Punjabi phrasebook

Punjabi (Pakistan: پنجابی; India: ਪੰਜਾਬੀ) is the language of the Punjab regions of Pakistan and India. In India, it is written predominantly in the native Gurmukhi alphabet. In Pakistan, it is written in a slightly modified version of the Urdu alphabet called Shahmukhi.

Where Punjabi is primarily spoken

Alphabet

Gurmukhi

Gurmukhi is an alphabet similar to Devanagari. It is used to write Punjabi in India.

Name		Pron.	Name		Pron.	Name		Pron.	Name		Pron.	Name		Pron.
ੳ	uṛa	-	ਅ	æṛa	ə by itself	ੲ	iṛi	-	ਸ	səsa	sa	ਹ	haha	ha
ਕ	kəka	ka	ਖ	k^hək^ha	kha	ਗ	gəga	ga	ਘ	kəga	ká	ਙ	ngənga	nga^*
ਚ	chəcha	cha	ਛ	shəsha	sha	ਜ	jəja	ja	ਝ	chəja	chá	ਞ	neiia	ña^#^*
ਟ	ṭenka	ṭa	ਠ	ṭ^həṭ^ha	ṭ^ha	ਡ	ḍəḍa	ḍa	ਢ	ṭəḍa	ṭá	ਣ	ṇaṇa	ṇa
ਤ	təta	ta	ਥ	t^hət^ha	t^ha	ਦ	dəda	da	ਧ	təda	tá	ਨ	nəna	na
ਪ	pəpa	pa	ਫ	p^həp^ha	pha	ਬ	bəba	ba	ਭ	pəba	pá	ਮ	məma	ma
ਯ	yaiya	ya	ਰ	rara	ra	ਲ	ləla	la	ਵ	vava	va	ੜ	ṛaṛa	ṛa

Name		Pron.
ਸ਼	Sussa pair bindi	Sha
ਖ਼	Khukha pair bindi	Khha
ਗ਼	Gugga pair bindi	Ghha
ਜ਼	Jujja pair bindi	Za
ਫ਼	Phupha pair bindi	Fa
ਲ਼	Lalla pair bindi	Lla

Vowel			Name		IPA
Ind.	Dep.	with /k/	Letter	Unicode
ਅ	(none)	ਕ	Mukta	A	(IPA: [ə])
ਆ	ਾ	ਕਾ	Kanna	AA	(IPA: [ɑ])
ਇ	ਿ	ਕਿ	Sihari	I	(IPA: [ɪ])
ਈ	ੀ	ਕੀ	Bihari	II	(IPA: [i])
ਉ	ੁ	ਕੁ	Onkar	U	(IPA: [ʊ])
ਊ	ੂ	ਕੂ	Dulankar	UU	(IPA: [u])
ਏ	ੇ	ਕੇ	Lavan	EE	(IPA: [e])
ਐ	ੈ	ਕੈ	Dulavan	AI	(IPA: [æ])
ਓ	ੋ	ਕੋ	Hora	OO	(IPA: [o])
ਔ	ੌ	ਕੌ	Kanora	AU	(IPA: [ɔ])

Shahmukhi

Western Punjabi is based on the Shahmukhi script. Shahmukhi uses the alphabets of the Perso-Arabic Urdu script with some extra characters added. Here are the 36 letters of Shahmukhi. Each has a name that is given below the alphabet with the equivalent English sound of the alphabet in (parenthesis).

For pronunciation and use of an individual alphabet, click on the specific alphabet in the table below. Remember that Punjabi in Pakistan is a right-to-left language so you have to start reading from right, right!

