If you have Punjabi friends or are going to a party with a Punjabi person, you’ll want to speak in a friendly and colloquial manner. Using Punjabi slang words and phrases in such situations is a given!
Today, you’ll learn the Punjabi slang used in conversations, plus other handy phrases such as ‘What’s going on?’ Hor ki chalada? (ਹੋਰ ਕੀ ਚਲਦਾ?). But first, want to see how much you already know? Take our short quiz!
Test Your Knowledge First: Punjabi Slang Words Quiz
Punjabi Slang Words Used In Punjabi Conversation
It is a well-known reality that you can find two things in plenty in any corner of the Indian subcontinent: potatoes and Punjabis! These exceptionally warm and good-natured people may be found anywhere in the region, from north to south and west to east, and if you happen to meet them, expect a lot of Punjabi coming your way.
I want to learn even more languages with Ling!
Download now!
So here’s your lesson on Punjabi slang words and phrases. This is what you should have on the tip of your tongue unless you want to get bowled over by its quirks!
| English | Punjabi | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurry | ਛੇੱਤੀ | Chhetti | This expression means to do something immediately or swiftly |
| Girl | ਪਟੋਲਾ | Patola | It stands for “a hot and fancy Punjabi girl.” |
| Boy | ਗਬਰੂ | Gabaroo | It means “a young, well-built Punjabi boy.” |
| Problem/ Noise | ਰੌਲਾ | Raulaa | It is perhaps the most indispensable term for every Punjabi, denoting “a really messed-up situation.” |
| Problem | ਸਿਆਪਾ | Siaapa | This word also means a messed-up situation. The literal meaning of this word is “trouble.” |
| Hug | ਝੱਪੀ | Jhappi | It means “to hug,” so if you want to hug someone, you can say “jhappi pao.” |
What Other Punjabi Slang Words And Phrases Should You Know?
Punjabis have long been recognized for living life to the fullest and for their sense of humor, and the Punjabi language reflects this attitude. Punjabi comedy movies are well-known not just in India and Pakistan but also in many other nations. And several amusing Punjabi words in them can make you laugh out loud!
Many prominent Punjabi expressions have made their way into other cultures as well. Some of them represent Punjabi heritage and culture, but most of them are amusing, which is why they have become so common. Check out this list and see how many you use or have come across!
| English | Punjabi | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| What’s going on? | ਹੋਰ ਕੀ ਚਲਦਾ? | Hor ki chalada? | It is a Punjabi version of “What’s happening” or “What’s up?” |
| I want to kill you | ਮੈਂ ਤੇਰੇ ਛਿੱਤਰ ਮਾਰਨੇ ਹੈਂ | Main tere chhitara maarane hain | It is one of the famous Punjabi slang words that comes to the mouth of Punjabis (especially Punjabi moms) when someone behaves messily. |
| Hey, how are you? | ਹਾਨ ਵੀ! ਕਿੱਦਾਂ? | Haan vi! Kiddaan? | It is the general way of asking and greeting our companions. It means, “how have you been so far?” |
| Leave it, let it be | ਖ਼ੈਰ ਛੱਡੋ ਤੇ ਮਿੱਟੀ ਪਾਓ | Khair chhaddo te mitti paao | This famous slang means “just leave it, bury it.” |
| What do you think of yourself! | ਵਡਾ ਆਯਾ | Vadda aayaa | This renowned slang can be used in any condition by prefacing whatever the situation’s demand comes up. |
| Get lost! | ਦੂਰ ਫਿੱਟੇ ਮੂੰਹ | Durr phiṭtey muh | These Punjabi slang words translate as a curse, which means “may your face burn in a hell.” Remember, it is mainly used in a humorous way. |
| Son of a liar | ਖੋਟੇ ਦਾ ਪੁਤਰ | Khottey de puttar | It is a loving way to express that someone is the son of a donkey (an idiot). |
| Hurray! | ਬਲੇ ਬਲੇ/ਸ਼ਾਵਾ ਸ਼ਾਵਾ | Balle balle/ Shaavaa shaavaa | Usually, it is an expression of enjoyment. |
| Go for it | ਚੱਕ ਦੇ ਫੱਟੇ | Chak de phattey | It means, “Come on, and keep it up!” |
| Oh, God | ਹਾਯੋ ਰੱਬਾ | Haayo rabba | It expresses the dramatic Punjabi Mommy Moments |
| God’s grace | ਰਬ ਰਾਖਾਂ | Rab raakhaa | It literally means, “may God be with you.” |
| What is it to us? | ਸਾਨੁ ਕੀ | Saanu ki | An ultimate expression after many gossips |
| Get lost | ਫਿੱਟੇ ਮੁੰਹ ਤੇਰੇ | Phittey muh tere | One of the popular Punjabi slang words or phrases used to express frustration or annoyance. |
| Let it be, boy | ਤੂ ਰਹਿਣ ਦੇ ਕਾਕਾ | Tu rahin de kaka | Commonly used by the elders when they see the younger ones not able to complete a task to their expectations. |
| Get out of here | ਡੱਫਾ ਹੋ ਇਥੋਂ | Dafaa ho ithon | There are variants like Duffa Ho Foran, which means “Get lost immediately,” or Duffa Ho Aethon, meaning “Get lost from here.” |
| Grow up, dude! | ਬੰਦਾ ਵਣ ਜਾ | Banda ban ja | One of the few polite Punjabi slang words to tell someone to stay within limits or behave. |
| Take a chill pill | ਠੰਡ ਰੱਖ ਯਾਰ | Thand rakh yaar | A simple phrase, mostly used to tell the person to “keep calm” or “don’t worry.” |
How Do You Say “Slang” In Punjabi?
