Would you like to learn about Punjabi relationship vocabulary as a sign of showing respect for the other Punjabis around you? In this blog post, we will walk you through all the important terms related to relationships, so let’s get started!
Punjabi Relationship Vocabulary
So you’re a foreigner who fell for a Punjabi Indian girl or boy. Well here are a few things you need to know about the dating culture in Punjab before deciding whether to date a Punjabi or not.
Cultural Norms
Punjab is not a very developed region and hence the Punjabi culture is very conservative. They follow the old teachings where you have to take permission from the elders before dating a guy or girl, unlike the modern world where it’s not necessary. Especially when it comes to girls, Punjabi families are very protective of them. If you are a guy who wants to date a Punjabi girl you will most likely have to pass an interview in which all the elders of the family will be there. Not only that, girls aren’t allowed to freely go out with guys in most families unless they are married or engaged to the guy.
Religious Values
Punjab is a land of three main religions. There are Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs. Sikhs are the major population. Whatever the religion maybe they are very strict when it comes to the religion of their partners. Punjabi families prefer someone of the same religion for their sons and daughters too. It is very hard to date in Punjab if your partner has a different religion. While dating someone with different religious views than you is getting more acceptable it will still be a long time before it is normalized.
Land Disputes
As Punjab is a place where people own and inherit large land it is often disputed between many families. That is why Punjabis prefer their daughters and sons to date someone from their close relatives as there would be no land disputes if it’s between two people of the same family.
Punjabis also have blood-run disputes between families that continue for many generations due to land or power distribution. Other than that Punjabis also prefer dating other Punjabis and not people from other areas of the country. It’s easier for the partner to adjust to the culture when he or she has been raised in the same culture.
Caste System
Punjabis like other communities in India strongly believe in the caste system and consider some cases to be superior to others. If you belong to a different caste you would not be considered a perfect match for your girlfriend or boyfriend. Again this trend is getting lesser day today but still holds great importance in the rural areas of Punjab. You don’t need to worry about the caste you belong to in the urban areas of Punjab tho.
