Help and emergencies in Punjabi
The words you hope to never need. Play the ten Punjabi words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Punjabi phrases in this lesson
- ਮਦਦ ਕਰੋ!MA-dad KA-ro
- Help!
- ਡਾਕਟਰ ਨੂੰ ਬੁਲਾਓDAA-ktar noo bu-LAA-o
- Call a doctor
- ਪੁਲਿਸpu-LIS
- Police
- ਦਵਾਈ ਦੀ ਦੁਕਾਨda-VAA-ee dee du-KAAN
- Pharmacy
- ਹਸਪਤਾਲhas-pa-TAAL
- Hospital
- ਮੈਂ ਰਸਤਾ ਭੁੱਲ ਗਿਆ ਹਾਂmain RAS-taa BHUL gi-YAA haan
- I'm lost
- ਮੈਨੂੰ ਚੰਗਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਲੱਗ ਰਿਹਾMAI-noo CHAN-gaa na-HEE lag ri-HAA
- I don't feel well
- ਚੋਰੀ ਹੋ ਗਿਆCHO-ree ho gi-YAA
- It was stolen
- ਇਹ ਐਮਰਜੈਂਸੀ ਹੈih AI-mar-jen-see hai
- It's an emergency
- ਮੈਨੂੰ ਇਕੱਲਾ ਛੱਡ ਦਿਓMAI-noo i-KAL-laa CHHAD dio
- Leave me alone
Madad karo (help me, help!). Shout it clearly and loudly. Punjabis respond quickly and collectively to someone in distress; bystander inaction is rare. Bachao (BAACHA-o) is an older urgent cry for help you may also hear.
Daaktar noo bulaao (call a doctor). Private hospitals in Amritsar and Ludhiana are well-equipped. The national emergency number in India is 112, which covers police, fire, and medical services.
Pulis is the loanword used universally. Dial 100 for police in India or 112 for all emergencies. Punjab Police stations are found in every town; look for the khaki-uniformed officers.
Literally "medicine shop." Chemist is also widely understood as a loanword. Indian pharmacies stock a broad range of medications, including many that require a prescription in Western countries.
Haspataal (hospital). Government hospitals are free but busy; private hospitals are faster. Carry your passport and travel insurance details at all times when abroad.
Main rasta bhull giaa haan (I have lost my way). Rasta (path, road) plus bhulna (to forget, to lose). A Punjabi stranger will not just give directions; they may walk you to your destination.
Meinoo changa nahi lag riha (I am not feeling well). Changa means good or well in Punjabi, a word that sounds deceptively positive. Specify your symptom if you can: sir dard hai (I have a headache), pet dard hai (stomach pain).
Chori ho giaa (it was stolen, lit. theft happened). Report thefts to the local police station to get a First Information Report (FIR), which is required for insurance claims. Keep digital copies of all documents.
The emergency number in India is 112.
Literally "leave me alone".