza is stitched straight and flat, while the Śalavāra is loose from the top but gets a tapered fit at the ankles. With the passage of time, changes can be seen in the designs of the Śalavāra kamīza as well.
4. Robe – Cōlā (ਚੋਲਾ)
A cōlā is a garment similar to a long robe worn both by men and women, mainly in the Pakistani Punjab region. It’s length can sometimes reach the ankles.
5. Traditional Skirt – Pajābī ghagarā (ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਘੱਗਰਾ)
Before Punjabi suits, the traditional clothes of Punjabi women were Pajābī ghagarā. These clothes include a head scarf, Śalavāra, kuṛatā, and ghagarā. A Pajābī ghagarā is worn in various parts of Punjab.
6. Women Trousers – Paṭi’ālā salavāra (ਪਟਿਆਲਾ ਸਲਵਾਰ)
This dress has its roots in the Patiala town of Indian Punjab. It consists of baggy and pleated trousers. Earlier, it was worn by men, but now Paṭi’ālā salavāra is more prevalent among girls. It is a combination of a kurta and chunni. This traditional dress has various modern designs while keeping the traditional cultural touch alive.
7. Men’s Skirt – Jāmā (ਜਾਮਾ)
Jāmā was the traditional dress worn by men in the Mughal regime. It is a kind of skirt – a long piece that flares up at the ankles or knees. It is usually paired with a turban to reflect royalty and goes well with majestic kings. Various Sikh Gurus and warriors also used to don this dress with long sleeves. It allows freedom of movement, and therefore, is comfortable.
8. Turban – Pagaṛī (ਪਗੜੀ)
The headwear worn by Punjabi Sikh men is known as Pagaṛī. This turban is available in different colors and has a lot of significance in the lives of Punjabi men as it helps them to cover up their long hair. Dastar Bandi is the ritual in the Golden temple where the young Sikh boys wear turbans for the first time in the presence of their family members.
9. Fitted Leggings – Cūṛīdāra pajāmā (ਚੂੜੀਦਾਰ ਪਜਾਮਾ)
The culture of cūṛīdāra pajāmā came into being from the erstwhile royal families of the Punjab region. It is a part of men’s and women’s attire. It is connected with Punjab and is famous all over the subcontinent. Mostly, cūṛīdāra pajāmās are blue, made of the sussi (cotton) material, but it depends on people’s choices.
10. Bahāvalapurī salavāra sūṭa (ਬਹਾਵਲਪੁਰੀ ਸਲਵਾਰ ਸੂਟ)
While talking about the traditional clothes of the Punjab of India, let’s also talk about one from the Punjab of Pakistan. The origin of this suit is Bahawalpur, Pakistan. The Bahāvalapurī salavāra sūṭa has a lot of voluminous folds and is baggy. The traditional material is Sufi – a fabric made of cotton and silk, combined with silk fabric and gold threads.
Punjabi Clothes Vocab
When you go to Punjab, you can wear anything. From wearing jeans and shirts to pants, everything is allowed. But what would be culturally more appropriate is to don the traditional clothes of Punjab and try to mix in with the local crowd. This is a sweet gesture in Punjab and people find it easier to accept you.
Here is a list of basic words and phrases for different clothes in the Punjabi language!
