Counting to ten in Punjabi
One to ten, for prices, platforms, rooms and how many beers. 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
- ਇੱਕIK
- One
- ਦੋDO
- Two
- ਤਿੰਨTIN
- Three
- ਚਾਰCHAAR
- Four
- ਪੰਜPANJ
- Five
- ਛੇCHHE
- Six
- ਸੱਤSAT
- Seven
- ਅੱਠATH
- Eight
- ਨੌਂNAUN
- Nine
- ਦਸDAS
- Ten
The root of ik onkar, the Sikh declaration that God is one, seen at the start of the Guru Granth Sahib. In everyday use ik is the casual Punjabi form; ek is the Hindi equivalent you will also hear.
Identical to the Hindi word. Holds up two fingers and say do for two of anything: do roti, two flatbreads; do chai, two teas.
The nasal ending is typical of Punjabi counting words. Tin sounds like the English word tin.
Panj means five and also gives Punjab its name: panj aab, "five rivers" (the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej). The Panj Pyare, the Five Beloved Ones, are central to Sikh history.
Das is also part of many Sikh names, meaning servant. Prices at market stalls are often quoted in tens of rupees; learn this number and you can follow most haggling.