Punjabi Vocabulary: Essential Words You Should Know
punjabi vocabulary · punjabi words · beginner punjabi · gurmukhi
Essential Punjabi vocabulary starts with the words you touch every day: ਰੋਟੀ (roti — bread), ਪਾਣੀ (paani — water), ਘਰ (ghar — home), ਪਿੰਡ (pind — village), and ਪਿਆਰ (pyaar — love). This guide collects 150+ of the most useful Punjabi words, organised by theme, each with correct Gurmukhi script, an easy transliteration, and the English meaning.
Vocabulary is the raw material of every conversation — pair these words with our everyday phrases and common Punjabi sentences and you can start swapping words into patterns immediately. Where Punjabi has two common words for the same thing (often one homegrown and one borrowed), both are listed, because you will hear both.
What are the essential Punjabi food words?
Food is the heart of Punjabi culture, so this is the best place to start. These are the words you will hear in every kitchen and langar hall.
| Gurmukhi | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ਰੋਟੀ | roti | bread / flatbread (often “the meal” itself) |
| ਦੁੱਧ | duddh | milk |
| ਚਾਹ | chaah | tea |
| ਪਾਣੀ | paani | water |
| ਚੌਲ | chaul | rice |
| ਦਾਲ | daal | lentils |
| ਸਬਜ਼ੀ | sabzi | vegetables / vegetable dish |
| ਲੂਣ / ਨਮਕ | loon / namak | salt |
| ਖੰਡ / ਚੀਨੀ | khand / cheeni | sugar |
| ਤੇਲ | tel | oil |
| ਦਹੀਂ | dahin | yogurt / curd |
| ਮੱਖਣ | makkhan | butter |
| ਘਿਓ | ghio | ghee (clarified butter) |
| ਆਟਾ | aatta | flour |
| ਲੱਸੀ | lassi | lassi (buttermilk drink) |
| ਸ਼ਹਿਦ | shehad | honey |
| ਮੱਕੀ | makki | maize / corn |
| ਜੌਂ | jaun | barley |
| ਆਂਡਾ | aanda | egg |
| ਕੜਾਹ | karaah | sweet pudding of flour, sugar, and ghee |
Culture note: ਰੋਟੀ ਖਾ ਲਈ? (roti kha layi? — have you eaten?) is how Punjabi families say “I care about you.” The word roti stretches far beyond flatbread.
What are the Punjabi words for people and family?
| Gurmukhi | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ਲੋਕ | lok | people |
| ਬੱਚਾ / ਨਿਆਣਾ | bachcha / niaana | child |
| ਮੁੰਡਾ | munda | boy |
| ਕੁੜੀ | kuri | girl |
| ਆਦਮੀ / ਬੰਦਾ | aadmi / banda | man |
| ਜਨਾਨੀ / ਤੀਵੀਂ | janaani / teevin | woman |
| ਗੱਭਰੂ / ਨੌਜਵਾਨ | gabbhru / naujawaan | young man |
| ਮੁਟਿਆਰ | mutiaar | young woman |
| ਬੀਬੀ | beebi | lady (also grandmother in many homes) |
| ਕੁਆਰਾ | kuaara | bachelor / unmarried man |
| ਕੁਆਰੀ | kuaari | unmarried woman |
| ਵਿਆਹਿਆ | viaahia | married (man) |
| ਵਿਆਹੀ | viaahi | married (woman) |
| ਪਰਿਵਾਰ / ਟੱਬਰ | parivaar / tabbar | family |
| ਸਾਕ | saak | relative / kinsman |
| ਭਾਈਚਾਰਾ / ਬਰਾਦਰੀ | bhaichaara / baraadari | community |
| ਕੌਮ | kaum | nation / people |
The pair ਪਰਿਵਾਰ and ਟੱਬਰ is a nice example of register: parivaar is the formal word for family; tabbar is the warm, homely one you will hear in villages and kitchens.
