<!-- How to Say Yes and No in Punjabi | Jugti -->
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Word

# ਹਾਂ ਤੇ ਨਹੀਂ

Haan te Nahin

Say it**haan te na-HEEN**Type**Phrase**

In short

Yes in Punjabi is ਹਾਂ (haan), and respectfully ਹਾਂ ਜੀ (haan ji), which is also how you answer when an elder calls your name. No is ਨਹੀਂ (nahin), softened to ਨਾਂ (naa) among friends and to ਨਹੀਂ ਜੀ (nahin ji) when refusing politely. Between them sits ਅੱਛਾ (achha), alright, the word of agreement.

## How it's used

1. 1ਹਾਂ ਜੀ, ਮੈਂ ਸੁਣ ਲਿਆ।Yes, I have heard you. (respectful) _Answering an elder_
2. 2ਨਹੀਂ ਜੀ, ਧੰਨਵਾਦ।No thank you. _Polite refusal_
3. 3ਅੱਛਾ, ਫਿਰ ਕੱਲ੍ਹ ਮਿਲਦੇ ਹਾਂ।Alright, we will meet tomorrow then. _Closing a plan_

ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਅਰਥ

ਹਾਂ ਦਾ ਅਰਥ ਹੈ ਯੈੱਸ ਅਤੇ ਨਹੀਂ ਦਾ ਅਰਥ ਹੈ ਨੋ। ਬਜ਼ੁਰਗਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਹਾਂ ਜੀ ਕਹਿ ਕੇ ਜਵਾਬ ਦਿਓ, ਇਹ ਸਤਕਾਰ ਹੈ। ਨਾਂ ਦੋਸਤਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਚੱਲਦਾ ਹੈ, ਅਤੇ ਨਹੀਂ ਜੀ, ਧੰਨਵਾਦ ਨਰਮ ਇਨਕਾਰ ਹੈ। ਅੱਛਾ ਦਾ ਅਰਥ ਹੈ ਠੀਕ ਹੈ, ਸਮਝ ਗਿਆ।

Yes in Punjabi is **ਹਾਂ (haan)** and no is **ਨਹੀਂ (nahin)**, two of the shortest words in the language and the ones a learner uses first. Around them sits a small etiquette: the respectful haan ji, the casual naa, and the all-purpose **ਅੱਛਾ (achha)** that means alright, agreed and I see, sometimes all three at once. This page covers the set.

## The phrase, part by part

**ਹਾਂ (haan)** \- yes

**ਹਾਂ ਜੀ (haan ji)** \- yes, with respect; also the answer when your name is called

**ਨਹੀਂ (nahin)** \- no, not

**ਨਾਂ (naa)** \- no, the casual short form among friends

**ਅੱਛਾ (achha)** \- alright, okay, I see; agreement and understanding in one word

## When to use it

When an elder calls your name in a Punjabi home, the correct answer is not your name back, it is **ਹਾਂ ਜੀ (haan ji)**: yes, I am listening, with respect built in. Plain **ਹਾਂ (haan)** serves equals and family. Refusing politely is an art of softeners: **ਨਹੀਂ ਜੀ, ਧੰਨਵਾਦ (nahin ji, dhannvaad)**, no thank you, turns down food, help or a second helping without a hard edge.

And when someone explains a plan, Punjabi agreement runs on [ਅੱਛਾ (achha)](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/changa/) and its friend **ਚੰਗਾ (changa)**: alright, done, understood. Hear **ਅੱਛਾ, ਫਿਰ ਕੱਲ੍ਹ ਮਿਲਦੇ ਹਾਂ (achha, phir kallh milde haan)**, alright, we will meet tomorrow then, and you are hearing the language close a deal the friendly way.

## Yes and no in real sentences

**ਹਾਂ, ਮੈਂ ਆਵਾਂਗਾ (haan, main aavaanga)** \- yes, I will come, said by a man

**ਨਹੀਂ, ਮੈਂ ਨਹੀਂ ਆ ਸਕਦਾ (nahin, main nahin aa sakda)** \- no, I cannot come, said by a man

**ਅੱਛਾ, ਸਮਝ ਗਿਆ (achha, samajh gaya)** \- alright, understood, said by a man

## How do you say yes in Punjabi?

Yes in Punjabi is ਹਾਂ (haan). Respectfully it is ਹਾਂ ਜੀ (haan ji), which is also the answer when an elder calls your name.

## How do you say no in Punjabi?

No in Punjabi is ਨਹੀਂ (nahin). Among friends it shortens to ਨਾਂ (naa), and a polite refusal is ਨਹੀਂ ਜੀ, ਧੰਨਵਾਦ (nahin ji, dhannvaad), no thank you.

## What does achha mean in Punjabi?

ਅੱਛਾ (achha) means alright, okay or I see. It agrees, accepts and understands all at once, and Punjabis use it constantly.

## Related words

[ਚੰਗਾchangagood, fine, okay](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/changa/)[ਕੱਲ੍ਹkallhtomorrow; also yesterday](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/kallh/)[ਤੁਸੀਂ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਹੋ?Tussi Kivein HoHow to say how are you in Punjabi: tussi kivein ho, ki haal hai, and the replies](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/how-to-say-how-are-you-in-punjabi/)[ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਗੱਲ-ਬਾਤPunjabi Gall-BaatPunjabi phrases for everyday talk: greetings, the gurdwara, the phone, shopping and eating](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/punjabi-phrases/)[ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਸਿੱਖੋPunjabi SikhoLearn Punjabi: the guided path for diaspora learners, from the Gurmukhi alphabet to real words and family talk](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/learn-punjabi/)

Sources (2)
1. [Useful Punjabi phrases, Omniglot](https://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/punjabi.php)
2. [Learn Punjabi: the guided path, Jugti Kosh](https://jugti.com/kosh/words/learn-punjabi/)
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On this page[In short](#in-short)[How it's used](#how-used)[ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਅਰਥ](#pa-meaning)[The phrase, part by part](#s-k1)[When to use it](#s-k7)[Yes and no in real sentences](#s-k10)[How do you say yes in Punjabi?](#s-k16)[How do you say no in Punjabi?](#s-k18)[What does achha mean in Punjabi?](#s-k20)

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