ਮਾਫ਼ ਕਰੋ

Sorry in Punjabi is ਮਾਫ਼ ਕਰੋ (maaf karo), forgive me. The language grades the apology by respect, like everything else: one form for friends, a softer one for elders, and a full sentence for when you really mean it. This page gives the forms, how to own the mistake out loud, and the graceful reply that Punjabis give and expect.

The phrase, part by part

ਮਾਫ਼ (maaf) - forgiven, pardoned

ਕਰੋ (karo) - do; the command form for equals and family

ਕਰਨਾ (karna) - the respectful command, for elders and formal use

ਮਾਫ਼ੀ (maafi) - forgiveness; ਮਾਫ਼ੀ ਮੰਗਣਾ (maafi mangna) is to ask for it, to apologise

ਗਲਤੀ (galti) - a mistake; ਮੇਰੀ ਗਲਤੀ ਹੈ (meri galti hai), it is my mistake

When to use it

With family and equals, ਮਾਫ਼ ਕਰੋ (maaf karo) handles everything from a bumped shoulder to being late. With an elder, a teacher or an official, rise to ਮਾਫ਼ ਕਰਨਾ (maaf karna) or the full ਮੈਨੂੰ ਮਾਫ਼ ਕਰ ਦਿਓ ਜੀ (mainu maaf kar dio ji), please forgive me. Young people also drop in the English sorry among themselves, and nobody blinks.

A Punjabi apology lands best when it names the fault: ਮੇਰੀ ਗਲਤੀ ਹੈ (meri galti hai), it is my mistake, said plainly, repairs more than any long explanation. And when you are the one being apologised to, the page's reply below is the whole art: forgive quickly, and say so in so many words.

What people say back

ਕੋਈ ਗੱਲ ਨਹੀਂ (koi gall nahi) - no problem, it is nothing; the reply that ends it

ਕੋਈ ਨਹੀਂ (koi nahi) - it is nothing, the shorter form

ਠੀਕ ਹੈ (theek hai) - it is alright

How do you say sorry in Punjabi?

Sorry in Punjabi is ਮਾਫ਼ ਕਰੋ (maaf karo), forgive me. Respectfully, to elders, say ਮਾਫ਼ ਕਰਨਾ (maaf karna) or ਮੈਨੂੰ ਮਾਫ਼ ਕਰ ਦਿਓ (mainu maaf kar dio).

How do you apologise to an elder in Punjabi?

Use the respectful form with ji: ਮੈਨੂੰ ਮਾਫ਼ ਕਰ ਦਿਓ ਜੀ (mainu maaf kar dio ji), and name the fault, ਮੇਰੀ ਗਲਤੀ ਹੈ (meri galti hai), it is my mistake.

What does koi gall nahi mean?

ਕੋਈ ਗੱਲ ਨਹੀਂ (koi gall nahi) means no problem, it is nothing. It is the standard reply to both sorry and thank you in Punjabi.