25+ Best Punjabi Clothes Vocab For You!

Punjabi Clothes

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.

Couple wearing traditional Punjabi clothes

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.

Woman wearing traditional Punjabi clothes

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.

Turban_Punjabi Clothes_Ling App

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 DescriptionPunjabi WordTransliteration
Flared ankle length tunicਅੰਗਾ/ਅੰਗਾਰਖਾAgā/Agārakhā
Bahawalpuri shalwar suitਬਹਾਵਲਪੁਰੀ ਸ਼ਲਵਾਰ ਸੂਟBahāvalapurī śalavāra sūṭa
Flared ankle length tunic from the Chamba regionਚੰਬਾ ਅੰਗਰਖੀCabā agarakhī
Robeਚੋਗਾ ਅਤੇ ਨੀਲਕcōgā atē nīlaka
Fitted leggingsਚੂੜੀਦਾਰ ਪਜਾਮਾcūṛīdāra pajāmā
Head veilਘੂੰਘਾਟ ਬਾਗghūghāṭa bāga
Robe and Turbanਜਾਮਾ ਅਤੇ ਦਸਤਾਰjāmā atē dasatāra
Shawl and hair ribbonਖੇਸ ਅਤੇ ਪਰਾਂਦਾkhēsa atē parāndā
Short length shirt and robeਕੁਰਤੀ ਅਤੇ ਚੋਲਾkuratī atē cōlā
Knee-length shirtਮੁਕਤਸਰੀ ਕੁੜਤਾmukatasarī kuṛatā
Knee-length shirt from Multan, Pakistanਮੁਲਤਾਨੀ ਕੁੜਤਾmulatānī kuṛatā
Shalwar suit from Multan, Pakistanਮੁਲਤਾਨੀ ਸ਼ਲਵਾਰ ਸੂਟmulatānī śalavāra sūṭa

P-Z

English DescriptionPunjabi WordsTransliteration
Loose trousers from Patiala, Indiaਪਟਿਆਲਾ ਸਲਵਾਰPaṭi’ālā salavāra
Phulkari and Luanchariਫੁਲਕਾਰੀ ਅਤੇ ਲੂਣਚਾਰੀphulakārī atē lūṇacārī
Phulkari of south and southwestern Punjab regionਦੱਖਣ ਅਤੇ ਦੱਖਣ-ਪੱਛਮੀ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਖੇਤਰ ਦੀ ਫੁਲਕਾਰੀdakhaṇa atē dakhaṇa-pachamī pajāba khētara dī phulakārī
Phulkari sariਫੁਲਕਾਰੀ ਸਾੜ੍ਹੀphulakārī sāṛhī
Pothohari suit from Pothohari region of Pakistanਪੋਠੋਹਾਰੀ ਸੂਟpōṭhōhārī sūṭa
Punjabi bandhani kurtaਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਬੰਧਨੀ ਕੁੜਤਾpajābī badhanī kuṛatā
Punjabi pleated skirtਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਘੱਗਰਾpajābī ghagarā
Punjabi caprisਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਘੁੱਟਣਾpajābī ghuṭaṇā
Punjabi shoesਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਜੁੱਤੀpajābī jutī
Punjabi phulkari loose shirtਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਫੁਲਕਾਰੀ ਕੁੜਤਾpajābī phulakārī kuṛatā
Punjabi suthan suitਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਸੂਟ ਸੂਟpajābī sūṭa sūṭa
Punjabi tamba and kurtaਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਤੰਬਾ ਅਤੇ ਕੁੜਤਾpajābī tabā atē kuṛatā
Salwar Kameezਸਲਵਾਰ ਕਮੀਜ਼salavāra kamīza
Saraiki shalwar suitsਸਰਾਇਕੀ ਸ਼ਲਵਾਰ ਸੂਟsarā’ikī śalavāra sūṭa
Senchi phulkariਸੈਂਚੀ ਫੁਲਕਾਰੀsain̄cī phulakārī
Suthan and Kurtaਸੁਥਾਨ ਅਤੇ ਕੁਰਤਾsuthāna atē kuratā
Til patraਤਿਲ ਪਾਤਰਾtila pātarā

