Punjabi is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, with approximately 125 million speakers across Pakistan, India, and a vast diaspora. The language of the Punjab, that fertile region known as "the land of five rivers," Punjabi is a living, musical language deeply rooted in a rich and dynamic culture.
In this complete guide, we will walk you through discovering Punjabi, from the Gurmukhi script to everyday expressions, covering grammar, vocabulary, and Punjabi culture along the way.
Table of contents
1. Why learn Punjabi? 2. The Gurmukhi alphabet and writing system 3. Pronunciation and tones 4. Essential greetings 5. Basic grammar 6. Vocabulary: 50 essential words 7. Numbers from 1 to 20 8. Useful everyday phrases 9. Punjabi culture and traditions 10. Learn Punjabi with Targumi
Why learn Punjabi?
A global language
Punjabi is the 10th most spoken language in the world. With its 125 million speakers, it surpasses French, German, and Japanese in number of native speakers.
Reasons to learn Punjabi:- Massive diaspora: Punjabi is widely spoken in Canada (4th language in the country), the UK, the USA, and Australia. Speaking Punjabi opens professional doors in these countries.
- Language of music: Bhangra, born in Punjab, has become a worldwide musical phenomenon. Punjabi music dominates Bollywood and the South Asian music scene.
- Sikh culture: Punjabi is the language of the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of Sikhism. Understanding Punjabi gives you access to this spirituality.
- Growing economy: Indian Punjab is one of the most prosperous states in India, with a high GDP per capita.
- Rich literature: from Bulleh Shah to Waris Shah, Punjabi poetry is considered among the finest in South Asia.
- Unique tonal language: Punjabi is one of the few Indo-Aryan languages that is tonal, making it linguistically fascinating.
- Music: Diljit Dosanjh, AP Dhillon, Sidhu Moose Wala are international stars
- Cinema: the Punjabi film industry (Pollywood) produces hundreds of films per year
- Cuisine: butter chicken, naan, dal makhani, and lassi are Punjabi dishes known worldwide
- Dance: bhangra is practiced around the world
- Gurmukhi (in India): a script created by the second Sikh Guru, Guru Angad Dev, in the 16th century
- Shahmukhi (in Pakistan): an Arabo-Persian script, similar to Urdu
- kakka, khakha, gagga, ghagha, nganga Palatal group (palate):
- chacha, chhachha, jajja, jhajha, nyanya Retroflex group (tongue curled back):
- tainka, thattha, dadda, dhadha, naanna Dental group (teeth):
- tatta, thaththa, dadda, dhadha, nanna Labial group (lips):
- pappa, phaphpha, babba, bhabha, mamma Additional consonants:
- yayya, rarra, lalla, vavva, rharrha, shasha, khakhha, sassa, haha
- Mukta: absence of mark = inherent "a" vowel
- Kanna: mark for "aa"
- Sihari: mark for "i"
- Bihari: mark for "ii"
- Aunkar: mark for "u"
- Dulainkar: mark for "uu"
- Tippi/Bindi: nasalization
- Retroflex t: harder than English "t," the tongue touches the palate
- Retroflex d: same for "d"
- Retroflex n: "n" with the tongue curled back
- Retroflex r: a rolled "r" with the tongue curled back
- A: Sat Sri Akal! Ki haal hai? (Hello! How are you?)
- B: Main theek haan, shukriya. Tusi ki haal ho? (I am fine, thank you. And you?)
- A: Main vi theek haan. (I am fine too.) At the market:
- A: Sat Sri Akal ji. Eh kinne da hai? (Hello. How much does this cost?)
- B: Panji sau rupaye. (500 rupees.)
- A: Bahut mehenga hai! (It is too expensive!)
- Mera naan ... hai = My name is...
- Main ... ton haan = I am from...
