Are you interested in learning about the Punjabi music-related vocab? Guess what? You have found the perfect place! In this blog post, you will learn all the important things that you should know about Punjabi music and its vocabulary. Let’s get started!
Punjabi Music Related Vocab
The India-Pakistan border distinguishes between Western Punjabi, which is spoken in Pakistan’s Punjab province, and Eastern Punjabi, which is spoken in India‘s Punjab state. Around 125 million people in the world speak Punjabi now. It is one of the top five languages spoken in Canada as well as the UK and in the top thirty in the United States.
Punjabi Songs And Music

The traditions of the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent are reflected in Punjabi music.
Punjabi music and song encompass a wide range of styles, from folk and Sufi to classical, folk music to Punjabi pop. The Patayala gharana of Punjabi music is the most prominent in Punjab, but it has also gained popularity in many other places throughout the world.
Greenfields, mustard, and Punjabi Chapati spring to mind when we think about Punjabi heritage and identity. Punjabi music and songs, on the other hand, have had a significant impact on Punjabi culture and have now become its identity.
How To Learn The Punjabi Language Using Music Vocab
If you’re learning Punjabi for music-related or business purposes, you’ll take a different approach to your studies. Depending on whether you’re a total newbie, an intermediate learner with rusty Punjabi, or an amateur learner aiming for native-level proficiency, you can further personalize your learning objectives. Here is a perfect guide to that!
Determine The Timeframe
Your learning objectives may not be constrained by a timetable. So, when it comes to learning a language, make sure you plan ahead of time.
Select A Strategy
Consider your own particular preferences in mind while you plan. If you know your learning style, you may leverage it to find resources and data that can help you learn a language faster.
Online Learning From A Tutor

Suppose you want to learn from a website with relevant data and efficient services through your computer with a proper step-by-step lesson from an online teacher. Then you’ll want to search for such teaching websites where there is the direct interaction between teachers and students.
If you are satisfied with that manner of teaching and the approach is positively affecting your Punjabi knowledge, then do continue that method.
Self-Learning
A self-learning method varies on the relevant data related to Punjabi vocabulary you are gathering from certain approaches.
E-Learning Websites
Other than learning the language from the teachers, you can also refer to some online e-learning websites that are much more cost-efficient than person-to-person lessons. For this process, you will have to visit several popular language sites, find a suitable link, and check their service and users to see if they are really good. And if the site matches your interests, then go for it.
When you sign up on any website, you’ll have to go through the security process.
- First, you’ll have to enter your personally identifiable information (PII). If those pages support advertising cookies, then the cookies option will appear on the screen. Accept the cookies according to your preference. This step is to ensure the overall functionality of your profile. Other than that, there may be pop-up advertisements. Sometimes ads may be relevant to your language and sometimes irrelevant, so bear with them.
- After you go through the identification and security process, you choose your account type as a student and fill out several forms that include paid plans. Whoop! Now your profile is created and you are ready to explore the Punjabi language.
Maintain Your Focus
Learning a new language, especially one that is distinct from your mother tongue, might take months. And that’s only the start.
A language notebook might assist you in staying on track. Regularly update it, but don’t overdo it. Make a list of the new words you learn every day. Memorization is greatly aided by written exercises.
Practice writing in the Punjabi script of your choice. Make a list of new words and go through the ones you already know. Look back at previous writings to see how far you’ve progressed.