Table 1: Shahmukhi alphabets with their name below and English equivalent in (parenthesis).
آ ا	ب	پ	ت	ٹ	ث	ج	چ	ح
Alif (a)	Bay (b)	Pay (p)	tey (t)	Tey (T)	sey (s)	Jiim (j)	chey (ch)	Hey (H)
خ	د	ڈ	ذ	ر	ڑ	ز	ژ	س
Khey (Kh)	daal (d)	Daal (D)	zaal (z)	rey (r)	Rey (R)	zey (z)	zhey (zh)	siin (s)
ش	ص	ض	ط	ظ	ع	غ	ف	ق
shiin (sh)	Suad (S)	Zuad (Z)	toy (t)	zoy (z)	ain (a)	Ghain (Gh)	fey (f)	qaaf (q)
ک	گ	ل	م	ن	و	ہ	ی	ے
kaaf (k)	gaaf (g)	laam (l)	miim (m)	noon (n)	wao (w,v)	hey (h)	yei (y)	Yei (Y)

Numerals

Latin script	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Gurmukhi (Indian) Punjabi script	੦	੧	੨	੩	੪	੫	੬	੭	੮	੯
Shahmukhi script	۰	۱	۲	۳	۴	۵	۶	۷	۸	۹

Pronunciation guide

Vowels

Consonants

Common diphthongs

Phrase list

• There are many dialects of Punjabi throughout India and Pakistan, and these phrases may differ from area to area, but here are the phrases in standard Punjabi:

Common signs OPEN  (ਖੁੱਲ੍ਹਾ khulha) CLOSED  (ਬੰਦ band) ENTRANCE  (ਦਾਖਲਾ daakhla) EXIT  (ਬਾਹਰ bahar) PUSH  (ਧੱਕੋ dhakko) PULL  (ਖਿੱਚੋ khicho) BATHROOM  (ਗੁਸਲਖਾਨਾ gusalkhana) MEN  (ਮੁਰਸ਼ਾਂ pursh) WOMEN  (ਮਹਿਲਾ mahilaa) FORBIDDEN  (ਵਰਜਤ/ਮਨ੍ਹਾਂ varjat/manhan)

Basics

Note: Typically, religious salutations are used as there are no specific greetings that are shared among Muslim, Hindu and Sikh Punjabi-speakers

Hello. 

Hindu: (Namaskaar), Muslim: (Asalamwalaykum), Sikh: (Sat Sri Akaal)

Hello. (informal) 

Hello (ਹੈਲੋ)

How are you? 

Kidah (informal) (ki hal hai?)

Fine, thank you. 

Theek (changa haan)

What is your name? 

"Tera naam ki?" or (Thouda naam ki hai-ga?)

My name is ______ . 

______ . (merra nam _____ hai.)

Nice to meet you. 

. (tua-day naal mil ke khushi hoi hai.)

Please. 

. (kirpa karke)

Thank you. 

. (Dhannwaad)

You're welcome. 

. (tuhada swagat)

Doesn't matter/No Matter/(No worries)

. (koi gal nahi.)

Yes. 

. (han-jee.)

No. 

. (nahee-jee)

Excuse me. (getting attention) 

. (gaal saun)

Excuse me. (begging pardon) 

. (paase ho ja)

I'm sorry. 

. (maaf karna)

Goodbye 

(Alvida)

Goodbye (informal) bye

I can't speak name of language [well]. 

[ ]. (mennu eeni [changi] _____ nai bolni aandi.)

Do you speak English? 

? (thonu angrayzi bolni aandi hai ?)

Is there someone here who speaks English? 

? ( ethay koi hegahe jeenu angrejee bolni aandi hai?)

Help! 

! (meri madat karo !)

Look ahead! 

! (ugay vaykho !)

Good morning. 

Shubh Saver

Good evening. 

Shubh Sandhiaa

Good night. 

Shubh Raat

I don't understand. 

. (mennu samaj nahi aandai payee.)

Where is the toilet? 

? ( bathroom/toilet kithay way?)

What is the problem?

(Kee gal hai?)

