Phrasebook
Common Punjabi phrases you'll actually use
Not a dictionary dump — the phrases that come up at the dinner table, the dhaba, the gurdwara, and on a Punjab trip. Each is shown in Gurmukhi, romanized, and English.
Greetings
The first words you'll use every day.
| Punjabi | Romanized | English |
|---|---|---|
| ਸਤ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ | Sat Sri Akal | Hello (the universal Sikh greeting) |
| ਤੁਸੀਂ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਹੋ? | Tusīn kiven ho? | How are you? (respectful) |
| ਤੂੰ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਹੈਂ? | Tūn kiven hain? | How are you? (to a child or close friend) |
| ਮੈਂ ਠੀਕ ਹਾਂ | Main ṭhīk hān | I'm fine |
| ਧੰਨਵਾਦ | Dhannvād | Thank you |
| ਫਿਰ ਮਿਲਦੇ ਹਾਂ | Phir milde hān | See you again |
Family
The words diaspora kids need most.
| Punjabi | Romanized | English |
|---|---|---|
| ਮਾਂ | Mān | Mother |
| ਪਿਓ | Pio | Father |
| ਦਾਦੀ | Dādī | Grandmother (father's side) |
| ਨਾਨੀ | Nānī | Grandmother (mother's side) |
| ਭੈਣ | Bhaiṇ | Sister |
| ਭਰਾ | Bharā | Brother |
Food & the dhaba
For ordering, complimenting, and asking for more.
| Punjabi | Romanized | English |
|---|---|---|
| ਪਾਣੀ | Pāṇī | Water |
| ਰੋਟੀ | Roṭī | Bread / roti |
| ਚਾ | Chā | Tea |
| ਬਹੁਤ ਵਧੀਆ ਹੈ | Bahut vaḍhīā hai | It's very good (the compliment that makes cooks happy) |
| ਹੋਰ ਦਿਓ | Hor dio | Give me more |
| ਬਿਲ ਕਿਨਨਾ? | Bill kinnā? | How much is the bill? |
Getting around
Travel basics for a Punjab trip.
| Punjabi | Romanized | English |
|---|---|---|
| ਇਹ ਕਿੱਥੇ ਹੈ? | Ih kitthe hai? | Where is this? |
| ਕਿੰਨਾ ਪੈਸਾ? | Kinnā paisā? | How much money? |
| ਮੈਨੂੰ ਸਮਝ ਨਹੀਂ ਆਈ | Mainūn samajh nahīn āī | I didn't understand |
| ਥੋੜ੍ਹਾ ਹੌਲੀ ਬੋਲੋ | Thoṛhā haulī bolo | Please speak a little slower |
| ਮੈਂ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਸਿੱਖ ਰਿਹਾ ਹਾਂ | Main Panjābī sikh rihā hān | I'm learning Punjabi |
Reading these yourself
Every phrase above is written in Gurmukhi — and Gurmukhi is phonetic, so once you know the letters you can read any of these out loud. The alphabet chart plus the two-week plan will get you there. Or just start the lessons — greetings and family words are the first things Gurmukhi Go teaches, with audio for every word.