Musical Genres in Punjabi

Below are some musical genres in the Punjabi language and their English translation:
English Words | Punjabi Translations | Romanized Punjabi |
A capella | ਇੱਕ ਕੈਪੇਲਾ | Ika kaipēlā |
Afrobeats | ਅਫਰੋਬੀਟਸ | apharōbīṭasa |
American folk | ਅਮਰੀਕੀ ਲੋਕ | amarīkī lōka |
Bachata | ਬਚਤਾ | bacatā |
Baila | ਬੇਲਾ | bēlā |
Balada | ਬਲਦਾ | baladā |
Benga | ਬੇਂਗਾ | bēṅgā |
Bluegrass | ਬਲੂਗ੍ਰਾਸ | balūgrāsa |
Blues | ਬਲੂਜ਼ | balūza |
Bollywood | ਬਾਲੀਵੁੱਡ | bālīvuḍa |
Bossa nova | ਬੋਸਾ ਨੋਵਾ | bōsā nōvā |
Calypso | ਕੈਲਿਪਸੋ | kailipasō |
Canadian folk | ਕੈਨੇਡੀਅਨ ਲੋਕ | kainēḍī’ana lōka |
Carnatic | ਕਾਰਨਾਟਿਕ | kāranāṭika |
Celtic chant | ਸੇਲਟਿਕ ਜਾਪ | sēlaṭika jāpa |
Chimurenga | ਚਿਮੁਰੇੰਗਾ | cimurēgā |
Chinese folk | ਚੀਨੀ ਲੋਕ | cīnī lōka |
Classical | ਕਲਾਸੀਕਲ | kalāsīkala |
Compas | ਕੰਪਾਸ | kapāsa |
Country | ਦੇਸ਼ | dēśa |
Cumbia | ਕੁੰਬੀਆ | kubī’ā |
C-pop | ਸੀ-ਪੌਪ | sī-paupa |
Dancehall | ਡਾਂਸਹਾਲ | ḍānsahāla |
Dangdut | ਡਾਂਗਡੂਟ | ḍāṅgaḍūṭa |
Drum & bass | ਢੋਲ ਅਤੇ ਬਾਸ | ḍhōla atē bāsa |
Ethio-jazz | ਈਥਿਓ-ਜਾਜ਼ | īthi’ō-jāza |
Euro-disco | ਯੂਰੋ-ਡਿਸਕੋ | yūrō-ḍisakō |
Flamenco | ਫਲੈਮੇਂਕੋ | phalaimēṅkō |
Gagaku court music | ਗਗਾਕੂ ਕੋਰਟ ਸੰਗੀਤ | gagākū kōraṭa sagīta |
Glitch pop | ਗਲਿਚ ਪੌਪ | galica paupa |
Goa trance | ਗੋਆ ਟ੍ਰਾਂਸ | gō’ā ṭrānsa |
Gospel | ਇੰਜੀਲ | ijīla |
Grime | ਗ੍ਰੀਮ | grīma |
Highlife | ਹਾਈਲਾਈਫ | hā’īlā’īpha |
Indie rock | ਇੰਡੀ ਰੌਕ | iḍī rauka |
Industrial | ਉਦਯੋਗਿਕ | udayōgika |
Inkiranya | ਇਨਕਿਰਣਿਆ | inakiraṇi’ā |
Japanese folk | ਜਾਪਾਨੀ ਲੋਕ | jāpānī lōka |
Jazz | ਜੈਜ਼ | jaiza |
K-pop | ਕੇ-ਪੌਪ | kē-paupa |
Majika | ਮਜੀਕਾ | majīkā |
Mambo | Mambo | Mambo |
Mariachi | ਮਾਰੀਚੀ | mārīcī |
Mento | ਮੈਂਟੋ | maiṇṭō |
Oldies | ਪੁਰਾਣੇ | purāṇē |
Opera | ਓਪੇਰਾ | ōpērā |
Palm wine | ਪਾਮ ਵਾਈਨ | pāma vā’īna |
Polka | ਪੋਲਕਾ | pōlakā |
Pop | ਪੌਪ | paupa |
Punjabi | ਪੰਜਾਬੀ | pajābī |
Rababah | ਰਬਾਬਾਹ | rabābāha |
Rafi | ਰਫੀ | raphī |
Raga rock | ਰਾਗ ਰਾਕ | rāga rāka |
Ranchera | ਰੰਚਰਾ | racarā |
Rap | ਰੈਪ | raipa |
Reggae | ਰੇਗੇ | rēgē |
Reggaeton | ਰੇਗੇਟਨ | rēgēṭana |
Rhythm & blues | ਰਿਦਮ ਅਤੇ ਬਲੂਜ਼ | ridama atē balūza |
Rock | ਰੌਕ | rauka |
Rocksteady | ਰੌਕਸਟੇਡੀ | raukasaṭēḍī |
Salsa | ਸਾਲਸਾ | sālasā |
Samba | ਸਾਂਬਾ | sāmbā |
Shaabi | ਸ਼ਾਬੀ | śābī |
Swing | ਸਵਿੰਗ | saviga |
Tango | ਟੈਂਗੋ | ṭaiṅgō |
Techno | ਟੈਕਨੋ | ṭaikanō |
Tejano | ਤੇਜਾਨੋ | tējānō |
Trance | ਟ੍ਰਾਂਸ | ṭrānsa |
Ubongo | ਉਬੋਂਗੋ | ubōṅgō |
Vallenatto | ਵੈਲੇਨਾਟੋ | vailēnāṭō |
V-pop | ਵੀ-ਪੌਪ | vī-paupa |
Zilin | ਜ਼ਿਲਿਨ | zilina |
Zouglou | ਜ਼ੁਗਲੋ | zugalō |
Zouk | ਜ਼ੌਕ | zauka |
Punjabi Music Related Vocab

After learning the genres, here are the instruments in the Punjabi language that might assist you in your Music and entertainment purpose-related travel.
