ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਗੱਲ-ਬਾਤ

Words become a language when they stand together in phrases. This phrasebook gathers the Punjabi phrases a learner needs for real life, in the order life asks for them: the greeting at the door, the quiet words at the gurdwara, the phone call to family, and the talk of the market and the table. Say them as they stand, and follow the links to the full pages when you want a phrase taken apart word by word.

Greetings and introductions

ਸਤਿ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ ਜੀ (Sat Sri Akal ji) - hello, the respectful greeting for any hour

ਤੁਸੀਂ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਹੋ? (tussi kivein ho?) - how are you, said respectfully

ਮੈਂ ਠੀਕ ਹਾਂ (main theek haan) - I am fine

ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਨਾਂ ਕੀ ਹੈ? (tuhaada naa ki hai?) - what is your name

ਮੇਰਾ ਨਾਂ ... ਹੈ (mera naa ... hai) - my name is ...

ਤੁਸੀਂ ਕਿੱਥੋਂ ਹੋ? (tussi kittho ho?) - where are you from

ਮੈਂ ਕਨੇਡਾ ਤੋਂ ਹਾਂ (main Canada to haan) - I am from Canada

ਮਿਲ ਕੇ ਖੁਸ਼ੀ ਹੋਈ (mil ke khushi hoi) - pleased to meet you

ਰੱਬ ਰਾਖਾ (rabb raakha) - goodbye; may God protect you

The two pages behind this section are how to say hello and how to say how are you, where the greetings are taken apart word by word, with the informal forms for friends. Introductions run on a simple exchange: name, place, and the pleased-to-meet-you that Punjabis actually say, ਮਿਲ ਕੇ ਖੁਸ਼ੀ ਹੋਈ (mil ke khushi hoi).

At the gurdwara

ਸਤਿ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ (Sat Sri Akal) - the greeting everyone uses

ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕਾ ਖਾਲਸਾ, ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕੀ ਫਤਹਿ (Vaheguru ji ka Khalsa, Vaheguru ji ki Fateh) - the Khalsa salutation, heard at gatherings

ਲੰਗਰ ਛਕੋ ਜੀ (langar chhako ji) - please eat at the langar; the invitation you will be given

ਬੈਠੋ ਜੀ (baitho ji) - please sit

ਕੀਰਤਨ ਕਦੋਂ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ? (kirtan kadon shuru hunda hai?) - when does the kirtan start

ਪਰਸਾਦ ਲਓ ਜੀ (parsaad lao ji) - please take the blessed offering; said as karah parshad is served

Conduct carries the gurdwara visit: cover your head, wash your hands, and bow before the Guru Granth Sahib, which is what ਮੱਥਾ ਟੇਕਣਾ (mattha tekna) means. Sit for ਕੀਰਤਨ (kirtan), the singing of the hymns, and never refuse the ਲੰਗਰ (langar) when it is offered: the invitation above is a welcome, not a transaction.

On the phone

ਹੈਲੋ, ਸਤਿ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ ਜੀ (hello, Sat Sri Akal ji) - answering the phone

ਕੌਣ ਬੋਲ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ? (kaun bol reha hai?) - who is speaking, of a man

ਮੈਂ ... ਬੋਲ ਰਿਹਾ ਹਾਂ (main ... bol reha haan) - it is ... speaking, said by a man

ਇੱਕ ਮਿੰਟ ਰੁਕੋ ਜੀ (ikk mint ruko ji) - hold on a minute, please

ਆਵਾਜ਼ ਨਹੀਂ ਆ ਰਹੀ (aavaaz nahin aa rahi) - I cannot hear you; the sound is not coming

ਮੈਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਵਿੱਚ ਫੋਨ ਕਰਾਂਗਾ (main baad vich phone karaanga) - I will call later, said by a man

Punjabi phone talk is brisk and warm: the greeting, the checking of who is speaking, and the promise to call back. Women change the verb endings in the natural way: ਬੋਲ ਰਹੀ ਹਾਂ (bol rahi haan) for speaking, ਕਰਾਂਗੀ (karaangi) for I will call. The asking word here, ਕੌਣ (kaun), who, is one of the question words worth learning early.

Shopping and eating

ਇਹ ਕਿੰਨੇ ਦਾ ਹੈ? (eh kinne da hai?) - how much is this

ਥੋੜਾ ਘੱਟ ਕਰੋ (thora ghatt karo) - reduce the price a little; the polite bargain

ਮੈਨੂੰ ਇਹ ਪਸੰਦ ਹੈ (mainu eh pasand hai) - I like this

ਪਾਣੀ ਲਿਆਓ ਜੀ (paani liaao ji) - please bring water

ਖਾਣਾ ਬਹੁਤ ਸਵਾਦ ਹੈ (khaana bahut swaad hai) - the food is very tasty; the compliment every cook wants

ਬਸ, ਧੰਨਵਾਦ (bas, dhannvaad) - that is enough, thank you; when being served more food

The market and the table are where a learner's Punjabi earns its keep. Prices are asked with ਕਿੰਨੇ ਦਾ (kinne da), bargaining stays friendly with ਥੋੜਾ ਘੱਟ ਕਰੋ (thora ghatt karo), and the table phrases pair with the food words list, where every dish on the plate has its own page.

What are the basic Punjabi phrases a beginner should learn?

Start with ਸਤਿ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ (Sat Sri Akal, hello), ਤੁਸੀਂ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਹੋ? (how are you), ਮੈਂ ਠੀਕ ਹਾਂ (I am fine), ਧੰਨਵਾਦ (thank you), ਮਾਫ਼ ਕਰੋ (sorry) and ਰੱਬ ਰਾਖਾ (goodbye). This page builds full conversations around them.

How do I greet someone in Punjabi?

Greet with ਸਤਿ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ (Sat Sri Akal), adding ਜੀ (ji) for respect, at any hour of the day. The full guide is on the how to say hello in Punjabi page.

What should I say at the gurdwara?

Greet with Sat Sri Akal, bow before the Guru Granth Sahib, and accept the langar invitation ਲੰਗਰ ਛਕੋ ਜੀ (langar chhako ji) with thanks. The gurdwara section of this page has the working phrases.