There is no Punjabi equivalent to the English word “slang”. However, in Punjabi culture, slang generally means “loose language” and can be known as apshabad, which generally means bad words, swear words, or cuss words.
What Are Some Bad Words In Punjabi?
Punjabi swear words are called gaali, and the strong ones are best left alone. The insults in this post, such as phittey muh tere (get lost), khottey de puttar (an idiot) and fudu (a fool), are about as far as friendly banter goes, and even these are only for close friends who know you are joking.
Tips For Remembering Punjabi Slang Words
- Immerse yourself in spoken Punjabi by talking to family members, watching Punjabi movies on Netflix, and listening to Punjabi podcasts or YouTube videos.
- Practice using slang in conversations by picking a few words from this blog post and trying them out naturally.
- Listen to Punjabi music and pay attention to the lyrics to improve your pronunciation and understanding.
- Join Punjabi language groups or classes at local community centers, gurdwaras, or online platforms.
- Speak, even if you make mistakes, and try responding in Punjabi during daily interactions.
- Use language apps and online resources like Ling or flashcards to reinforce vocabulary.
- Think in Punjabi by mentally narrating daily tasks in the language to build fluency. For instance, instead of saying, “I am eating,” think in your head, main khana kha riha/rahi haan (ਮੈਂ ਖਾਣ ਜਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹਾਂ / ਮੈਂ ਖਾਣ ਜਾ ਰਹੀ ਹਾਂ).
FAQs About Punjabi Slang Words
What Does “Mitti Paa” Mean?
Mitti paa (ਮਿੱਟੀ ਪਾ) is a Punjabi phrase meaning “forget about it” or “let it go.” It literally translates to “put soil on it,” implying that something is not worth worrying about. It’s used to advise someone to move on from a trivial matter.
What Is “Tota” In Punjabi Slang?
In Punjabi slang, Tota (ਟੋਟਾ) refers to a beautiful girl or an attractive woman. It’s often used informally among friends to compliment someone’s appearance, similar to saying “hottie” in English. However, its usage can be seen as objectifying, so it’s important to use it considerately.
What Does “Fudu” Mean In Punjabi Slang?
Fudu (ਫੁਦੂ) is a derogatory term in Punjabi slang used to insult someone, implying they are foolish, naive, or an idiot. It carries a strong negative connotation and is considered offensive. It’s best to avoid using this term in any polite or respectful conversation.
Punjabi Slang Words Recap: What To Remember
So, in this blog post, we learned some of the most popular and common Punjabi slang words like patola (bombshell/ hot chick), gabroo (a hot guy/ rough and tough guy), raula (a mess/ messy situation), siaapa (trouble), and so on.
We also learned some Punjabi slang phrases like hor ki chalada for “what’s up” and thand rakh yaar (take a chill pill). These are Punjabi words and phrases that are used in colloquial Punjabi or spoken Punjabi, in everyday situations.
And we also had a short quiz at the beginning, which you can take again if you want to see how much you’ve improved after reading this post!
Learn To Speak Punjabi With Ling
Great job getting through these Punjabi slang words! If you’d like to go beyond slang and chat with your friends in everyday Punjabi, Ling’s flashcards with native speaker audio, fun mini-games and Dialog for real conversation practice make it easy to learn a little every day.
Start learning Punjabi with Ling today, and next time someone asks hor ki chalada?, you’ll have the perfect answer!
