50+ Basic Punjabi Words And Phrases: A Useful Guide

Punjabi words and phrases

A famous saying is that you can find two rich things anywhere in Pakistan or India: potatoes and Punjabi! Well, I don’t know about potatoes, but if it’s Punjabi, I must agree! Whether east, west, north, or south, you can meet a very warm and kind Punjabi person anywhere in these countries.

What kind of basic words should you know? Should you start with, What is your name in Punjabi? There are tons of vocabulary that you can memorize. If you’re ready to learn Punjabi, let’s get started!

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 grammar has rules for Punjabi pronouns. Check out basic Punjabi words for pronouns in this list:

EnglishPunjabiPronunciation
IਆਈMain
HeਉਹOh
SheਉਹOh
ItਇਹEh
YouਤੁਸੀਂTu, Tusi
ThisਇਹEh
ThatਕਿOh

Basic Punjabi Words And Phrases Used In Daily Conversation

Meeting Punjabis is already an amazing experience in itself. But, you can’t survive talking to local Punjabis 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 who speaks Punjabi, it’s best to create mock scenarios with real conversations for you to memorize Punjabi fast.

EnglishPunjabiPronunciation
Helloਸਤ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲSat sri akaal
How are you?ਤੁਸੀ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਹੋ?Tusi kiven ho?
I am fineਮੈਂ ਠੀਕ ਹਾਂMain theek haan
Pleased to meet youਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਮਿਲ ਕੇ ਖੁਸ਼ੀ ਹੋਈTuhaanu mil ke khushi hoi
Thank Youਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਧੰਨਵਾਦTuhaada dhanvaad
What is your name?ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਨਾਮ ਕੀ ਹੈ?Tuhaada naam ki hai?
My name is ਮੇਰਾ ਨਾਮ ਹੈ…Mera naam hai…
Where are you from?ਤੁਸੀ ਕਿੱਥੋ ਹੋ?Tusi kitho ho?
What Happenedਕੀ ਹੋਇਆKi hoya?
Good morningਸ਼ੁਭ ਸਵੇਰ/ ਸਤ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲShubh savera/ Sat sri akaal
Good eveningਸਤ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲSat sri akaal
Good nightਸ਼ੁਭ ਰਾਤShubh raat

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 the grammatical concept for each Punjabi conversation.

Punjabi General Words

EnglishPunjabiPronunciation
HomeਘਰGhar
Come hereਐਥੇ ਆਓEthey aao
Go thereਉੱਥੇ ਜਾਓUthey jao
SitਬੈਠੋBaitho
LaughterਹਾਸਾHaasaa
Happyਖੁਸ਼Khush
InsideਅੰਦਰAndar
FarਦੂਰDoor
NearਨੇੜੇNere
WaterਪਾਣੀPaani
SleepਨੀਂਦNeend
EatਖਾਉKhaao
DrinkਪੀPi
Sorryਮੁਆਫ ਕਰਨਾMauf karanaa
Welcomeਸਵਾਗਤ ਹੈSwaagat hai
YesਹਾਂHaan
NoਨਹੀਂNahi
RightਸੱਜੇSajje
Left ਖੱਬੇKhabbey
ShoppingਖਰੀਦਦਾਰੀKhareedaari
Thank youਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਧੰਨਵਾਦTuhaada dhanvaad
UnderstandਸਮਝੋSamajho
punjab girl words and phrases in punjab basic words and phrases punjabi

Numbers To Learn In Punjabi

EnglishPunjabiPronunciation
ZeroਸਿਫਰSiphar
OneਇੱਕIka
TwoਦੋDo
ThreeਤਿੰਨTin
FourਚਾਰChaar
FiveਪੰਜPanj
SixਛੇChey
SevenਸੱਤSatt
EightਅੱਠAtth
NineਨੌNau
TenਦਸDas