A-M
| English Description | Punjabi Word | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| Flared ankle length tunic | ਅੰਗਾ/ਅੰਗਾਰਖਾ | Agā/Agārakhā |
| Bahawalpuri shalwar suit | ਬਹਾਵਲਪੁਰੀ ਸ਼ਲਵਾਰ ਸੂਟ | Bahāvalapurī śalavāra sūṭa |
| Flared ankle length tunic from the Chamba region | ਚੰਬਾ ਅੰਗਰਖੀ | Cabā agarakhī |
| Robe | ਚੋਗਾ ਅਤੇ ਨੀਲਕ | cōgā atē nīlaka |
| Fitted leggings | ਚੂੜੀਦਾਰ ਪਜਾਮਾ | cūṛīdāra pajāmā |
| Head veil | ਘੂੰਘਾਟ ਬਾਗ | ghūghāṭa bāga |
| Robe and Turban | ਜਾਮਾ ਅਤੇ ਦਸਤਾਰ | jāmā atē dasatāra |
| Shawl and hair ribbon | ਖੇਸ ਅਤੇ ਪਰਾਂਦਾ | khēsa atē parāndā |
| Short length shirt and robe | ਕੁਰਤੀ ਅਤੇ ਚੋਲਾ | kuratī atē cōlā |
| Knee-length shirt | ਮੁਕਤਸਰੀ ਕੁੜਤਾ | mukatasarī kuṛatā |
| Knee-length shirt from Multan, Pakistan | ਮੁਲਤਾਨੀ ਕੁੜਤਾ | mulatānī kuṛatā |
| Shalwar suit from Multan, Pakistan | ਮੁਲਤਾਨੀ ਸ਼ਲਵਾਰ ਸੂਟ | mulatānī śalavāra sūṭa |
P-Z
| English Description | Punjabi Words | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| Loose trousers from Patiala, India | ਪਟਿਆਲਾ ਸਲਵਾਰ | Paṭi’ālā salavāra |
| Phulkari and Luanchari | ਫੁਲਕਾਰੀ ਅਤੇ ਲੂਣਚਾਰੀ | phulakārī atē lūṇacārī |
| Phulkari of south and southwestern Punjab region | ਦੱਖਣ ਅਤੇ ਦੱਖਣ-ਪੱਛਮੀ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਖੇਤਰ ਦੀ ਫੁਲਕਾਰੀ | dakhaṇa atē dakhaṇa-pachamī pajāba khētara dī phulakārī |
| Phulkari sari | ਫੁਲਕਾਰੀ ਸਾੜ੍ਹੀ | phulakārī sāṛhī |
| Pothohari suit from Pothohari region of Pakistan | ਪੋਠੋਹਾਰੀ ਸੂਟ | pōṭhōhārī sūṭa |
| Punjabi bandhani kurta | ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਬੰਧਨੀ ਕੁੜਤਾ | pajābī badhanī kuṛatā |
| Punjabi pleated skirt | ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਘੱਗਰਾ | pajābī ghagarā |
| Punjabi capris | ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਘੁੱਟਣਾ | pajābī ghuṭaṇā |
| Punjabi shoes | ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਜੁੱਤੀ | pajābī jutī |
| Punjabi phulkari loose shirt | ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਫੁਲਕਾਰੀ ਕੁੜਤਾ | pajābī phulakārī kuṛatā |
| Punjabi suthan suit | ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਸੂਟ ਸੂਟ | pajābī sūṭa sūṭa |
