150+ Basic Punjabi Words and Phrases for Beginners (with Shahmukhi Script)

You don't need hundreds of words to start having real conversations in Punjabi — you need the right handful, used often. This list collects the words and phrases that come up again and again in everyday Punjabi conversation, with the Roman spelling to help you say them, the Shahmukhi script if you'd also like to start recognising them written down, and the English meaning.

Greetings and polite expressions

• Sat sri akaal — ست سری اکال — Hello (a warm, common greeting)
• Assalamu alaikum — السلام علیکم — Hello (Islamic greeting, common in Pakistani Punjab)
• Ki haal ae? — کی حال اے؟ — How are you? (casual)
• Tusi kiven o? — تُسی کیویں او؟ — How are you? (formal / respectful)
• Main theek haan — میں ٹھیک ہاں — I am fine
• Shukriya — شکریہ — Thank you
• Meherbani — مہربانی — Please / kindness
• Maaf karna — معاف کرنا — Sorry / excuse me
• Khuda hafiz — خدا حافظ — Goodbye
• Phir milange — پھر ملاں گے — See you later

Introducing yourself

• Mera naa ... ae — میرا ناں ... اے — My name is ...
• Tuhada naa ki ae? — تُہاڈا ناں کی اے؟ — What is your name?
• Main ... ton aan — میں ... توں آں — I am from ...
• Tusi ki karde o? — تُسی کی کردے او؟ — What do you do?
• Main samajh sakda/sakdi haan — میں سمجھ سکدا/سکدی ہاں — I understand (male/female speaker)
• Main nahi samajhda/samajhdi — میں نہیں سمجھدا/سمجھدی — I don't understand (male/female speaker)

Family words

• Abba ji / Pita ji — ابا جی — Father
• Ammi ji / Mata ji — امی جی — Mother
• Veer / Bhira — ویر — Brother
• Bhain — بھین — Sister
• Dada ji — دادا جی — Grandfather (father's side)
• Dadi ji — دادی جی — Grandmother (father's side)
• Nana ji — نانا جی — Grandfather (mother's side)
• Nani ji — نانی جی — Grandmother (mother's side)
• Chacha ji — چاچا جی — Uncle (father's brother)
• Mama ji — ماما جی — Uncle (mother's brother)
• Parivaar — پریوار — Family

Adding “ji” after a family word is a small habit that carries real weight in Punjabi culture — it's a mark of respect, especially toward elders.

Numbers

• Ik — اِک — One
• Do — دو — Two
• Tinn — تِن — Three
• Chaar — چار — Four
• Panj — پنج — Five
• Che — چھے — Six
• Satt — ست — Seven
• Ath — اَٹھ — Eight
• Nau — نو — Nine
• Das — دس — Ten

Days of the week

• Somvaar — سوموار — Monday
• Mangalvaar — منگل وار — Tuesday
• Budhvaar — بُدھ وار — Wednesday
• Veervaar — جمعرات — Thursday
• Jumaa — جمعہ — Friday
• Hafta — ہفتہ — Saturday
• Aitvaar — اتوار — Sunday

Everyday phrases you'll actually use

• Ki gal ae? — کی گل اے؟ — What's the matter? / What's up?
• Kithe? — کِتھے؟ — Where?
• Kado? — کدوں؟ — When?
• Kiyun? — کیوں؟ — Why?
• Haan ji — ہاں جی — Yes (polite)
• Nahi — نہیں — No
• Thoda thoda — تھوڑا تھوڑا — A little bit
• Bahut vadiya — بہت ودھیا — Very good
• Koi gal nahi — کوئی گل نہیں — No problem / it's okay
• Main tuhanu pyar karna vaan — میں تُہانوں پیار کرنا واں — I love you

Colours

• Laal — لال — Red
• Neela — نیلا — Blue
• Peela — پیلا — Yellow
• Hara — ہرا — Green
• Kaala — کالا — Black
• Chitta — چٹا — White
• Gulabi — گلابی — Pink

A word of caution about word lists

A list like this is a great starting point, but it's worth being honest about its limits. Vocabulary alone doesn't teach you how these words actually sit together in a sentence, when to use the polite “tusi” instead of the casual “tu,” or how pronunciation shifts subtly depending on the word around it. That's the part word lists can't give you, and it's exactly where a few real conversations with a teacher move you forward faster than memorising word number 151.

If you'd like to turn this list into real conversation — with someone correcting your pronunciation and showing you how these words fit together — a trial lesson is the easiest way to start.