Numbers ਅੰਕ

0 ੦ 

Sifar ਸਿਫਰ

1 ੧ 

Ikk ਇੱਕ

2 ੨ 

Do ਦੋ

3 ੩ 

Tinn ਤਿੰਨ

4 ੪ 

Chaar ਚਾਰ

5 ੫ 

Panj ਪੰਜ

6 ੬ 

Chhe ਛੇ

7 ੭ 

Satt ਸੱਤ

8 ੮ 

Atth ਅੱਠ

9 ੯ 

Naun ਨੌਂ

10 ੧੦ 

Dus ਦਸ

Time

ਸਮਾਂ (sama) or same (ਸਮੇਂ)

Clock time

What time is it? 

(ki sama hoya?)

one o'clock (when AM/PM is obvious) 

( ik vaje)

two o'clock (when AM/PM is obvious) 

( do waje)

one o'clock AM 

(saver de ik vje han)

two o'clock AM 

(saver de do vje han...)

noon 

(dopehar)

one o'clock PM 

(sham de ik vje han ...)

two o'clock PM 

(sham de do vje han ...)

midnight 

(adhi-raat)

Duration

_____ minute(s) 

(minute...)

_____ hour(s) 

(ghunta...)

_____ day(s) 

(din ...)

_____ week(s) 

(hafta...)

_____ month(s) 

(maheena...)

_____ year(s) 

(.saal..)

Days ਦਿਨ

These phrases are mutually understandable between Punjabi people in India and Pakistan.

Monday ਸੋਮਵਾਰ 

(somwar)

Tuesday ਮੰਗਲਵਾਰ 

(mangalwar)

Wednesday ਬੁੱਧਵਾਰ 

(budhwar)

Thursday ਵੀਰਵਾਰ 

(veerwar)

Friday ਸ਼ੁੱਕਰਵਾਰ 

(shukarwar)

Saturday ਸਨਿੱਚਰਵਾਰ 

(sanicherwar)

Sunday ਐਤਵਾਰ 

(aitwar)

Months

January ਜਨਵਰੀ 

Janvari

February ਫਰਵਰੀ 

Farvari

March ਮਾਰਚ 

March

April ਅਪ੍ਰੈਲ

Aprail

May ਮਈ

Mai

June ਜੂਨ

June

July ਜੁਲਾਈ

Julaaee

August ਅਗਸਤ

Agast

September ਸਤੰਬਰ

Satembar

October ਅਕਤੂਬਰ

Actoobar

November ਨਵੰਬਰ 

Navamber

December ਦਿਸੰਬਰ 

December

Writing time and date

Day 

(..din .)

Week 

(hafta...)

Month 

(maheena...)

Year 

(.saal..)

Century 

(desh...)

Leap year 

(...)

1:00 PM 

(...)

2:00 PM 

(...)

3:00 PM 

(...)

...

12:00 PM 

(...)

Colors

Red 

(laal)

Orange 

(sangtri)

Yellow 

(peela)

Green 

(hara)

Blue 

(neela)

Purple 

(jamni)

Brown 

(bhura)

Black 

(kala)

White 

(chitta)

Pink 

(gulabi)

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____? 

(_____ vaste ticket kinne dee hai?)

One ticket to _____, please. 

(_____ vaste ikk ticket de deo please)

Where does this train/bus go? 

(Eh bus/train kithe jandi hai?)

Where is the train/bus to _____? 

(_____ vaste train/bus kithe khardi hai?)

Does this train/bus stop in _____? 

(Kee eh train/bus_____ khardi hai?)

When does the train/bus for _____ leave? 

(_____ vaste train/bus kinne vaje nikaldi hai?)

When will this train/buss arrive in _____? 

(Eh train/bus_____kadon pohnche gee?)

Directions

How do I get to _____? 

(_____pohnchan da kee tareeka hai?)

...the train station? 

(...railway staition)

...the bus station? 

(...bus adde)

...the airport? 

(...airport)

...downtown? 

(...main shehr)

...the youth hostel? 

(...youth hostel)

...the _____ hotel? 

(_____hotel)

...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? 

(...amreeki/kanedian/aastrelian,aastreliayi/bartaanvi dootghar?)

Where are there a lot of... 

(dher saare...kithe ne?)

...hotels? 

(...hotel?)

...restaurants? 

(...restaurant?)

...bars? 