English Words | Punjabi Translations | Romanized Punjabi |
Steelpan | ਸਟੀਲਪੈਨ | Saṭīlapaina |
Fiddle | ਫਿੱਡਲ | phiḍala |
Sopranino trombone | ਸੋਪ੍ਰਾਨਿਨੋ ਟ੍ਰੋਂਬੋਨ | sōprāninō ṭrōmbōna |
Sopranino saxophone | ਸੋਪ੍ਰਾਨੀਨੋ ਸੈਕਸੋਫੋਨ | sōprānīnō saikasōphōna |
A clarinet | ਇੱਕ ਸ਼ਰਨ | ika śarana |
Kalimba | ਕਲਿੰਬਾ | kalibā |
Contrabass flute | ਕੰਟਰਾਬਾਸ ਬੰਸਰੀ | kaṭarābāsa basarī |
Theremin | ਥੈਰੇਮਿਨ | thairēmina |
Saxophone | ਸੈਕਸੋਫੋਨ | saikasōphōna |
Contrabassoon/double bassoon | ਕੰਟਰਾਬਾਸੂਨ/ਡਬਲ ਬਾਸੂਨ | kaṭarābāsūna/ḍabala bāsūna |
Berimbau | ਬੇਰਿੰਬਾਊ | bēribā’ū |
Lap steel guitars | ਲੈਪ ਸਟੀਲ ਗਿਟਾਰ | laipa saṭīla giṭāra |
Resophonic guitar | ਰੈਸੋਫੋਨਿਕ ਗਿਟਾਰ | raisōphōnika giṭāra |
Contra-alto flute | ਉਲਟ-ਆਲਟੋ ਬੰਸਰੀ | ulaṭa-ālaṭō basarī |
Pedal steel guitar | ਪੈਡਲ ਸਟੀਲ ਗਿਟਾਰ | paiḍala saṭīla giṭāra |
Nylon-string guitars | ਨਾਈਲੋਨ-ਸਤਰ ਗਿਟਾਰ | nā’īlōna-satara giṭāra |
Bass guitar | ਬਾਸ ਗਿਟਾਰ | bāsa giṭāra |
Suona | ਸੁਨਾ | sunā |
Bass clarinet | ਬਾਸ ਕਲੈਰੀਨੇਟ | bāsa kalairīnēṭa |
Bass trombone | ਬਾਸ ਟ੍ਰੋਂਬੋਨ | bāsa ṭrōmbōna |
Bass ukulele | ਬਾਸ ukulele | bāsa ukulele |
Piano | ਪਿਆਨੋ | pi’ānō |
Garklein | ਗਾਰਕਲੀਨ | gārakalīna |
Double-neck guitar | ਡਬਲ-ਨੇਕ ਗਿਟਾਰ | ḍabala-nēka giṭāra |
Electric violin | ਇਲੈਕਟ੍ਰਿਕ ਵਾਇਲਨ | ilaikaṭrika vā’ilana |
Bass tuba | ਬਾਸ ਟੂਬਾ | bāsa ṭūbā |
Guqin | ਗੁਕਿਨ | gukina |
Harmonica | ਹਾਰਮੋਨਿਕਾ | hāramōnikā |
Timpani | ਟਿੰਪਨੀ | ṭipanī |
Synthesizer | ਸਿੰਥੇਸਾਈਜ਼ਰ | sithēsā’īzara |
Box drum | ਬਾਕਸ ਡਰੱਮ | bākasa ḍarama |
Bass trumpet | ਬਾਸ ਤੁਰ੍ਹੀ | bāsa tur’hī |
National Steel | ਨੈਸ਼ਨਲ ਸਟੀਲ | naiśanala saṭīla |
Seven-string guitar | ਸੱਤ-ਸਤਰ ਗਿਟਾਰ | sata-satara giṭāra |
Gong | ਗੋਂਗ | gōṅga |
Five-stringed banjo | ਪੰਜ-ਤਾਰ ਵਾਲਾ ਬੈਂਜੋ | paja-tāra vālā bain̄jō |
Euphonium | ਯੂਫੋਨਿਅਮ | yūphōni’ama |
Six-string tenor | ਛੇ-ਸਤਰ ਟੈਨਰ | chē-satara ṭainara |
Esraj | ਐਸਰਾਜ | aisarāja |
