50+ Basic Punjabi Words And Phrases: Useful Guide

Besides India and Pakistan, Punjabi is spoken among a vital overseas diaspora, particularly in the United Kingdom, the U.S.A, and Canada. Learn the necessary and basic Punjabi words and phrases with their meaning in English and pronunciation.

A famous saying is that you can find two rich things anywhere in Pakistan or India: potatoes and Punjabi! Well, I don’t know what potatoes are, but if it’s Punjabi, I must agree! So from east, west, and north to south, you can meet this very warm and kind person anywhere in this country.

The Punjabi language is classified as one of the members of the Indo-Aryan subgroup of the Indo-European language family. The word Punjabi is derived from Panj-āb, which means “Five Rivers” in Persian and refers to the five main tributaries of the eastern Indus River. Furthermore, the name of the region was presented by the Turkish-Persian conquerors in South Asia. Therefore, it translates the Sanskrit name Panchanada in the area, which means “land of five rivers.”

Basic Punjabi Words And Phrases

What Are The Basic Punjabi Words And Phrases?

Basic Punjabi Words Every Learner Should Know

In a sentence, we always use pronouns to differentiate which speaker is the subject and who is the one talking. Just like English, Punjabi has grammar rules for their pronouns. Check out basic Punjabi words for pronouns in this list:

EnglishPronunciationPunjabi
IMainਆਈ
HeOhਉਹ
SheOhਉਹ
ItEhਇਹ
YouTu, Tuiਤੁਸੀਂ
ThisAhਇਹ
ThatOhਕਿ

Basic Punjabi Words And Phrases Used In Daily Conversation

Meeting Punjabis themselves are already an amazing experience. But, you can’t survive talking to Punjab locals without knowing basic Punjabi words and phrases. Especially, if you are visiting Pakistan or India anytime soon. Why not memorize some of these words we’ve listed below and start your language-learning journey today? If you already have a friend that speaks Punjabi, it’s best to create mock scenarios with real conversations for you to memorize Punjabi fast.

EnglishPronunciationPunjabi
HelloSata srī akālaਸਤ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ
How are you?Tussi kiwen ho? / ki gal hai?ਤੁਸੀ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਹੋ?
I am fineMain theek haanਮੈਂ ਠੀਕ ਹਾਂ
Pleased to meet youTu-adey nal mil kar bahut khusi hoiਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਮਿਲ ਕੇ ਖੁਸ਼ੀ ਹੋਈ
Thank YouShukriāਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਧੰਨਵਾਦ
What is your name?Tuhada naan ki hai?ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਨਾਮ ਕੀ ਹੈ?
My name is Mera naan haga … ਮੇਰਾ ਨਾਮ ਹੈ
Where are you from?Tusi kithe dey ho?ਤੁਸੀ ਕਿੱਥੋ ਹੋ?
What HappenedKi hoyaਕੀ ਹੋਇਆ
Good morningŚubha savēraਸ਼ੁਭ ਸਵੇਰ
Good eveningsata srī akālaਸਤ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ
Good nightśubha rātaਸ਼ੁਭ ਰਾਤ

How do you use these words in a sentence? We’ve come up with the best guide for basic Punjabi sentence structure so you’ll know how to use tenses and know the grammatical concept for each Punjabi conversation.

Punjabi General Words

EnglishPronunciationPunjabi
HomeKarਘਰ
ComeIthy ahਆਉਣਾ
GoJaaਜਾਣਾ
SitBahਬੈਠੋ
LaughHusਹਾਸਾ
HappyKhushਖੁਸ਼
InsideAndarਅੰਦਰ
FarDoorਦੂਰ
NearPaasਨੇੜੇ
WaterPanniਪਾਣੀ
SleepSutteਸੌਣਾ
EatKhanaਖਾਉ
DrinkPinnaਪੀ
SorryMauf karnaਮੁਆਫ ਕਰਨਾ
WelcomeSavāgata haiਸਵਾਗਤ ਹੈ
YesAahoਹਾਂ
NoNahiਨਹੀਂ
RightSajjeyਸਹੀ
Left Khabbeyਖੱਬੇ
ShoppingKhareednaਖਰੀਦਦਾਰੀ
Thank youShukriya ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਧੰਨਵਾਦ
UnderstandSamajhōਸਮਝੋ