Physical Appearance
Another important thing to consider about the dating culture in Punjab is that physical appearance is given great value in Punjabi culture. Especially when it comes to girls, a Punjabi family would always prefer a prettier girl for their sons regardless of her education or personality. Punjabi men also prefer to date more beautiful young women. This trend is also going extinct in urban Punjab where a girl isn’t judged based solely on her looks. Any educated Punjabi family would look for more mature traits to look for while selecting a partner for their sons or daughters.
Extended Punjabi Family
Punjabi kinship terms have certain relationships which are. In India, the concept of the joint family system is quite prevalent which provides you with family members who might not be your relatives by law but you would consider your brother.
Let’s look at some such terms that you can use according to your own preferences!
| Relationships in English | Relationships in Punjabi | Romanized Punjabi |
| Aunt | ਮਾਸੀ | Māsī |
| Brother | ਭਰਾ | bharā |
| Brother’s Daughter | ਭਰਾ ਦੀ ਧੀ | bharā dī dhī |
| Brother’s Son | ਭਰਾ ਦਾ ਪੁੱਤਰ | bharā dā putara |
| Brother’s Wife | ਭਰਾ ਦੀ ਪਤਨੀ | bharā dī patanī |
| Cousin | ਚਚੇਰਾ ਭਰਾ | cacērā bharā |
| Daughter | ਧੀ | dhī |
| Daughter’s Daughter | ਧੀ ਦੀ ਧੀ | dhī dī dhī |
| Daughter’s Son | ਧੀ ਦਾ ਪੁੱਤਰ | dhī dā putara |
| Family | ਪਰਿਵਾਰ | parivāra |
| Father | ਪਿਤਾ | pitā |
| Father’s Elder Brother | ਪਿਤਾ ਦਾ ਵੱਡਾ ਭਰਾ | pitā dā vaḍā bharā |
| Father’s Father | ਪਿਤਾ ਦਾ ਪਿਤਾ | pitā dā pitā |
| Father’s Mother | ਪਿਤਾ ਦੀ ਮਾਤਾ | pitā dī mātā |
| Father’s Sister | ਪਿਤਾ ਦੀ ਭੈਣ | pitā dī bhaiṇa |
| Father’s Younger Brother | ਪਿਤਾ ਦਾ ਛੋਟਾ ਭਰਾ | pitā dā chōṭā bharā |
| Friends | ਦੋਸਤੋ | dōsatō |
| Husband | ਪਤੀ | patī |
| Husband’s Sister | ਪਤੀ ਦੀ ਭੈਣ | patī dī bhaiṇa |
| Mama | ਮਾਮਾ | māmā |
| Maternal Or Paternal Side | ਮਾਤਾ ਜਾਂ ਪਿਤਾ ਦਾ ਪੱਖ | mātā jāṁ pitā dā pakha |
| Mother | ਮਾਂ | māṁ |
| Mother’s Brother | ਮਾਂ ਦਾ ਭਰਾ | māṁ dā bharā |
| Mother’s Father | ਮਾਤਾ ਦੇ ਪਿਤਾ | mātā dē pitā |
| Mother’s Mother | ਮਾਂ ਦੀ ਮਾਂ | māṁ dī māṁ |
| Mother’s Sister | ਮਾਂ ਦੀ ਭੈਣ | māṁ dī bhaiṇa |
| Older Brother | ਵੱਡਾ ਭਰਾ | vaḍā bharā |
| Paternal | ਪਿਤਾਮਾ | pitāmā |
| Punjabi Family | ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਪਰਿਵਾਰ | pajābī parivāra |
| Relationship | ਰਿਸ਼ਤਾ | riśatā |
| Relationships | ਰਿਸ਼ਤੇ | riśatē |
| Sister | ਭੈਣ | bhaiṇa |
| Sisters | ਭੈਣਾਂ | bhaiṇāṁ |
| Sister’s Husband | ਭੈਣ ਦਾ ਪਤੀ | bhaiṇa dā patī |
| Sister’s Son | ਭੈਣ ਦਾ ਪੁੱਤਰ | bhaiṇa dā putara |
| Son | ਪੁੱਤਰ | putara |
| Sons | ਪੁੱਤਰ | putara |
| Son’s Daughter | ਪੁੱਤਰ ਦੀ ਧੀ | putara dī dhī |
| Son’s Son | ਪੁੱਤਰ ਦਾ ਪੁੱਤਰ | putara dā putara |
| Uncle | ਅੰਕਲ | akala |