Pendant ocarina | ਪੈਂਡੈਂਟ ਓਕਾਰਿਨਾ | paiṇḍaiṇṭa ōkārinā |
Mando-bass | ਮੰਡੋ—ਬਾਸ | maḍō—bāsa |
Bass saxophone | ਬਾਸ ਸੈਕਸੋਫੋਨ | bāsa saikasōphōna |
Sarod | ਸਰੋਦ | sarōda |
Alto trombone | ਆਲਟੋ ਟ੍ਰੋਂਬੋਨ | ālaṭō ṭrōmbōna |
Great bass | ਸ਼ਾਨਦਾਰ ਬਾਸ | śānadāra bāsa |
Harp | ਹਰਪ | harapa |
Piccolo clarinet | ਪਿਕੋਲੋ ਕਲੈਰੀਨੇਟ | pikōlō kalairīnēṭa |
Eight-string guitar | ਅੱਠ-ਸਤਰ ਗਿਟਾਰ | aṭha-satara giṭāra |
Bass flute | ਬਾਸ ਬੰਸਰੀ | bāsa basarī |
Tubax | ਟਿਊਬੈਕਸ | ṭi’ūbaikasa |
Viola | ਵਿਓਲਾ | vi’ōlā |
Sitar | ਸਿਤਾਰ | sitāra |
Eight-string tenor | ਅੱਠ-ਸਤਰ ਟੈਨਰ | aṭha-satara ṭainara |
Yotar | ਯੋਟਰ | yōṭara |
Subcontrabass saxophone | ਸਬਕੰਟਰਾਬਾਸ ਸੈਕਸੋਫੋਨ | sabakaṭarābāsa saikasōphōna |
Pan Pipes | ਪੈਨ ਪਾਈਪ | paina pā’īpa |
Veena | ਵੀਨਾ | vīnā |
Florguitar | ਫਲੋਰਗਿਟਾਰ | phalōragiṭāra |
Alto clarinet | ਆਲਟੋ ਕਲੈਰੀਨੇਟ | ālaṭō kalairīnēṭa |
Cor anglais | ਕੋਰ ਐਂਗਲਿਸ | kōra aiṅgalisa |
Slide ocarina | ਸਲਾਈਡ ocarina | salā’īḍa ocarina |
Cornet | ਕੋਰਨੇਟ | kōranēṭa |
Four-stringed banjo | ਚਾਰ-ਤਾਰ ਵਾਲਾ ਬੈਂਜੋ | cāra-tāra vālā bain̄jō |
Tenor | ਟੈਨੋਰ | ṭainōra |
Diatonic harmonica | ਡਾਇਟੋਨਿਕ ਹਾਰਮੋਨਿਕਾ | ḍā’iṭōnika hāramōnikā |
D clarinet | ਡੀ ਕਲੈਰੀਨੇਟ | ḍī kalairīnēṭa |
Baritone guitar | ਬੈਰੀਟੋਨ ਗਿਟਾਰ | bairīṭōna giṭāra |
Cor anglais/English horn | ਕੋਰ ਐਂਗਲਿਸ/ਇੰਗਲਿਸ਼ ਹੌਰਨ | kōra aiṅgalisa/igaliśa haurana |
Tremolo harmonica | ਟ੍ਰੇਮੋਲੋ ਹਾਰਮੋਨਿਕਾ | ṭrēmōlō hāramōnikā |
Soprano trumpet | ਸੋਪ੍ਰਾਨੋ ਤੁਰ੍ਹੀ | sōprānō tur’hī |
Venova | ਵੇਨੋਵਾ | vēnōvā |
Baritone ukulele | ਬੈਰੀਟੋਨ ਯੂਕੁਲੇਲ | bairīṭōna yūkulēla |
Alto saxophone | ਆਲਟੋ ਸੈਕਸੋਫੋਨ | ālaṭō saikasōphōna |
Subcontra bass | ਉਪ-ਕੰਟਰਾ ਬਾਸ | upa-kaṭarā bāsa |
Double contrabass flute | ਡਬਲ ਕੰਟਰਾਬਾਸ ਬੰਸਰੀ | ḍabala kaṭarābāsa basarī |
Bongo | ਬੋਂਗੋ | bōṅgō |
Tenor violin | ਟੈਨੋਰ ਵਾਇਲਨ | ṭainōra vā’ilana |
Keyed ocarina | ਕੀਡ ਓਕਾਰਿਨਾ | kīḍa ōkārinā |
Recorder | ਰਿਕਾਰਡਰ | rikāraḍara |