Numbers To Learn In Punjabi

EnglishPronunciationPunjabi
ZeroSifarਜ਼ੀਰੋ
OneIk ਇੱਕ
TwoDo ਦੋ
ThreeTin ਤਿੰਨ
FourChaarਚਾਰ
FivePanj ਪੰਜ
SixCheyਛੇ
SevenSat ਸੱਤ
EightAathਅੱਠ
Nineknowਨੌ
TenDasਦਸ

Punjabi Words And Phrases When Shopping

EnglishPronunciationPunjabi
How much is this?Iha kinā hai?ਇਹ ਕਿੰਨਾ ਹੈ?
I can’t buy itMaiṁ isanū nahīṁ kharīda sakadā ਮੈਂ ਇਸਨੂੰ ਨਹੀਂ ਖਰੀਦ ਸਕਦਾ
What items do you have?Tuhāḍē kōla kihaṛī’āṁ cīzāṁ hana?ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਕੋਲ ਕਿਹੜੀਆਂ ਚੀਜ਼ਾਂ ਹਨ?
How does it work?Iha kivēṁ caladā hai?ਇਹ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਚਲਦਾ ਹੈ?
Can you give a discount?Kī tusīṁ kō’ī chōṭa dē sakadē hō?ਕੀ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਕੋਈ ਛੋਟ ਦੇ ਸਕਦੇ ਹੋ?
I will buy itMaiṁ isanū kharīda lavāṅgāਮੈਂ ਇਸਨੂੰ ਖਰੀਦ ਲਵਾਂਗਾ
I will pay in cashMaiṁ nakada bhugatāna karāṅgāਮੈਂ ਨਕਦ ਭੁਗਤਾਨ ਕਰਾਂਗਾ
I will pay by creditMaiṁ kraiḍiṭa kāraḍa du’ārā bhugatāna karāṅgāਮੈਂ ਕ੍ਰੈਡਿਟ ਕਾਰਡ ਦੁਆਰਾ ਭੁਗਤਾਨ ਕਰਾਂਗਾ
I will not buy itMaiṁ isanū nahīṁ kharīdāṅgāਮੈਂ ਇਸਨੂੰ ਨਹੀਂ ਖਰੀਦਾਂਗਾ

Restaurant Words And Phrases In Punjabi

EnglishPronunciationPunjabi
What is on the menu?Mīnū’tē kī hai?ਮੀਨੂ ‘ਤੇ ਕੀ ਹੈ?
I am vegetarianMaiṁ śākāhārī hāṁਮੈਂ ਸ਼ਾਕਾਹਾਰੀ ਹਾਂ
I am hungryMaiṁ bhukhā hāṁਮੈਂ ਭੁੱਖਾ ਹਾਂ
I want to drinkMaiṁ pīṇā cāhudā hāṁਮੈਂ ਪੀਣਾ ਚਾਹੁੰਦਾ ਹਾਂ
The food was amazingBhōjana śānadāra sīਭੋਜਨ ਸ਼ਾਨਦਾਰ ਸੀ
I don’t like spicy foodMainū masālēdāra bhōjana pasada nahīṁ haiਮੈਨੂੰ ਮਸਾਲੇਦਾਰ ਭੋਜਨ ਪਸੰਦ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ
I want to order another foodMaiṁ ika hōra bhōjana āraḍara karanā cāhudā hāṁਮੈਂ ਇੱਕ ਹੋਰ ਭੋਜਨ ਆਰਡਰ ਕਰਨਾ ਚਾਹੁੰਦਾ ਹਾਂ
I don’t like the foodMainū khāṇā pasada nahīṁ haiਮੈਨੂੰ ਖਾਣਾ ਪਸੰਦ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ
I will pay the billMaiṁ bila pē karāṅgāਮੈਂ ਬਿਲ ਪੇ ਕਰਾਂਗਾ