| Wife | ਪਤਨੀ | patanī |
| Wife’s Brother | ਪਤਨੀ ਦਾ ਭਰਾ | patanī dā bharā |
| Wife’s Sister’s Husband | ਪਤਨੀ ਦੀ ਭੈਣ ਦਾ ਪਤੀ | patanī dī bhaiṇa dā patī |
| Younger Brother | ਛੋਟਾ ਭਰਾ | chōṭā bharā |
| Younger Sister | ਛੋਟੀ ਭੈਣ | chōṭī bhaiṇa |
Endearing Words in Punjabi
There are different words that are relevant when talking about the Punjabi relationships. If you are wondering how the Punjabis might talk about love then here is a list of more options that you can learn and use in your everyday life.
| English Words | Punjabi Words | Romanized Punjabi |
| Admire | ਪ੍ਰਸ਼ੰਸਾ ਕਰੋ | Praśasā karō |
| Adorable | ਮਨਮੋਹਕ | manamōhaka |
| Adoration | ਪੂਜਾ | pūjā |
| Adore | ਅਡੋਰ | aḍōra |
| Amazing | ਹੈਰਾਨੀਜਨਕ | hairānījanaka |
| Amorous | ਕਾਮੁਕ | kāmuka |
| Angel | ਦੂਤ | dūta |
| Ardent | ਜੋਰਦਾਰ | jōradāra |
| Beautiful | ਸੁੰਦਰ | sudara |
| Beguile | ਬੇਗੁਲੇ | bēgulē |
| Beloved | ਪਿਆਰੇ | pi’ārē |
| Better Half | ਬੈਟਰ ਹਾਫ | baiṭara hāpha |
| Bewitching | ਮਨਮੋਹਕ | manamōhaka |
| Care | ਦੇਖਭਾਲ | dēkhabhāla |
| Caress | ਸਵਾਹ | savāha |
| Cherish | ਪਾਲਦੇ ਹਨ | pāladē hana |
| Chivalrous | ਚਾਪਲੂਸ | cāpalūsa |
| Choose | ਚੁਣੋ | cuṇō |
| Court | ਅਦਾਲਤ | adālata |
| Courtship | ਕੋਰਟਸ਼ਿਪ | kōraṭaśipa |
| Crazy For You | ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਲਈ ਪਾਗਲ | tuhāḍē la’ī pāgala |
| Cuddle | ਗਲੇ | galē |
| Cupcake | ਕੱਪਕੇਕ | kapakēka |
| Cutie | Cutie | Cutie |
| Dalliance | ਡਾਲੀਅਨਸ | ḍālī’anasa |
| Darling | ਡਾਰਲਿੰਗ | ḍāraliga |
| Darling | ਡਾਰਲਿੰਗ | ḍāraliga |
| Daydream | ਦਿਨ ਦਾ ਸੁਪਨਾ | dina dā supanā |
| Dearest | ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਪਿਆਰਾ | sabha tōṁ pi’ārā |
| Delight | ਅਨੰਦ | anada |
| Devotion | ਸ਼ਰਧਾ | śaradhā |
| Doting | ਡੋਟਿੰਗ | ḍōṭiga |
| Dreamy | ਸੁਪਨੇ ਵਾਲਾ | supanē vālā |
| Embrace | ਗਲੇ ਲਗਾਓ | galē lagā’ō |
| Enamored | ਮੋਹਿਤ | mōhita |
| Enchanting | ਮਨਮੋਹਕ | manamōhaka |
| Enthralling | ਮਨਮੋਹਕ | manamōhaka |
| Entice | ਲੁਭਾਉਣਾ | lubhā’uṇā |
| Fairy-Tale | ਪਰੀਆ ਦੀ ਕਹਾਣੀ | parī’ā dī kahāṇī |
| Fanciful | ਕਲਪਨਾਪੂਰਣ | kalapanāpūraṇa |
| Fancy | ਫੈਂਸੀ | phainsī |
| Fantasize | ਕਲਪਨਾ ਕਰੋ | kalapanā karō |
| Friend And Lover | ਦੋਸਤ ਅਤੇ ਪ੍ਰੇਮੀ | dōsata atē prēmī |
| Gorgeous | ਸ਼ਾਨਦਾਰ | śānadāra |
| Handsome | ਸੁੰਦਰ | sudara |
| Heavenly | ਸਵਰਗੀ | savaragī |
| Honey | ਸ਼ਹਿਦ | śahida |
| Immortalize | ਅਮਰ ਕਰ ਦੇਣਾ | amara kara dēṇā |
| Impassioned | ਭਾਵੁਕ | bhāvuka |
| Infatuation | ਮੋਹ | mōha |
| Intimate | ਗੂੜ੍ਹਾ | gūṛhā |
| Intoxicating | ਨਸ਼ਾ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲਾ | naśā karana vālā |
| Keeper Of My Heart | ਮੇਰੇ ਦਿਲ ਦਾ ਰੱਖਿਅਕ | mērē dila dā rakhi’aka |
| Liaison | ਸੰਪਰਕ | saparaka |
| Life-Changing | ਜੀਵਨ-ਬਦਲਣ ਵਾਲਾ | jīvana-badalaṇa vālā |
| Light Of My Life | ਮੇਰੀ ਜ਼ਿੰਦਗੀ ਦੀ ਰੋਸ਼ਨੀ | mērī zidagī dī rōśanī |
