ਸਾਨੂੰ

What does saanu mean in Punjabi?

Saanu (ਸਾਨੂੰ) means 'us' or 'to us' in Punjabi. It is the form of asi, 'we', that Punjabi uses when 'we' is the one receiving something, or the one something happens to. 'Saanu paani chahida hai' means 'we need water', literally 'to us water is needed'. 'Usne saanu bulaya' means 'he called us'. It is a small word, but almost every Punjabi conversation about plans, needs and invitations runs through it.

How does saanu fit into the pronoun family?

Saanu sits in the middle of Punjabi's first-person plural family. Asi is 'we' when we do something: 'asi ja rahe haan', we are going. Saanu is 'us' when something is done to us or given to us: 'usne saanu bulaya', he called us, or 'adhyapak ne saanu kitaban dittian', the teacher gave us the books. Sada is 'our': 'sada ghar', our house. And sathon is 'from us': 'sathon puchho', ask us. The same pattern runs in the singular: main, 'I', becomes mainu, 'to me', and mera, 'my'.

How do Punjabis use saanu?

Three everyday patterns cover most uses. First, needs and feelings, where Punjabi puts the need before the person: 'saanu paani chahida hai', we need water; 'saanu thand lagdi hai', we feel cold. Second, giving and calling, where saanu is the one receiving: 'usne saanu bulaya', he called us; 'adhyapak ne saanu kitaban dittian', the teacher gave us the books. Third, plans, where saanu carries the group's intention: Wiktionary gives the example 'saanu othe jaana chahida!', we should go there, which shows saanu doing the same job in a sentence about a plan.

Where does saanu come from?

Wiktionary traces saanu to asaanu, a contraction of asaan, 'we', and nu, 'to'. The uncontracted forms asaan nu and asaanu are still recognised, but saanu is the form Punjabis actually say. The same 'nu' ending marks the dative across the whole pronoun family: mainu, 'to me', tainu, 'to you', and tuhanu, 'to you all'.