(...bar?)

...sites to see? 

(...selaaniyan laee vekhan valiyan thaanvaan?)

Can you show me on the map? 

(Tusi menoo nakshe te vikhaa deo)

street 

(gali..)

Turn left. 

(...khabbe jaao)

Turn right. 

(...sajje jaao)

left 

(...khabbe)

right 

(...sajje)

straight ahead 

(...sidha)

towards the _____ 

(_____waale paasse)

past the _____ 

(_____langh ke)

before the _____ 

(_____ton pehle)

Watch for the _____. 

(_____vaste dhiaan dena)

intersection 

(chaunk)

north 

(uttar vaale paasse)

south 

(dakhan vaale paasse)

east 

(poorab/charhde paasse)

west 

(pachham/lehnde paasse)

Go uphill. 

(utte jaao/charhayi charho)

Go downhill. 

(thalle jao/)

It is uphill. 

(oh utte vall noon hai)

It is downhill. 

(oh thalle vall noon hai)

Taxi

Taxi! 

(Taxi!)

Take me to _____, please. 

(menoo lai jaao)

How much does it cost to get to _____? 

(_____jaan de kinne paise laggan gay?)

Take me there, please. 

(menoo othe lai jaao)

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available? 

(Tuhaade kol koi kamra khaali hai?)

How much is a room for one person/two people? 

(ikk bande/do bandeyan de vaste kamre laee kinne paise laggan gay)

Does the room come with ... 

(Kee kamre vich...hai)

bed sheets? 

(bed diyaan chaadran?)

a bathroom? 

(gusal-khaana?)

a telephone? 

(telephone)

a TV? 

(TV)

May I see the room first? 

(Main pehle kamra vekhna chaunna (male speech)/chaunni (female speech) haan)

Do you have anything... 

(Kee tuhaade kol es ton...)

quieter? 

(ghatt shor vaala)

bigger? 

(vadda)

cleaner? 

(saaf)

cheaper? 

(sasta)

OK, I'll take it. 

(Theek hai main eh lai lainna (male speech)/lainni (female speech) haan

I will stay for _____ night(s). 

(Main_____raatan laee rahaan ga(male)/gee(female))

Can you suggest another hotel? 

(Tusi kise hor hotel baare dass sakde o?)

Do you have (a) ...? ; (Kee tuhaade kol...)

safe? 

(paise rakhan vaala dabba?)

lockers? 

(laaker)

Is breakfast/supper included? 

(Kee naashta/raat da khana ehde vich shaamal hai?)

Please clean my room. 

(Please mera kamra saaf kar deo)

Can you wake me at _____? 

(Tusi menoo_____vaje jaga dena)

I want to check out. 

(Main paise dena chaunna(male)/chaunni(female) haan)

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? 

(Kee tusi Amreekan/Australian/Canadain daaler lai lainde o?)

Do you accept British pounds? 

(Kee tusi bartaanvi pound lai lainde o?)

Do you accept credit cards? 

(Kee tusi credit card lai lainde o?)

Can you change money for me? 

(Tusi please mere paise badal deo)

Where can I get money changed? 

(Main kithon paise badalvaa sakda(male)/sakdi(female) haan?

Can you change a traveler's cheque for me? 

(Tusi mere vaaste traveler cheque badal deo)

Where can I a traveler's cheque changed? 

(Main traveler cheque kithon badalvaa sakda(male)/sakdi(female) haan?)

What is the exchange rate? 

(Currency rate kee hai?)

Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? 

(ATM kithe hai?)

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please. 

(1/2 bandeya vaaste ik table)

Can I look at the menu, please? 

(ki me menu vekh sakda haan? )

Can I look in the kitchen? 

(ki me rasoighar dekh skada haan?)

Is there a house specialty? 

( ethe da kuch khaas? )

Is there a local specialty? 

(...)

I'm a vegetarian. 

(mein shakahari ha)

I don't eat pork. 

(me suvar da meat ni khanda)

I only eat kosher food. 

(...)

Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard) 

(tel ghatt payo)

fixed-price meal 

(rate fix ha)

à la carte 

(...)

breakfast 

(naashtaa)

lunch 

(...)

tea (meal) 

(...)

supper 

(...)

I want _____. 

(maiN... chahundaa/chahundee haaN)

I want a dish containing _____. 

(...)

chicken 

(murgee)

beef 

(...)

fish 

(machhee)

ham 

(...)

sausage 

(...)

cheese 

(...)

eggs 

(anDe)

salad 

(salaad)

(fresh) vegetables 

(taaziaaN) sabziaaN

(fresh) fruit 

(taaze) phal

bread 

(...)

toast 

(...)

noodles 

(noodlaaN)

rice 

(chaul)

beans 

(...)

May I have a glass of _____? 

(...)

coffee 

(kafee)

tea (drink) 

(chaah)

juice 

(...)

(bubbly) water 

(...)

water 

(paanee)

beer 

(...)

red/white wine 

(...)

May I have some _____? 

(ki mainooN... mil sakdaa hai?)

salt 

(namak)

black pepper 

(kaaLee mirch)

butter 

(makhaN)

Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server) 

(...)

I'm finished. 

(...)

It was delicious. 

(...)

Please clear the plates. 

(...)

The check, please. 

(...)

Bars

Do you serve alcohol? 

(thusee sharab dindeh hor)

Is there table service? 

(...)

A beer/two beers, please. 

(...)

A glass of red/white wine, please. 

(...)

A pint, please. 

(...)

A bottle, please. 

(...)

_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please. 

(...)

whiskey 

(...)

vodka 

(...)

rum 

(...)

water 

(panni)

club soda 

(...)

tonic water 

(...)

orange juice 

(...)

Coke (soda) 

(...)

Do you have any bar snacks? 

(...)

One more, please. 

(...)

Another round, please. 

(...)

When is closing time? 

(...)

Shopping

Do you have this in my size? 

(...)

How much is this? 

ਇਹ ਕਿੱਨੇ ਦਾ/ਦੀ ਹੈ? (ih kinnē dā he?)

That's too expensive. 

Ih bahut mhainga hai(...)

Would you take _____? 

(...)

expensive 

mhaingaa (...)

cheap 

sastaa (...)

I can't afford it. 

ihna mhainga main khareed ni sakdaa (...)

I don't want it. 

main noo ih ni chahidaa (...)

You're cheating me. 

(...)

I'm not interested. 

(...)

OK, I'll take it. 

(...)

Can I have a bag? 

(...)

Do you ship (overseas)? 

(...)

I need... 

(...)

...toothpaste. 

(...)

...a toothbrush. 

(...)

...tampons. 

(...)

...soap. 

(...)

...shampoo. 

(...)

...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) 

(...)

...cold medicine. 

(...)

...stomach medicine. 

(...)

...a razor. 

(...)

...an umbrella. 

(...)

...sunblock lotion. 

(...)

...a postcard. 

(...)

...postage stamps. 

(...)

...batteries. 

(...)

...writing paper. 

(...)

...a pen. 

(...)

...English-language books. 

(...)

...an English-language newspaper. 

(...)

...a Punjabi-English dictionary. 

(...)

Driving

I want to rent a car. 

(...Mainu ek car kiraye te chahidi hai?)

Can I get insurance? 

(...)

stop (on a street sign) 

(...)

one way 

(...ek taraf)

yield 

(...)

no parking 

(...)

speed limit 

(...)

gas (petrol) station 

(...)

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong. 

meh koi galth kum nehi kitha

It was a misunderstanding. 

Eh ik bhulekha see

Where are you taking me? 

Mainu kithe lai ke chale ho?

Am I under arrest? 

Ki meh griftaar ha?

I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. 

Mah American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen ha

I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. 

Meh American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate nal gal karni choundah ha

I want to speak to a lawyer. 

meh lawyer deh nal gal karna choundah ha

Can I just pay a fine now? 

Meh fine hun dev sakdah ha?