| Lover | ਪ੍ਰੇਮੀ | prēmī |
| Lovesick | ਲਵਸਿਕ | lavasika |
| Lovey-Dovey | ਪਿਆਰ ਭਰਿਆ | pi’āra bhari’ā |
| Main Squeeze | ਮੁੱਖ ਸਕਿਊਜ਼ | mukha saki’ūza |
| Mesmerize | ਮੋਹਿਤ ਕਰੋ | mōhita karō |
| My Everything | ਮੇਰਾ ਸਭ ਕੁਝ | mērā sabha kujha |
| My Love | ਮੇਰਾ ਪਿਆਰ | mērā pi’āra |
| My Sweet | ਮੇਰੇ ਮਿੱਠੇ | mērē miṭhē |
| Need | ਲੋੜ ਹੈ | lōṛa hai |
| Overture | ਓਵਰਚਰ | ōvaracara |
| Paramour | ਪਰਮੂਰ | paramūra |
| Passionate | ਭਾਵੁਕ | bhāvuka |
| Prince Charming | ਬੜਾ ਹੀ ਸੋਹਨਾ | baṛā hī sōhanā |
| Princess | ਰਾਜਕੁਮਾਰੀ | rājakumārī |
| Prize | ਇਨਾਮ | ināma |
| Pumpkin | ਕੱਦੂ | kadū |
| Reverence | ਸਤਿਕਾਰ | satikāra |
| Sensual | ਕਾਮੁਕ | kāmuka |
| Starry-Eyed | ਤਾਰੀ—ਅੱਖਾਂ ਵਾਲਾ | tārī—akhāṁ vālā |
| Sweetheart | ਪਿਆਰੇ | pi’ārē |
| Sweetie | ਸਵੀਟੀ | savīṭī |
| Sweetness | ਮਿਠਾਸ | miṭhāsa |
| Swoon | ਸੁੰਨ | suna |
| Tender | ਟੈਂਡਰ | ṭaiṇḍara |
| Treasure | ਖਜਾਨਾ | khajānā |
| Value | ਮੁੱਲ | mula |
| Want | ਚਾਹੁੰਦੇ | cāhudē |
| Wonderful | ਅਦਭੁਤ | adabhuta |
| Worship | ਪੂਜਾ, ਭਗਤੀ | pūjā, bhagatī |
| Yearn | ਤਰਸ | tarasa |
Bonus Phrases
Here are some bonus phrases for you to impress your loved ones!
| English Phrases | Punjabi Phrases | Romanized Punjabi |
| I hereby declare my love and affection toward you. | ਮੈਂ ਇਸ ਦੁਆਰਾ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਪ੍ਰਤੀ ਆਪਣੇ ਪਿਆਰ ਅਤੇ ਸਨੇਹ ਦਾ ਐਲਾਨ ਕਰਦਾ ਹਾਂ। | Maiṁ isa du’ārā tuhāḍē pratī āpaṇē pi’āra atē sanēha dā ailāna karadā hāṁ. |
| We make a good team. | ਅਸੀਂ ਇੱਕ ਚੰਗੀ ਟੀਮ ਬਣਾਉਂਦੇ ਹਾਂ। | Asīṁ ika cagī ṭīma baṇā’undē hāṁ. |
| We’re meant for each other. | ਅਸੀਂ ਇੱਕ ਦੂਜੇ ਲਈ ਹਾਂ। | Asīṁ ika dūjē la’ī hāṁ. |
| We’re soul mates. | ਅਸੀਂ ਰੂਹ ਦੇ ਸਾਥੀ ਹਾਂ। | Asīṁ rūha dē sāthī hāṁ. |
| You are the object of my affection. | ਤੂੰ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਿਆਰ ਦਾ ਵਸਤੂ ਹੈਂ। | Tū mērē pi’āra dā vasatū haiṁ. |
| You can’t deny what’s between us. | ਤੁਸੀਂ ਸਾਡੇ ਵਿਚਕਾਰ ਜੋ ਕੁਝ ਹੈ ਉਸ ਤੋਂ ਇਨਕਾਰ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਰ ਸਕਦੇ। | Tusīṁ sāḍē vicakāra jō kujha hai usa tōṁ inakāra nahīṁ kara sakadē. |
| You’re incredible. | ਤੁਸੀਂ ਸ਼ਾਨਦਾਰ ਹੋ। | Tusīṁ śānadāra hō. |
| You’re my man. | ਤੁਸੀਂ ਮੇਰੇ ਆਦਮੀ ਹੋ। | Tusīṁ mērē ādamī hō. |
| You’re my other half. | ਤੁਸੀਂ ਮੇਰਾ ਅੱਧਾ ਹਿੱਸਾ ਹੋ। | Tusīṁ mērā adhā hisā hō. |
Wrapping Up
That’s it for this blog post. You surely had a lot to learn. We also have several youtube videos for you which will help you learn the Punjabi language even better. If you want to learn more languages even the Ling App is a spectacular option since we provide lessons in almost all the languages which will help you in speaking and improving your pronunciation. We also have other blogposts like Punjabi Emergency Phrases and Eid Wishes In Punjabi.
Happy Learning!