| Punjabi tamba and kurta | ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਤੰਬਾ ਅਤੇ ਕੁੜਤਾ | pajābī tabā atē kuṛatā |
| Salwar Kameez | ਸਲਵਾਰ ਕਮੀਜ਼ | salavāra kamīza |
| Saraiki shalwar suits | ਸਰਾਇਕੀ ਸ਼ਲਵਾਰ ਸੂਟ | sarā’ikī śalavāra sūṭa |
| Senchi phulkari | ਸੈਂਚੀ ਫੁਲਕਾਰੀ | sain̄cī phulakārī |
| Suthan and Kurta | ਸੁਥਾਨ ਅਤੇ ਕੁਰਤਾ | suthāna atē kuratā |
| Til patra | ਤਿਲ ਪਾਤਰਾ | tila pātarā |
Accessories In Punjabi
Here is a list of all the words for accessories which you can wear with clothes
| English | Punjabi | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| Anklets and Belts | ਗਿੱਟੇ ਅਤੇ ਬੈਲਟ | Giṭē atē bailaṭa |
| Bangles and Bracelets | ਚੂੜੀਆਂ ਅਤੇ ਕੰਗਣ | cūṛī’āṁ atē kagaṇa |
| Brooches and Pins | ਬਰੂਚ ਅਤੇ ਪਿੰਨ | barūca atē pina |
| Cuff Links and Studs | ਕਫ਼ ਲਿੰਕਸ ਅਤੇ ਸਟੱਡਸ | kafa likasa atē saṭaḍasa |
| Earrings and Eyeglasses | ਮੁੰਦਰਾ ਅਤੇ ਐਨਕਾਂ | mudarā atē ainakāṁ |
| Facemask and Gloves | ਫੇਸਮਾਸਕ ਅਤੇ ਦਸਤਾਨੇ | phēsamāsaka atē dasatānē |
| Hair accessories and Helmets | ਵਾਲਾਂ ਦੇ ਉਪਕਰਣ ਅਤੇ ਹੈਲਮੇਟ | vālāṁ dē upakaraṇa atē hailamēṭa |
| Handkerchiefs and pocket squares | ਰੁਮਾਲ ਅਤੇ ਜੇਬ ਵਰਗ | rumāla atē jēba varaga |
| Hats and Handbags | ਟੋਪੀਆਂ ਅਤੇ ਹੈਂਡਬੈਗ | ṭōpī’āṁ atē haiṇḍabaiga |
| Headdresses and headwraps | ਸਿਰਲੇਖ ਅਤੇ ਸਿਰਲੇਖ | siralēkha atē siralēkha |
| Luggage | ਸਮਾਨ | samāna |
| Necklaces and Pendants | ਹਾਰ ਅਤੇ ਪੈਂਡੈਂਟਸ | hāra atē paiṇḍaiṇṭasa |
| Neckties and Perfumes | ਨੇਕਟਾਈਜ਼ ਅਤੇ ਅਤਰ | nēkaṭā’īza atē atara |
| Phones and peripherals | ਫ਼ੋਨ ਅਤੇ ਪੈਰੀਫਿਰਲ | fōna atē pairīphirala |
| Purses and Wallets | ਪਰਸ ਅਤੇ ਬਟੂਏ | parasa atē baṭū’ē |
| Rings and Sashes | ਰਿੰਗ ਅਤੇ ਸੈਸ਼ | riga atē saiśa |
| Scarves and Footwear | ਸਕਾਰਫ਼ ਅਤੇ ਜੁੱਤੇ | sakārafa atē jutē |
| Socks and Stockings | ਜੁਰਾਬਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਸਟੋਕਿੰਗਜ਼ | jurābāṁ atē saṭōkigaza |
| Sunglasses and Umbrella | ਸਨਗਲਾਸ ਅਤੇ ਛਤਰੀ | sanagalāsa atē chatarī |
Brands In Punjabi For Women
If there is one thing that Punjabi women love, it is shopping. Punjabi women adore shopping from several brands, and thus here is a list of some of the most common brands in Punjab that you can vouch for.