What are the essential Punjabi words for places?
| Gurmukhi | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ਘਰ | ghar | home |
| ਮਕਾਨ | makaan | house (the building) |
| ਕਮਰਾ | kamra | room |
| ਪਿੰਡ | pind | village |
| ਕਸਬਾ | kasba | town |
| ਸ਼ਹਿਰ | shehar | city |
| ਦੇਸ | des | country / homeland |
| ਸੂਬਾ | sooba | province / state |
| ਰਾਜਧਾਨੀ | raajdhaani | capital |
| ਗਲੀ | gali | street / lane |
| ਸੜਕ | sarak | road |
| ਰਸਤਾ | rasta | way / path |
| ਬਾਜ਼ਾਰ | baazaar | market |
| ਦੁਕਾਨ | dukaan | shop |
| ਸਕੂਲ | sakool | school |
| ਦਫ਼ਤਰ | daftar | office |
| ਕਚਹਿਰੀ | kachehri | court |
| ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ | gurduaara | gurdwara (Sikh place of worship) |
| ਮੰਦਰ | mandar | temple |
| ਮਸਜਿਦ / ਮਸੀਤ | masjid / maseet | mosque |
| ਗਿਰਜਾ | girja | church |
| ਕਿਲ੍ਹਾ | kilha | fort |
| ਮਹਿਲ | mehal | palace |
| ਬੱਸ ਅੱਡਾ | bas adda | bus stand |
| ਹਵਾਈ ਅੱਡਾ | havaai adda | airport |
| ਬੰਦਰਗਾਹ | bandargaah | harbour / port |
| ਖੇਡ ਮੈਦਾਨ | khed maidaan | playground |
If one word on this list carries the weight of the whole culture, it is ਪਿੰਡ (pind). Ask any Punjabi abroad about their pind and watch the conversation open up.
How do you say the directions in Punjabi?
| Gurmukhi | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ਪੂਰਬ | poorab | east |
| ਪੱਛਮ | pachham | west |
| ਉੱਤਰ | uttar | north |
| ਦੱਖਣ | dakkhan | south |
| ਸੱਜਾ | sajja | right |
| ਖੱਬਾ | khabba | left |
| ਅੱਗੇ | agge | ahead / in front |
| ਪਿੱਛੇ | pichhe | behind |
| ਉੱਪਰ / ਉੱਤੇ | uppar / utte | up / above |
| ਥੱਲੇ / ਹੇਠਾਂ | thalle / hethaan | down / below |
| ਨੇੜੇ | nere | near |
| ਦੂਰ | door | far |
| ਚੁਫੇਰੇ | chufere | all around |
ਸੱਜਾ (right) and ਖੱਬਾ (left) are the two you will use most — they turn up in every set of directions, as in ਖੱਬੇ ਮੁੜੋ (khabbe muro — turn left).
What are the Punjabi words for nature and weather?
| Gurmukhi | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ਅਸਮਾਨ | asmaan | sky |
| ਸੂਰਜ | sooraj | sun |
| ਚੰਨ | chann | moon |
| ਤਾਰੇ | taare | stars |
| ਧਰਤੀ | dharti | earth |
| ਦੁਨੀਆ | duniya | world |
| ਬੱਦਲ | baddal | cloud |
| ਮੀਂਹ | meenh | rain |
| ਹਵਾ | hava | wind / air |
| ਬਿਜਲੀ | bijli | lightning (also electricity) |
| ਗਰਜ | garaj | thunder |
| ਤੂਫ਼ਾਨ | toofaan | storm |
| ਹੜ੍ਹ | harh | flood |
| ਅੱਗ | agg | fire |
| ਦਰਿਆ | dariaa | river |
| ਨਹਿਰ | nehar | canal |
| ਝੀਲ | jheel | lake |
| ਝਰਨਾ | jharna | waterfall |
| ਚਸ਼ਮਾ | chashma | spring |
| ਸਮੁੰਦਰ | samundar | sea |
| ਮਹਾਂਸਾਗਰ | mahaansaagar | ocean |
| ਪਹਾੜ | pahaar | mountain |
| ਪਹਾੜੀ | pahaari | hill |
| ਜੰਗਲ | jangal | forest |
| ਮੈਦਾਨ | maidaan | plain |
| ਮਾਰੂਥਲ | maaroothal | desert |
Punjab’s five rivers are ਦਰਿਆ (dariaa) — a Persian loanword, like a surprising amount of Punjabi’s landscape vocabulary. And ਬਿਜਲੀ does double duty: lightning in the sky, electricity in the house.