Punjabi Words And Phrases When Shopping

EnglishPunjabiPronunciation
How much is this for?ਇਹ ਕਿੰਨੇ ਲਈ ਹੈ?Iha kine lai hai
I can’t buy itਮੈਂ ਇਸਨੂੰ ਨਹੀਂ ਖਰੀਦ ਸਕਦਾMain isanu khareed nahi sakdaa
What items do you have?ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਕੋਲ ਕਿਹੜੀਆਂ ਚੀਜ਼ਾਂ ਹਨ?Tuhaade kol kehariyaan cheezaan hain?
How does it work?ਇਹ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਚਲਦਾ ਹੈ?Iha kivem chaladaa hai?
Can you give a discount?ਕੀ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਛੂਟ ਦੇ ਸਕਦੇ ਹੋKi tusi chhuta de sakade ho?
I will buy itਮੈਂ ਇਸਨੂੰ ਖਰੀਦ ਲਵਾਂਗਾMain isanu khareed lavangaa
I will pay in cashਮੈਂ ਨਕਦ ਭੁਗਤਾਨ ਕਰਾਂਗਾMain nakada bhugataana karaanga
I will pay by creditਮੈਂ ਕ੍ਰੈਡਿਟ ਕਾਰਡ ਦੁਆਰਾ ਭੁਗਤਾਨ ਕਰਾਂਗਾMain credit card dwara bhugataana karaanga
I will not buy itਮੈਂ ਇਸਨੂੰ ਨਹੀਂ ਖਰੀਦਾਂਗਾMain isanu nahi khareedaangaa

Restaurant Words And Phrases In Punjabi

EnglishPunjabiPronunciation
What is on the menu?ਮੀਨੂ ‘ਤੇ ਕੀ ਹੈ?Menu te ki hai?
I am vegetarianਮੈਂ ਸ਼ਾਕਾਹਾਰੀ ਹਾਂMain shaakaahaari haan
I am hungryਮੈਨੂੰ ਭੁੱਖ ਲੱਗ ਰਹੀ ਹੈMainu bhukh lag rahi hai
I want to drinkਮੈਂ ਪੀਣਾ ਚਾਹੁੰਦਾ ਹਾਂMain peena chaundaa haan
The food was amazingਭੋਜਨ ਸ਼ਾਨਦਾਰ ਸੀBhojan shaandaar see
I don’t like spicy foodਮੈਨੂੰ ਮਸਾਲੇਦਾਰ ਭੋਜਨ ਪਸੰਦ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈMainu masaaledaar bhojana pasand nahi hai
I want to order another foodਮੈਂ ਇੱਕ ਹੋਰ ਭੋਜਨ ਆਰਡਰ ਕਰਨਾ ਚਾਹੁੰਦਾ ਹਾਂMain ik hor bhojan aaradar karanaa chaundaa haan
I don’t like the foodਮੈਨੂੰ ਖਾਣਾ ਪਸੰਦ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈMainu iha khaanaa pasand nahi hai
I will pay the billਮੈਂ ਬਿਲ ਪੇ ਕਰਾਂਗਾMain bil pay karaangaa

General Words For Family Members, Friends, And Work

EnglishPunjabiPronunciation
BoyਮੁੰਡਾMunda
GirlਕੁੜੀKuri
MotherਮਾਨMaa
FatherਪਿਓPyo
SonਪੁਤਰPutar
DaughterਧੀDhee
Relativeਰਿਸ਼ਤੇਦਾਰRishtedaar
BossਬੌਸBoss
EmployeeਕਰਮਚਾਰੀKaramchaari
CoworkerਸਹਿਕਰਮੀSahikarami
StaffਸਟਾਫStaff

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!

Punjabi Words And Phrases To Improve Your Vocabulary

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

Where Did The Punjabi Language Come From?

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.”

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 Lahnda, and sometimes different languages are considered, but they are all named after Lahnda (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 Pakistan Punjab, 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.

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 the Ling app, Simya Solution’s 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 to learn complete with lessons about reading, writing, listening, and speaking
  • 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! 

Download the Ling app from the App Store or Play Store today!

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