General Words For Family Members, Friends, And Work

EnglishPronunciationPunjabi
BoyMudaਮੁੰਡਾ
GirlKuṛīਕੁੜੀ
MotherMaanਮਾਨ
FatherPi’ōਪਿਓ
SonPutarਪੁਤਰ
DaughterDheeਧੀ
RelativeRiśatēdāraਰਿਸ਼ਤੇਦਾਰ
BossBausaਬੌਸ
EmployeeKaramacārīਕਰਮਚਾਰੀ
CoworkerSahikaramīਸਹਿਕਰਮੀ
StaffSaṭāphaਸਟਾਫ

Getting to know a Punjab family? Why not use these words and phrases to have a deeper connection with them? Check out our blog to know the rest of the Punjabi words used for family and start practicing daily conversations with them now!

punjab girl words and phrases in punjab basic words and phrases punjabi

20 Punjabi Words And Phrases To Improve Your Vocabulary

  • Patola

Literal meaning: A hot or beautiful Punjabi girl

  • Khottey De Puttar

Literal meaning: Son of a donkey (idiot)

  • Geydi

Literal meaning: To wander aimlessly, mostly to check out people of the opposite sex.

  • Pind

Literal meaning: Hometown

  • Balle Balle/ Shaava Shaava

 Literal meaning: Expression of joy (but for a non-Punjabi, it is a racist way to greet any Punjabi).

  • Durr fitteh mun

Literal meaning: May your face burn in hell or keep your face away

  • Chak dey phattey

Literal meaning: C’mon or keep it up

  • Gabroo Jawaan

Literal meaning: A young and well-built Punjabi boy or man

  • Kidaan! (Nasal expression)

Literal meaning: Wassup

  • Raula

Literal meaning: It means a bad or messed up situation

  • Boothi

Literal meaning: Face (mostly this word is used in a sarcastic way)

  • Mukk

Literal meaning: Over/finish (means something is finished or come to an end)

  • Praah!

Literal meaning: It means brother

  • Ghaint

Literal meaning: Awesome, super, or cool

  • Rab raakhaan

Literal meaning: God be with you (it’s a Punjabi variant of Khuda Hafiz, which means goodbye)

  • Saanu Ki

Literal meaning: An Ultimate Answer After Hours Of Gossip

  • Siyapa

Literal meaning: Problem

  • Changa

Literal meaning: Good or Ok

  • Jhappi!

Literal meaning: A Hug

  • Haey O Rabba!

Literal meaning: Dramatic way to call or remember God

What Are The Two Common Types Of Punjabi? 

Punjab, Pakistan

Punjabi (all dialects) is the first language of 70% of Pakistan’s population. Pakistani Punjabi is also called Lahnda/Western Punjabi. There are many types of Punjabi languages in Randa, and sometimes different languages are considered, but they are all named after Randa (Western Punjabi). Punjabi is spoken in every province of Pakistan. In Pakistan’s Punjabi, 97% of people speak Punjabi. There are more than 20 Punjabi dialects in Punjab, Pakistan, and throughout Pakistan. Majhi dialect is the most uncomplicated dialect in Punjabi.

Punjab, India

2.4% of the Indian population speak Punjabi as their first language. Thus, 87% of Punjabi Indians speak Punjabi as their first language. Indian Punjabi is almost the same as Indian Punjabi, and it is easier to compare with Pakistani Punjabi.

Learn Punjabi With Ling

Speak Like A Native – Learn The Punjabi Language With Ling

Learning a second language such as Punjabi by Ling is like playing a game, as it is simple and effective. With support for language research, Ling can help you achieve flow in record time. The benefits of using Simya Solution’s Ling App, Write Me, or Simply Learn for learning Punjabi or any other language are:

  • Master the language with lots of instructions and a grammar guide.
  • Fun mini-games and interesting quizzes can help you quickly master a new language (Ling offers 60+ languages).
  • Practice hundreds of conversations anytime, anywhere. Discuss daily topics with our chatbots.

The goal of these language learning apps is to make language learning as simple, entertaining, and easy to understand as possible. If you would love to learn more, please visit the FAQ page. We promise you that this learning experience will be special and useful to you! 

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