What household words should you know in Punjabi?
| Gurmukhi | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ਮੇਜ਼ | mez | table |
| ਕੁਰਸੀ | kursi | chair |
| ਪੱਖਾ | pakkha | fan |
| ਸ਼ੀਸ਼ਾ | sheesha | mirror |
| ਦਰਵਾਜ਼ਾ | darvaaza | door |
| ਖਿੜਕੀ | khirki | window |
| ਥਾਲੀ | thaali | plate |
| ਕੌਲੀ | kauli | bowl |
| ਚਮਚਾ | chamcha | spoon |
| ਚਾਕੂ | chaaku | knife |
| ਕੜਛੀ | karchhi | ladle |
| ਪਤੀਲਾ | pateela | cooking pot |
| ਤੰਦੂਰ | tandoor | clay oven |
| ਚਿਮਟਾ | chimta | tongs |
| ਵੇਲਣਾ | velna | rolling pin |
| ਚਕਲਾ | chakla | rolling board |
| ਡੱਬਾ | dabba | box / container |
| ਤਾਲਾ / ਜਿੰਦਰਾ | taala / jindra | lock |
| ਚਾਬੀ / ਕੁੰਜੀ | chaabi / kunji | key |
| ਹਥੌੜੀ | hathauri | hammer |
| ਕੁਹਾੜੀ | kuhaari | axe |
The rolling pin and board pair — ਵੇਲਣਾ ਤੇ ਚਕਲਾ — is where every fresh roti begins, which makes them two of the most-mentioned objects in any Punjabi kitchen.
How do you talk about feelings in Punjabi?
| Gurmukhi | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ਖ਼ੁਸ਼ | khush | happy |
| ਉਦਾਸ | udaas | sad |
| ਪਿਆਰ | pyaar | love |
| ਗੁੱਸਾ / ਕ੍ਰੋਧ | gussa / krodh | anger |
| ਲਾਡ | laad | affection (especially for children) |
| ਮੋਹ | moh | attachment |
| ਜੋਸ਼ | josh | excitement / zeal |
| ਹਿੰਮਤ | himmat | courage |
| ਹਮਦਰਦੀ | hamdardi | sympathy |
| ਸੁਖ | sukh | comfort / peace |
| ਦੁੱਖ | dukkh | grief / sorrow |
| ਫ਼ਿਕਰ | fikar | worry |
| ਹੰਕਾਰ | hankaar | pride / vanity |
| ਲੋਭ | lobh | greed |
| ਵੈਰ | vair | enmity |
ਸੁਖ and ਦੁੱਖ come as a pair in countless Punjabi sayings and songs — life described as ਸੁਖ-ਦੁੱਖ, comfort and sorrow together.