Quadruple-neck guitar | ਚੌਗੁਣਾ-ਗਰਦਨ ਗਿਟਾਰ | cauguṇā-garadana giṭāra |
Suroz | ਸਰੋਜ਼ | sarōza |
Treble or alto | ਟ੍ਰਬਲ ਜਾਂ ਆਲਟੋ | ṭrabala jāṁ ālaṭō |
Organ | ਅੰਗ | aga |
Octobass | ਅਕਤੂਬਰ | akatūbara |
Soprano trombone | ਸੋਪ੍ਰਾਨੋ ਟ੍ਰੋਂਬੋਨ | sōprānō ṭrōmbōna |
Xylophone | ਜ਼ਾਈਲੋਫੋਨ | zā’īlōphōna |
Contrabass | ਕੰਟਰਾਬਾਸ | kaṭarābāsa |
ChenGong harmonica | ਚੇਨਗੌਂਗ ਹਾਰਮੋਨਿਕਾ | cēnagauṅga hāramōnikā |
Tenoroon | ਟੇਨੋਰੂਨ | ṭēnōrūna |
Renaissance trombone | ਪੁਨਰਜਾਗਰਣ trombone | punarajāgaraṇa trombone |
Soprano saxophone | ਸੋਪ੍ਰਾਨੋ ਸੈਕਸੋਫੋਨ | sōprānō saikasōphōna |
Orchestral harmonica | ਆਰਕੈਸਟਰਾ ਹਰਮੋਨਿਕਾ | ārakaisaṭarā haramōnikā |
Bass banjo | ਬਾਸ ਬੈਂਜੋ | bāsa bain̄jō |
Soprillo | ਸੋਪ੍ਰੀਲੋ | sōprīlō |
Nine-string guitar | ਨੌ-ਤਾਰ ਗਿਟਾਰ | nau-tāra giṭāra |
Hammered dulcimer | ਹੈਮਰਡ ਡੁਲਸੀਮਰ | haimaraḍa ḍulasīmara |
Bass | ਬਾਸ | bāsa |
Zither banjo | ਜਿਥਰ ਬੈਂਜੋ | jithara bain̄jō |
Indian Banjo | ਭਾਰਤੀ ਬੈਂਜੋ | bhāratī bain̄jō |
Alto guitar | ਆਲਟੋ ਗਿਟਾਰ | ālaṭō giṭāra |
Alghoza | ਅਲਘੋਜ਼ਾ | alaghōzā |
Erhu | ਇਰਹੁ | irahu |
Six-neck guitar | ਛੇ-ਗਰਦਨ ਗਿਟਾਰ | chē-garadana giṭāra |
Tuba | ਟੁਬਾ | ṭubā |
C melody saxophone | ਸੀ ਮੈਲੋਡੀ ਸੈਕਸੋਫੋਨ | sī mailōḍī saikasōphōna |
Piccolo cello | ਪਿਕੋਲੋ ਸੈਲੋ | pikōlō sailō |
Harmonium | ਹਾਰਮੋਨੀਅਮ | hāramōnī’ama |
Electric bass guitar | ਇਲੈਕਟ੍ਰਿਕ ਬਾਸ ਗਿਟਾਰ | ilaikaṭrika bāsa giṭāra |
Viola | ਵਿਓਲਾ | vi’ōlā |
Wrapping Up

That’s it for this blog. Congratulations on learning a lot about Punjabi music. How about starting a new Punjabi band now? That’s a joke! If you want to learn Punjabi in a way that’s not boring at all and in fact quite the opposite then try the Ling App out which has made learning any new language miraculously easy.
If you are interested in learning more about the Punjabi blogposts then check out Punjabi Relationship Vocabulary and Punjabi Proverbs.
Happy Learning!