Accessories In Punjabi

Here is a list of all the words for accessories which you can wear with clothes

EnglishPunjabiTransliteration
Anklets and Beltsਗਿੱਟੇ ਅਤੇ ਬੈਲਟGiṭē atē bailaṭa
Bangles and Braceletsਚੂੜੀਆਂ ਅਤੇ ਕੰਗਣcūṛī’āṁ atē kagaṇa
Brooches and Pinsਬਰੂਚ ਅਤੇ ਪਿੰਨbarūca atē pina
Cuff Links and Studsਕਫ਼ ਲਿੰਕਸ ਅਤੇ ਸਟੱਡਸkafa likasa atē saṭaḍasa
Earrings and Eyeglassesਮੁੰਦਰਾ ਅਤੇ ਐਨਕਾਂmudarā atē ainakāṁ
Facemask and Glovesਫੇਸਮਾਸਕ ਅਤੇ ਦਸਤਾਨੇphēsamāsaka atē dasatānē
Hair accessories and Helmetsਵਾਲਾਂ ਦੇ ਉਪਕਰਣ ਅਤੇ ਹੈਲਮੇਟvālāṁ dē upakaraṇa atē hailamēṭa
Handkerchiefs and pocket squaresਰੁਮਾਲ ਅਤੇ ਜੇਬ ਵਰਗrumāla atē jēba varaga
Hats and Handbagsਟੋਪੀਆਂ ਅਤੇ ਹੈਂਡਬੈਗṭōpī’āṁ atē haiṇḍabaiga
Headdresses and headwrapsਸਿਰਲੇਖ ਅਤੇ ਸਿਰਲੇਖsiralēkha atē siralēkha
Luggageਸਮਾਨsamāna
Necklaces and Pendantsਹਾਰ ਅਤੇ ਪੈਂਡੈਂਟਸhāra atē paiṇḍaiṇṭasa
Neckties and Perfumesਨੇਕਟਾਈਜ਼ ਅਤੇ ਅਤਰnēkaṭā’īza atē atara
Phones and peripheralsਫ਼ੋਨ ਅਤੇ ਪੈਰੀਫਿਰਲfōna atē pairīphirala
Purses and Walletsਪਰਸ ਅਤੇ ਬਟੂਏparasa atē baṭū’ē
Rings and Sashesਰਿੰਗ ਅਤੇ ਸੈਸ਼riga atē saiśa
Scarves and Footwearਸਕਾਰਫ਼ ਅਤੇ ਜੁੱਤੇsakārafa atē jutē
Socks and Stockingsਜੁਰਾਬਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਸਟੋਕਿੰਗਜ਼jurābāṁ atē saṭōkigaza
Sunglasses and Umbrellaਸਨਗਲਾਸ ਅਤੇ ਛਤਰੀsanagalāsa 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.

EnglishPunjabiTransliteration
AksਅਕਸAkasa
Anoukਅਨੋਕanōka
Aureliaਔਰੇਲੀਆaurēlī’ā
BIBAਬੀ.ਬੀ.ਏbī.Bī.Ē
FabIndiaਫੈਬਇੰਡੀਆphaiba’iḍī’ā
Geruaਗੇਰੂਆgērū’ā
Global Desiਗਲੋਬਲ ਦੇਸੀgalōbala dēsī
Haute Curryਹੌਟ ਕਰੀhauṭa karī
Jaipur Kurtiਜੈਪੁਰ ਕੁਰਤੀjaipura kuratī
Juniperਜੂਨੀਪਰjūnīpara
Karigariਕਰਿਗਾਰੀkarigārī
Libasਲਿਬਾਸlibāsa
Rain And Rainbowਮੀਂਹ ਅਤੇ ਸਤਰੰਗੀ ਪੀmīnha atē sataragī pī
Rangmanch/Akkriti By Pantaloonsਪੈਂਟਾਲੂਨ ਦੁਆਰਾ ਰੰਗਮੰਚ/ਅਕ੍ਰਿਤੀpaiṇṭālūna du’ārā ragamaca/akritī
Rangritiਰੰਗਰਿਤੀragaritī
Sangriaਸੰਗਰੀਆsagarī’ā
Shreeਸ਼੍ਰੀśrī
Sochਸੋਚsōca

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!

EnglishPunjabiTransliteration
Allen Sollyਐਲਨ ਸੋਲੀAilana sōlī
Arrowਤੀਰtīra
BlackBerrysਬਲੈਕਬੇਰੀbalaikabērī
Classic Poloਕਲਾਸਿਕ ਪੋਲੋkalāsika pōlō
Fabindiaਫੈਬਿੰਦਿਆphaibidi’ā
Flying Machineਫਲਾਇੰਗ ਮਸ਼ੀਨphalā’iga maśīna
Indian Terrainਭਾਰਤੀ ਭੂਮੀbhāratī bhūmī
John Playersਜੌਹਨ ਖਿਡਾਰੀjauhana khiḍārī
Louis Phillippeਲੁਈਸ ਫਿਲਿਪlu’īsa philipa
Monte Carloਮੋਂਟੇ ਕਾਰਲੋmōṇṭē kāralō
Muftiਮੁਫਤੀmuphatī
Numero Unoਨੰਬਰ ਯੂ.ਐਨ.ਓnabara yū.Aina.Ō
Park Avenueਪਾਰਕ ਐਵੇਨਿਊpāraka aivēni’ū
Parxਪਾਰਕਸpārakasa
Peter Englandਪੀਟਰ ਇੰਗਲੈਂਡpīṭara igalaiṇḍa
Privée ParisPrivée ਪੈਰਿਸPrivée pairisa
Provogueਪ੍ਰੋਵੋਗprōvōga
Raymondਰੇਮੰਡrēmaḍa
Van Heusenਵੈਨ ਹਿਊਜ਼ਨvaina 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

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