What are the Punjabi names for animals?
| Gurmukhi | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ਕੁੱਤਾ | kutta | dog |
| ਬਿੱਲੀ | billi | cat |
| ਗਾਂ | gaan | cow |
| ਮੱਝ | majjh | buffalo |
| ਬਲਦ | balad | ox |
| ਵੱਛਾ | vachha | calf |
| ਘੋੜਾ | ghora | horse |
| ਟੱਟੂ | tattu | pony |
| ਖੱਚਰ | khachchar | mule |
| ਖੋਤਾ | khota | donkey |
| ਬੱਕਰੀ | bakri | goat |
| ਭੇਡ | bhed | sheep |
| ਸੂਰ | soor | pig |
| ਊਠ | ooth | camel |
| ਹਾਥੀ | haathi | elephant |
| ਸ਼ੇਰ | sher | lion |
| ਰਿੱਛ | richh | bear |
| ਬਾਂਦਰ | baandar | monkey |
| ਹਿਰਨ | hiran | deer |
| ਲੂੰਬੜੀ | loombri | fox |
| ਬਘਿਆੜ | baghiaar | wolf |
| ਗਿੱਦੜ | giddar | jackal |
| ਚੂਹਾ | chooha | rat / mouse |
| ਕਾਟੋ | kaato | squirrel |
| ਕਤੂਰਾ | katoora | puppy |
| ਬਲੂੰਗੜਾ | baloongra | kitten |
In a farming culture, animal words carry personality: ਮੱਝ (majjh — buffalo) is practically a member of the family in rural Punjab, and calling someone ਸ਼ੇਰ (sher — lion) is one of the warmest compliments in the language.
What are the colours in Punjabi?
| Gurmukhi | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ਰੰਗ | rang | colour |
| ਲਾਲ | laal | red |
| ਨੀਲਾ | neela | blue |
| ਪੀਲਾ | peela | yellow |
| ਹਰਾ | hara | green |
| ਚਿੱਟਾ | chitta | white |
| ਕਾਲਾ | kaala | black |
| ਭੂਰਾ | bhoora | brown |
| ਸਲੇਟੀ | saleti | grey |
| ਗੁਲਾਬੀ | gulaabi | pink |
| ਸੰਤਰੀ | santri | orange |
| ਜਾਮਨੀ | jaamni | purple |
| ਕੇਸਰੀ | kesari | saffron |
| ਸੁਨਹਿਰੀ | sunehri | golden |
Colour words in Punjabi agree with gender: a red kurta is ਲਾਲ ਕੁੜਤਾ, but “the dupatta is black” becomes ਚੁੰਨੀ ਕਾਲੀ ਹੈ (chunni kaali hai) — the -a ending shifts to -i for feminine nouns.
How should you actually learn Punjabi vocabulary?
Lists are for reference; words are learned in use. A few tactics that genuinely work:
- Learn by theme, one table at a time. Themed words reinforce each other — learning ਥਾਲੀ, ਕੌਲੀ, and ਚਮਚਾ together builds a mental picture of the table, not three isolated flashcards.
- Label your world. Sticky notes on the ਮੇਜ਼, the ਸ਼ੀਸ਼ਾ, and the ਦਰਵਾਜ਼ਾ turn your home into a free immersion course.
- Slot words into sentence patterns. Take ਮੈਨੂੰ … ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ (mainu … chaahida hai — I need …) from our common Punjabi sentences and feed it vocabulary: paani, chaah, aaraam. One pattern plus fifty nouns equals fifty sentences.
- Count what you learn. Numbers are vocabulary too, and among the most-used words in any language — the full Punjabi numbers chart covers 1 to 100 with the same Gurmukhi-plus-pronunciation format.
- Read the script early. Transliteration is a bridge, not a destination. The Gurmukhi alphabet guide takes an afternoon to work through and makes every word on this page readable at the source.
When you are ready to turn words into conversation, the Learn Punjabi hub lays out the full path from first words to flowing sentences.
Prefer something printable? The free Punjabi guides include starter PDFs delivered by email.
Start today
Vocabulary sticks fastest with audio, repetition, and a little daily structure. The PunjabiCharm app teaches these words with native pronunciation, spaced repetition, and bite-size lessons made for the diaspora — 500,000+ downloads and a 4.6-star rating across 4,000+ reviews. Learn your first ten words today — get the app here.
