Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases. All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get what you need, or where you need to go.
Here are the bare minimum of Punjabi words and phrases you need to know to survive.
Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum. If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases, Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.
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Hello.
How much is it?|
Here are ten more phrases that will help you make new friends and ask for directions ...
The Top 20 ... |
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tuhaaDaa naam kii hai? What is your name? mēraa naam ... hai. My name is ... tuhaaDaa kii haal hai? How are you? mãĩ THiik hãã. tusĩĩ kiddãã? Fine. And you? ... kithē hai? Where is ...? paakhaaNãã kithē hai? puraś/istrii Where is the toilet? Men/Women mu'aaf karo. maaf karo. Sorry. Excuse me. koii gall nahĩĩ. No problem. mãĩ ... caahundaa hãã. (man) mãĩ ... caahundii hãã. (woman) I want ... mãĩ ... nahĩĩ caahundaa hãã. (man) mãĩ ... nahĩĩ caahundii hãã. (woman) I don't want ... |
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Here are another ten phrases to help you make a little more conversation and to get around ...
The Top 30 ... |
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tusĩĩ kithõ ho? Where are you from? mãĩ aasTrēliyaa tõ hãã. I am from Australia. kirpaa karkē mainũ bil caahidaa hai. The bill, please. mãĩ guaac gēaa hãã. (man) mãĩ guaac gēii hãã. (woman) I'm lost. ruko! intzaar karo! Stop! Wait! iththē, uththē. Here, there. Taiksii. hoTel. havaaii aDDaa. aDDaa. Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Station. mãĩ ... pasand kardaa hãã. (man) mãĩ ... pasand kardii hãã. (woman) I like ... mãĩ ... pasand nahĩĩ kardaa hãã. (man) mãĩ ... pasand nahĩĩ kardii hãã. (woman) I don't like ... ikk, do, tinn, caar, panj. one, two, three, four, five. che, satt, aTT, nãũ, das. six, seven, eight, nine, ten. *Or choose your country: amriikaa - America kanēDaa - Canada inglainD - England aayarlainD - Ireland niiu ziilainD - New Zealand |
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Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful, especially if you have dietary needs or allergies ...
Useful Extras ... |
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ciiyars! Cheers! cãgaa / buraa good / bad baRaa / choTaa big / small nēRē / duur near / far ghaTT / zyaadaa less / more ikk hor / kaafii another / enough mãĩ śaakaahaarii hãã. I am vegetarian. mãĩ gośt nahĩĩ khaandaa hãã. (man) mãĩ gośt nahĩĩ khaandii hãã. (woman) I don't eat meat. ... murgh ... ... chicken. ... macchii ... ... fish. mainũ mũgflii to ailarjii hai. I am allergic to peanuts. ... macchii ... ... fish. ... samundrii bhojan ... ... seafood. ... aNDē ... ... eggs. |
Vowels:
~ (tilde) over the vowel indicates a nasal vowel
a is pronounced as e as in brother, as a schwa (ə)
aa is pronounced as a as in father
ai is pronounced as e as in pet (ɛ)
ē is pronounced as a long e as in pet (ɛ:)
i is pronounced as i as in bit
ii is pronounced as ee as in deep (IPA i:)
Consonants:
c is pronounced as ch (without a puff of air)
gh is pronounced as gh, a voiced velar fricative (ɣ)
h adds a puff of air after the consonant, eg. th = tʰ
kh is pronounced as kh as in loch or Bach (x)
ś is pronounced as sh
v is pronounced as ʋ (midway between w and v)
Capital letters indicate retroflex consonants.
eg. D = ɖ (retroflex d)
(Hint: Retroflex consonants are made with the tongue curled back against the palate.)
~ (tilde) over the vowel indicates a nasal vowel
a is pronounced as e as in brother, as a schwa (ə)
aa is pronounced as a as in father
ai is pronounced as e as in pet (ɛ)
ē is pronounced as a long e as in pet (ɛ:)
i is pronounced as i as in bit
ii is pronounced as ee as in deep (IPA i:)
Consonants:
c is pronounced as ch (without a puff of air)
gh is pronounced as gh, a voiced velar fricative (ɣ)
h adds a puff of air after the consonant, eg. th = tʰ
kh is pronounced as kh as in loch or Bach (x)
ś is pronounced as sh
v is pronounced as ʋ (midway between w and v)
Capital letters indicate retroflex consonants.
eg. D = ɖ (retroflex d)
(Hint: Retroflex consonants are made with the tongue curled back against the palate.)