- Main Punjabi sikhda/sikhdi haan = I am learning Punjabi
- Main thora Punjabi bol sakda/sakdi haan = I can speak a little Punjabi
- Main kitaab parhda haan = I book read (= I read a book)
- Oh roti khaanda hai = He bread eats (= He eats bread)
- Assi Punjabi sikhde haan = We Punjabi learn (= We learn Punjabi)
- Main jaanda haan = I go
- Tu jaanda hain = You go
- Oh jaanda hai = He goes Present (feminine singular):
- Main jaandi haan = I go
- Tu jaandi hain = You go
- Oh jaandi hai = She goes Past:
- Main giya/gayi = I went (m/f)
- Oh giya/gayi = He/She went Future:
- Main javanga/javangi = I will go (m/f)
- Oh javega/javegi = He/She will go
- Eh kinne da hai? = How much does this cost?
- Bahut mehenga hai = It is too expensive
- Main eh lena chahunda/chahundi haan = I would like to buy this
- Shukriya = Thank you
- Koi discount hai? = Is there a discount?
- Mainu madad chahidi hai = I need help
- Main samajh nahi paya/payi = I do not understand
- Hauli hauli bolo = Speak slowly
- Tusi English bolde ho? = Do you speak English?
- Kya tusi meri madad kar sakde ho? = Can you help me?
- ...kiththe hai? = Where is...?
- Main ... jaana chahunda/chahundi haan = I want to go to...
- Kya eh door hai? = Is it far?
- Khabbe paase = Left
- Sajje paase = Right
- Sidha = Straight ahead
- Haan ji = Yes (polite)
- Nahi = No
- Shukriya = Thank you
- Maaf karna = Sorry
- Theek hai = OK
- Main tenu pyaar karda/kardi haan = I love you
- Rabb rakha = May God protect you (goodbye)
- Changa = Good/great
- Dhol: the double-sided drum that is the soul of bhangra
- Energetic movements: jumps, stomping feet, arms in the air
- Modern fusion: bhangra has blended with hip-hop, EDM, and pop
- International competitions: bhangra teams exist at universities around the world
- Bulleh Shah (1680-1757): Sufi poet whose verses on divine love are still sung today
- Waris Shah (1722-1798): author of Heer Ranjha, the greatest Punjabi love poem, compared to Romeo and Juliet
- Shiv Kumar Batalvi (1936-1973): modern poet nicknamed the "Keats of Punjab"
- Amrita Pritam (1919-2005): first famous female Punjabi poet, whose poem "Ajj Aakhaan Waris Shah Nu" is a masterpiece
- Certified native tutors from Indian Punjab and the diaspora
- Small group classes (3-6 students) for collaborative dynamics
- Private lessons adapted to your level and goals
- Mobile app with Gurmukhi writing exercises
- Cultural approach integrating music, poetry, and Punjabi traditions
- Both scripts available: Gurmukhi and Shahmukhi
Punjabi in the world
Punjabi is omnipresent in global popular culture:
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> Ready to discover Punjabi? Start your learning journey with Targumi and enjoy courses adapted to your level.
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The Gurmukhi alphabet and writing system
Two scripts for one language
Punjabi is unique in that it uses two different scripts depending on the country:
In this guide, we focus on Gurmukhi, the most commonly used script for learning.
