Punjabi phrasebook

Gurmukhi

Gurmukhi is an Indic script predominantly used in present-day Punjab, India

ਵਿਅੰਜਨ (Vi'anjan) Consonants

The Gurmukhi script is also called “Painti” (ਪੈਂਤੀ) because historically, it had a total of 35 letters. (In Punjabi, the number 35 is called “painti”). These 35 base letters are divided into seven rows and each row has five characters. 6 additional letters that are used to differentiate borrowed words from other languages. The first three letters of the script, ੳ, ਅ and ੲ, are vowel letters. Only ਅ (“a”) can be used alone in a word without any vowel accents. The other two vowel letters, ੳ (“u”) and ੲ (“e”), must always be used with a vowel accent. The original 35

Additional 6 new letters used for borrowed words from Persian and other foreign languages: They are created by placing a dot ਬਿੰਦੀ (bindī) at the foot of the consonant. These dot symbol at the bottom of the consonants represent borrowed sound of foreign words.

ਲਗਾਂ ਮਾਤਰਾ (lagān mātarā) Vowels

There are 10 vowels in Gurmukhi script. Independent vowels are constructed using three bearer characters: ūṛā (ੳ), aiṛā (ਅ) and īṛī (ੲ). With the exception of aiṛā (which represents the vowel [ə]), the bearer consonants are never used without additional vowel signs.

Shahmukhi

Western Punjabi is based on the Shahmukhi script. Shahmukhi uses the alphabets of the Perso-Arabic Urdu script with some extra characters added. Here are the 36 letters of Shahmukhi. Each has a name that is given below the alphabet with the equivalent English sound of the alphabet in (parenthesis).

For pronunciation and use of an individual alphabet, click on the specific alphabet in the table below. Remember that Punjabi in Pakistan is a right-to-left language so you have to start reading from right, right!

Vowels

Consonants

Common diphthongs

Basics

Note: Typically, religious salutations are used as there are no specific greetings that are shared among Muslim, Hindu and Sikh Punjabi-speakers.

Sikh

if they are baptized ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕਾ ਖਾਲਸਾ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਦੀ ਫਤਹਿ ( Waheguru Jee Ka Khalsa Waheguru Jee Ki Fateh) is used.

Muslim

Asalaam-walaykum is replied by Walaykum-salaam

Numerals/Numbers ਗਿਣਤੀ (Giṇtī)

Punjabi has its own set of digits, which function exactly as in other versions of the Hindu–Arabic numeral system. These are used extensively in older texts. In modern contexts, they are sometimes replaced by standard Western Arabic numerals. (Gurmukhi numbers are in parentheses)

number _____ (train, bus, etc.)

(ਰੇਲ, ਬੱਸ, ) ਨੰਬਰ _____ (rēl, bas,)numbar _____

half

ਅੱਧਾ (Adhā)

less

ਘੱਟ (Ghaṭ)

more

ਹੋਰ (Hōr)

Date and Time (Mitī atē samān ਮਿਤੀ ਅਤੇ ਸਮਾਂ)

Date is called "mitee" ਮਿਤੀ and is written in the 00-MM-YYYY and 00/MMNYYY format. Time is also called waqt / vela / sama (ਵਕਤ / ਵੇਲਾ / ਸਮਾਂ) in the Punjabi language and is usually denoted by seconds, minutes, and hours. The 12-hour notation is widely used in daily life, written communication, and is used in spoken language. The 24-hour notation is used in rare situations where there would be widespread ambiguity. Examples include railway timetables, plane departure and landing timings. A colon is used to separate hours, minutes and seconds (for example 10:00:15).

What time is it?

What time is it? can be asked in few ways. ਕਿੰਨੇ ਵਜੇ? (Kinē vaje), ਕੀ ਵਕਤ / ਵੇਲਾ / ਸਮਾਂ ਹੋਇਆ? (ki waqt / vela / sama hoya?), ਸਮਾਂ ਕੀ ਆ? (Samā ki aa)

Vernacular Punjabi uses some specific words which are widely used in the countryside, many folks in the cities either don't know it or don't use it.

early morning (4-6am)

ਸਾਝਰੇ or ਤੜਕੇ (Sajhre / tadke)

around 5pm

ਲੌਢੇ ਵੇਲਾ (Laudhe Vela)

Evening

ਤਕਾਲਾਂ (takalan)

late

ਕੁਵੇਲਾ (Kuvela)

Colors (rang ਰੰਗ)

Transportation (Āvā jā'ī ਆਵਾਜਾਈ)

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available?

(Tuhaade kol koi kamra khaali hai?)

How much is a room for one person/two people?

(ikk bande/do bandeyan de vaste kamre laee kinne paise laggan gay)

Does the room come with ...

(Kee kamre vich...hai)

bed sheets?

(bed diyaan chaadran?)

a bathroom?

(gusal-khaana?)

a telephone?

(telephone)

a TV?

(TV)

May I see the room first?

(Main pehle kamra vekhna chaunna (male speech)/chaunni (female speech) haan)

Do you have anything...

(Kee tuhaade kol es ton...)

quieter?

(ghatt shor vaala)

bigger?

(vadda)

cleaner?

(saaf)

cheaper?

(sasta)

OK, I'll take it.

(Theek hai main eh lai lainna (male speech)/lainni (female speech) haan

I will stay for _____ night(s).

