ਸਰੀਰ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਬਦ

Body words are among the first words a child learns, and Punjabi keeps them short and strong: most are a single beat. Learn the eleven core words on this page and you can point, ask and describe, and you will also unlock a shelf of everyday Punjabi phrases, because the language loves to speak through the body: a hand lent is help given, and a nose cut is honour lost.

Head to foot

<a href="/kosh/words/sirr/">ਸਿਰ (sirr)</a> - head

<a href="/kosh/words/dimaag/">ਦਿਮਾਗ਼ (dimaag)</a> - brain, and the thinking mind

<a href="/kosh/words/akkh/">ਅੱਖ (akkh)</a> - eye

<a href="/kosh/words/kan/">ਕੰਨ (kan)</a> - ear

<a href="/kosh/words/nakk/">ਨੱਕ (nakk)</a> - nose

<a href="/kosh/words/munh/">ਮੂੰਹ (munh)</a> - mouth, and the face in everyday speech

<a href="/kosh/words/moddha/">ਮੋਢਾ (moddha)</a> - shoulder

<a href="/kosh/words/hath/">ਹੱਥ (hath)</a> - hand

<a href="/kosh/words/ungal/">ਉਂਗਲ (ungal)</a> - finger

<a href="/kosh/words/godda/">ਗੋਡਾ (godda)</a> - knee

<a href="/kosh/words/pair/">ਪੈਰ (pair)</a> - foot

Body words in everyday phrases

<a href="/kosh/words/hath-vatauna/">ਹੱਥ ਵਟਾਉਣਾ (hath vatauna)</a> - to lend a hand, to help out

<a href="/kosh/words/akkh-laggna/">ਅੱਖ ਲੱਗਣਾ (akkh laggna)</a> - for the eye to close, to doze off

<a href="/kosh/words/nakk-katna/">ਨੱਕ ਕੱਟਣਾ (nakk katna)</a> - to cut the nose, to disgrace or dishonour someone

<a href="/kosh/words/munh-vich-pani-auna/">ਮੂੰਹ ਵਿੱਚ ਪਾਣੀ ਆਉਣਾ (munh vich pani auna)</a> - for water to come to the mouth, to crave something tasty

How to use these words

Point and name is the whole method here: touch your head and say ਸਿਰ (sirr), your eye ਅੱਖ (akkh), your hand ਹੱਥ (hath). Children in Punjab learn English body words this way, and it works just as well in reverse. Seven words, one minute a day, a week to own them.

Then listen for the phrases. When someone says ਮੇਰੇ ਸਿਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਦਰਦ ਹੈ (mere sirr vich darad hai), I have a pain in my head, you already know every word except the pain. Body words are the scaffolding of a hundred small sentences about health, hunger and tiredness, and each phrase above has its own full page in the Kosh.

How do you say hand in Punjabi?

Hand in Punjabi is ਹੱਥ (hath). To say my hand, say ਮੇਰਾ ਹੱਥ (mera hath).

How do you say eye in Punjabi?

Eye in Punjabi is ਅੱਖ (akkh). The plural, eyes, is ਅੱਖਾਂ (akkhaan), as in the phrase ਅੱਖਾਂ ਖੁੱਲ੍ਹਣਾ, for the eyes to open to the truth.

How do you say head in Punjabi?

Head in Punjabi is ਸਿਰ (sirr). A headache is ਸਿਰ ਦਰਦ (sirr darad), pain in the head.