Vowels (Laga Matra)
Gurmukhi has 10 vowels:
| Gurmukhi |
| Pronunciation |
| ---------- |
| --------------- |
| a |
| as in "father" (short) |
| aa |
| as in "father" (long) |
| i |
| as in "sit" |
| ee |
| as in "see" |
| u |
| as in "put" |
| oo |
| as in "moon" |
| e |
| as in "day" |
| ai |
| as in "air" |
| o |
| as in "go" |
| au |
| as in "caught" |
| Tone |
| Example |
| ------ |
| --------- |
| High |
| kora (whip) |
| Mid |
| kora (leper) |
| Low |
| kora (horse) |
| Unaspirated |
| Difference |
| ------------ |
| ------------ |
| ka |
| "k" vs "kh" (with breath) |
| ga |
| "g" vs "gh" (with breath) |
| cha |
| "ch" vs "chh" (with breath) |
| ta |
| "t" vs "th" (with breath) |
| pa |
| "p" vs "ph" (with breath) |
| Punjabi |
| English |
| --------- |
| --------- |
| Sat Sri Akal |
| Hello (Sikh) |
| Salaam |
| Hello (Muslim) |
| Ki haal hai? |
| How are you? |
| Main theek haan |
| I am fine |
| Shukriya |
| Thank you |
| Meherbani |
| Please |
| Alvida |
| Goodbye |
| Kiddan? |
| What is up? |
| Vadiya |
| Good/great |
| Masculine |
| Meaning |
| ----------- |
| --------- |
| munda |
| boy / girl |
| changa |
| good (m) / good (f) |
| vadda |
| big (m) / big (f) |
| nikka |
| small (m) / small (f) |
| Postposition |
| Example |
| ------------- |
| --------- |
| da/di/de |
| Ram da ghar (Ram's house) |
| nu |
| Main tenu pyaar karda haan (I love you) |
| vich |
| ghar vich (in the house) |
| naal |
| mere naal (with me) |
| te |
| mez te (on the table) |
| ton |
| shahar ton (from the city) |
| Punjabi |
| English |
| --------- |
| --------- |
| maa/bebe |
| mother |
| pyo/bapu |
| father |
| bhain |
| sister |
| bhra/veer |
| brother |
| daadi |
| grandmother (paternal) |
| daada |
| grandfather (paternal) |
| bachcha |
| child |
| pati |
| husband |
| patni |
| wife |
| parivaar |
| family |
| Punjabi |
| English |
| --------- |
| --------- |
| suraj |
| sun |
| chand |
| moon |
| taara |
| star |
| paani |
| water |
| agg |
| fire |
| dharti |
| earth |
| darakhat |
| tree |
| pahaad |
| mountain |
| samandar |
| sea/ocean |
| asmaan |
| sky |
| Punjabi |
| English |
| --------- |
| --------- |
| khana |
| food |
| roti |
| bread (flatbread) |
| gosht |
| meat |
| dudh |
| milk |
| chawal |
| rice |
| phal |
| fruit |
| makki |
| corn/maize |
| chaa |
| tea |
| lassi |
| yogurt drink |
| paani |
| water |
| Punjabi |
| English |
| --------- |
| --------- |
| chitta |
| white |
| kaala |
| black |
| laal |
| red |
| hara |
| green |
| piila |
| yellow |
| niila |
| blue |
| Punjabi |
| English |
| --------- |
| --------- |
| sir |
| head |
| akkh |
| eye |
| kann |
| ear |
| nakk |
| nose |
| muh |
| mouth |
| hatth |
| hand |
| pair |
| foot |
| dil |
| heart |
| sareer |
| body |
| vaal |
| hair |
| Number |
| Transliteration |
| -------- |
| ---------------- |
| 1 |
| ikk |
| 2 |
| do |
| 3 |
| tinn |
| 4 |
| chaar |
| 5 |
| panj |
| 6 |
| chhe |
| 7 |
| satt |
| 8 |
| atth |
| 9 |
| nau |
| 10 |
| das |
| 11 |
| gyaarah |
| 12 |
| baarah |
| 13 |
| terah |
| 14 |
| chaudah |
| 15 |
| pandrah |
| 16 |
| solah |
| 17 |
| sataarah |
| 18 |
| athaarah |
| 19 |
| unii |
| 20 |
| viih |
| Dish |
| ------ |
| Butter Chicken |
| Dal Makhani |
| Naan |
| Tandoori Chicken |
| Sarson da Saag |
| Chole Bhature |
| Lassi |
| Paratha |
Vaisakhi: the Punjabi New Year
Vaisakhi (April 13-14) is the most important festival in Punjab. It celebrates both the solar New Year and the creation of the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. It is a day of processions, music, bhangra, and communal feasting.---
> Fascinated by Punjabi culture? Dive into the heart of this vibrant tradition by learning the language with Targumi. Our native tutors will share much more than just words.
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Learn Punjabi with Targumi
At Targumi, we offer Punjabi courses for all levels:
Punjabi is a language that opens the doors to a joyful, generous, and deeply human culture. Every word you learn brings you closer to the soul of Punjab.
Sat Sri Akal!---
Article written by Harpreet Kaur Singh, certified Punjabi tutor and Targumi collaborator. At Targumi, we make learning Punjabi accessible to everyone.