Meeting people in Punjabi
How are you, what is your name, where are you from, I like it: the first five minutes. 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
- ਤੁਸੀਂ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਹੋ?tu-SEEN ki-VEN ho
- How are you?
- ਮੈਂ ਠੀਕ ਹਾਂmain THEEK haan
- I'm fine, thanks
- ਤੁਸੀਂ ਦੱਸੋ?tu-SEEN DAS-so
- And you?
- ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਨਾਂ ਕੀ ਹੈ?tu-HAA-daa NAAN kee hai
- What's your name?
- ਮੇਰਾ ਨਾਂ ... ਹੈME-raa NAAN ... hai
- My name is...
- ਤੁਸੀਂ ਕਿੱਥੋਂ ਹੋ?tu-SEEN KIT-thon ho
- Where are you from?
- ਮੈਂ ... ਤੋਂ ਹਾਂmain ... ton haan
- I'm from...
- ਮੈਨੂੰ ਪਸੰਦ ਹੈMAI-noo pa-SAND hai
- I like it
- ਬਹੁਤ ਸੋਹਣਾba-HUT SOH-naa
- It's beautiful
- ਜੀ ਆਇਆਂ ਨੂੰJEE aa-ee-AAN noo
- Welcome
Formal, using tuseen (you, respectful plural). Use this with elders, strangers, or anyone you have just met. Eye contact and a slight forward tilt of the head show genuine interest.
Main theek haan, literally "I am fine." A natural reply to any how-are-you. Adding "ਤੁਹਾਡਾ?" (your?) immediately invites the other person to share in return, which is the polite move.
Tuseen dasoo (you tell). More conversational than a flat "and you." Dasna means to tell or share; this phrase invites the other person to elaborate, which Punjabis enjoy doing.
For the Golden Temple at night, the only comment.
Literally "your coming is welcome", the warm Punjabi welcome.