(Main_____raatan laee rahaan ga(male)/gee(female))

Can you suggest another hotel?

(Tusi kise hor hotel baare dass sakde o?)

Do you have (a) ...? ; (Kee tuhaade kol...)

safe?

(paise rakhan vaala dabba?)

lockers?

(laaker)

Is breakfast/supper included?

(Kee naashta/raat da khana ehde vich shaamal hai?)

Please clean my room.

(Please mera kamra saaf kar deo)

Can you wake me at _____?

(Tusi menoo_____vaje jaga dena)

I want to check out.

(Main paise dena chaunna(male)/chaunni(female) haan)

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?

(Kee tusi Amreekan/Australian/Canadain daaler lai lainde o?)

Do you accept British pounds?

(Kee tusi bartaanvi pound lai lainde o?)

Do you accept credit cards?

(Kee tusi credit card lai lainde o?)

Can you change money for me?

(Tusi please mere pehe badal deo)

Where can I get money changed?

(Main kithon paise badalvaa sakda(male)/sakdi(female) haan?

Can you change a traveler's cheque for me?

(Tusi mere vaaste traveler cheque badal deo)

Where can I a traveler's cheque changed?

(Main traveler cheque kithon badalvaa sakda(male)/sakdi(female) haan?)

What is the exchange rate?

(Currency rate kee hai?)

Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?

(ATM kithe hai?)

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please.

(1/2 bandeya vaaste ik table)

Can I look at the menu, please?

(ki me menu vekh sakda haan? )

Can I look in the kitchen?

(ki me rasoighar dekh skada haan?)

Is there a house specialty?

( ethe da kuch khaas hai? )

Is there a local specialty?

(...)

I'm a vegetarian.

(mein shakahari ha)

I don't eat pork.

(me soor da meat ni khanda)

I only eat kosher food.

(...)

Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard)

(tel ghatt payo)

fixed-price meal

(rate fix ha)

à la carte

(...)

breakfast

(naashtaa)

lunch

(...)

tea (meal)

(...)

supper

(...)

I want _____.

(maiN... chahundaa/chahundee haaN)

I want a dish containing _____.

(...)

chicken

(murgee)

beef

(...)

fish

(machhee)

ham

(...)

sausage

(...)

cheese

paneer

eggs

(anDe)

salad

(salaad)

(fresh) vegetables

(taaziaaN) sabziaaN

(fresh) fruit

(taaze) phal

bread

(...)

toast

(...)

noodles

(noodlaaN)

rice

(chaul)

beans

(...)

May I have a glass of _____?

(...)

coffee

(kafee)

tea (drink)

(chaah)

juice

(...)

(bubbly) water

(...)

water

(paanee)

beer

(...)

red/white wine

(...)

May I have some _____?

(ki mainooN... mil sakdaa hai?)

salt

(namak/loon)

black pepper

(kaaLee mirch)

butter

(makhaN)

Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)

(...)

I'm finished.

(...)

It was delicious.

(...) bahut swaad si

Please clear the plates.

(...)

The check, please.

Kirpa karke bill day do

Bars

Do you serve alcohol?

(thusee sharab dindeh hor)

Is there table service?

(...)

A beer/two beers, please.

(...)

A glass of red/white wine, please.

(...)

A pint, please.

(...)

A bottle, please.

(...)

_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.

(...)

whiskey

(...)

vodka

(...)

rum

(...)

water

(panni)

club soda

(...)

tonic water

(...)

orange juice

(...)

Coke (soda)

(...)

Do you have any bar snacks?

(...)

One more, please.

Kirpa karke, ik hor

Another round, please.

(...)

When is closing time?

(...)

Shopping

Do you have this in my size?

(...)

How much is this?

ਇਹ ਕਿੱਨੇ ਦਾ/ਦੀ ਹੈ? (ih kinnē dā he?)

That's too expensive.

Ih bahut mhainga hai(...)

Would you take _____?

(...)

expensive

mhaingaa (...)

cheap

sastaa (...)

I can't afford it.

ihna mhainga main khareed ni sakdaa (...)

I don't want it.

main noo ih ni chahidaa (...)

You're cheating me.

(...)

I'm not interested.

(...)

OK, I'll take it.

(...)

Can I have a bag?

(...)

Do you ship (overseas)?

(...)

I need...

Mainu (...) chahida hai

...toothpaste.

(...)

...a toothbrush.

(...)

...tampons.

(...)

...soap.

(...)

...shampoo.

(...)

...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)

(...)

...cold medicine.

(...)

...stomach medicine.

(...)

...a razor.

(...)

...an umbrella.

(chhattri)

...sunblock lotion.

(...)

...a postcard.

(...)

...postage stamps.

(...)

...batteries.

(...)

...writing paper.

(...)

...a pen.

(...)

...English-language books.

(...)

...an English-language newspaper.

(...)

...a Punjabi-English dictionary.

(...)

Driving (Gaḍī chalā'uṇā ਗੱਡੀ ਚਲਾਉਣਾ)

Traffic Signs are much like those in Europe/UK. Words are written in English and sometimes the regional language.

Problems ਸਮੱਸਿਆਵਾਂ (Samasi'āvān)

Authority

It's always a good idea to contact your embassy/consulate immediately, if you are in trouble.