| English | Punjabi | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| Aks | ਅਕਸ | Akasa |
| Anouk | ਅਨੋਕ | anōka |
| Aurelia | ਔਰੇਲੀਆ | aurēlī’ā |
| BIBA | ਬੀ.ਬੀ.ਏ | bī.Bī.Ē |
| FabIndia | ਫੈਬਇੰਡੀਆ | phaiba’iḍī’ā |
| Gerua | ਗੇਰੂਆ | gērū’ā |
| Global Desi | ਗਲੋਬਲ ਦੇਸੀ | galōbala dēsī |
| Haute Curry | ਹੌਟ ਕਰੀ | hauṭa karī |
| Jaipur Kurti | ਜੈਪੁਰ ਕੁਰਤੀ | jaipura kuratī |
| Juniper | ਜੂਨੀਪਰ | jūnīpara |
| Karigari | ਕਰਿਗਾਰੀ | karigārī |
| Libas | ਲਿਬਾਸ | libāsa |
| Rain And Rainbow | ਮੀਂਹ ਅਤੇ ਸਤਰੰਗੀ ਪੀ | mīnha atē sataragī pī |
| Rangmanch/Akkriti By Pantaloons | ਪੈਂਟਾਲੂਨ ਦੁਆਰਾ ਰੰਗਮੰਚ/ਅਕ੍ਰਿਤੀ | paiṇṭālūna du’ārā ragamaca/akritī |
| Rangriti | ਰੰਗਰਿਤੀ | ragaritī |
| Sangria | ਸੰਗਰੀਆ | sagarī’ā |
| Shree | ਸ਼੍ਰੀ | śrī |
| Soch | ਸੋਚ | sōca |
Brands In Punjabi For Men
Now that we have talked about the brands of women not talking about the brand of men would be such a shame. Here is a list of brands for men in Punjab that you can also try. So, say cheers!
| English | Punjabi | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| Allen Solly | ਐਲਨ ਸੋਲੀ | Ailana sōlī |
| Arrow | ਤੀਰ | tīra |
| BlackBerrys | ਬਲੈਕਬੇਰੀ | balaikabērī |
| Classic Polo | ਕਲਾਸਿਕ ਪੋਲੋ | kalāsika pōlō |
| Fabindia | ਫੈਬਿੰਦਿਆ | phaibidi’ā |
| Flying Machine | ਫਲਾਇੰਗ ਮਸ਼ੀਨ | phalā’iga maśīna |
| Indian Terrain | ਭਾਰਤੀ ਭੂਮੀ | bhāratī bhūmī |
| John Players | ਜੌਹਨ ਖਿਡਾਰੀ | jauhana khiḍārī |
| Louis Phillippe | ਲੁਈਸ ਫਿਲਿਪ | lu’īsa philipa |
| Monte Carlo | ਮੋਂਟੇ ਕਾਰਲੋ | mōṇṭē kāralō |
| Mufti | ਮੁਫਤੀ | muphatī |
| Numero Uno | ਨੰਬਰ ਯੂ.ਐਨ.ਓ | nabara yū.Aina.Ō |
| Park Avenue | ਪਾਰਕ ਐਵੇਨਿਊ | pāraka aivēni’ū |
| Parx | ਪਾਰਕਸ | pārakasa |
| Peter England | ਪੀਟਰ ਇੰਗਲੈਂਡ | pīṭara igalaiṇḍa |
| Privée Paris | Privée ਪੈਰਿਸ | Privée pairisa |
| Provogue | ਪ੍ਰੋਵੋਗ | prōvōga |
| Raymond | ਰੇਮੰਡ | rēmaḍa |
| Van Heusen | ਵੈਨ ਹਿਊਜ਼ਨ | vaina hi’ūzana |
Wrapping Up
Punjabi is the most popular first language of Pakistan and also India. The users of the Punjabi language are about two and a half million people all over the world. It is a rich and tonal language.
The Punjabi Language gives us an insight into their rich culture. People link with each other through languages. The origin of the Punjabi language is the Dravidian of the Harappa civilization.
Many links and free sites help us learn and understand the Punjabi language. The Ling app is by far the best website to learn Punjabi.
On our website, you can learn the Punjabi language the best way possible. Besides learning through the blog posts, you also get more options and tools.
We ensure that the website and app function correctly for our learners. If we get other users, we also try to provide the best of our services. Most free learning websites swamp the learners with advertising cookies which can be troublesome in most cases.
You can use our website and app on several devices and benefit from several resources free of advertisements. Even better, if you are learning any language along with the Punjabi language, try the Ling app as it teaches 60 more languages.
Also, check out the Punjabi alphabet and Punjabi job titles.
What are you waiting for? Download the Ling app now from Google Playstore or App Store and start learning Punjabi now!
Happy Learning!
Updated by Punya
