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Punjabi for free
Why learn Punjabi?
Punjabi is one of the 67 languages you can learn on Lingocard with frequency-ranked flashcards, spaced repetition, and live speaking partners. Build vocabulary and pronunciation at your own pace, on web and mobile.
Punjabi is written in the Gurmukhi script. In the US Foreign Service Institute ranking, Punjabi is a Category III language - about 1100 class hours to professional working proficiency for English speakers. Punjabi belongs to the Indo-European (Indo-Aryan) family - if you enjoy it, a natural next step is Hindi or Urdu.
50 essential Punjabi words
Start with the words you will actually meet: learn these and you will recognize something in almost every Punjabi sentence.
| # | Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ਮੈਂ | mayn | I |
| 2 | ਤੂੰ | toon | you |
| 3 | ਉਹ | oh | he |
| 4 | ਅਸੀਂ | ah-SEEN | we |
| 5 | ਤੁਸੀਂ | too-SEEN | you |
| 6 | ਇਹ | eh | this |
| 7 | ਕੀ | kee | what |
| 8 | ਕੌਣ | kown | who |
| 9 | ਨਹੀਂ | nah-HEEN | no |
| 10 | ਅਤੇ | ah-TEH | and |
| 11 | ਜਾਂ | jahn | or |
| 12 | ਪਰ | par | but |
| 13 | ਵਿੱਚ | vich | in |
| 14 | ਨਾਲ | nahl | with |
| 15 | ਇੱਕ | ik | one |
| 16 | ਦੋ | doh | two |
| 17 | ਵੱਡਾ | VAD-dah | big |
| 18 | ਛੋਟਾ | CHHOH-tah | small |
| 19 | ਚੰਗਾ | CHUHNG-gah | good |
| 20 | ਨਵਾਂ | nah-VAHN | new |
| 21 | ਆਦਮੀ | AHD-mee | man |
| 22 | ਪਾਣੀ | PAH-nee | water |
| 23 | ਦਿਨ | din | day |
| 24 | ਸਾਲ | sahl | year |
| 25 | ਸਮਾਂ | sah-MAHN | time |
| 26 | ਘਰ | ghar | house |
| 27 | ਕੰਮ | kahm | work |
| 28 | ਜੀਵਨ | JEE-vahn | life |
| 29 | ਸ਼ਬਦ | SHAH-bahd | word |
| 30 | ਹੋਣਾ | HOH-nah | be |
| 31 | ਕਰਨਾ | kar-NAH | do |
| 32 | ਕਹਿਣਾ | KEH-nah | say |
| 33 | ਜਾਣਨਾ | JAHN-nah | know |
| 34 | ਵੇਖਣਾ | VEKH-nah | see |
| 35 | ਜਾਣਾ | JAH-nah | go |
| 36 | ਆਉਣਾ | AH-oo-nah | come |
| 37 | ਦੇਣਾ | DEH-nah | give |
| 38 | ਲੈਣਾ | LAY-nah | take |
| 39 | ਚਾਹੁਣਾ | CHAH-oo-nah | want |
| 40 | ਖਾਣਾ | KHAH-nah | eat |
| 41 | ਪੀਣਾ | PEE-nah | to drink |
| 42 | ਹੁਣ | hun | now |
| 43 | ਇੱਥੇ | IT-theh | here |
| 44 | ਉੱਥੇ | UT-theh | there |
| 45 | ਕਿੱਥੇ | KIT-theh | where |
| 46 | ਕਿਉਂ | kyoon | why |
| 47 | ਸਭ | sahbh | all |
| 48 | ਬਹੁਤ | bah-HOOT | very |
| 49 | ਅੱਜ | ahj | today |
| 50 | ਲੋਕ | lohk | people |
Useful phrases in Punjabi
- ਸਤ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ · sat sree a-KAAL · Hello / Good day
- ਤੁਸੀਂ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਹੋ? · tu-SEEN ki-VEN ho · How are you?
- ਧੰਨਵਾਦ · DHANN-vad · Thank you
- ਕਿਰਪਾ ਕਰਕੇ · KIR-pa kar-ke · Please
- ਮੇਰਾ ਨਾਮ... ਹੈ · ME-ra naam ... hai · My name is...
- ... ਕਿੱਥੇ ਹੈ? · KIT-the hai · Where is...?
- ਅਲਵਿਦਾ · al-vee-DAH · Goodbye
- ਮਾਫ਼ ਕਰਨਾ · maaf KAR-na · Excuse me
- ਮੈਨੂੰ ਸਮਝ ਨਹੀਂ ਆਉਂਦੀ · MAI-noo SA-majh na-HEEN OWN-dee · I don't understand
- ਕੀ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਮੇਰੀ ਮਦਦ ਕਰ ਸਕਦੇ ਹੋ? · kee tu-SEEN MEH-ree MA-dad kar SAK-de ho · Can you help me?
- ਇਹ ਕਿੰਨੇ ਦਾ ਹੈ? · eh KIN-ne da hai · How much is it?
- ਕੱਲ੍ਹ ਮਿਲਾਂਗੇ! · kal mee-LAHN-ge · See you tomorrow!
Learn Punjabi with comprehensive language resources
- Pronunciation
- Numbers
- Verbs and adjectives
- Frequency dictionaries
- Basic sentences
- Thematic dictionaries
- Politeness
- Idioms
Learn Punjabi, wherever you are
- AI-powered spaced repetition learning system on the go
- Audio processing for pronunciation
- Creation of visual language flash cards with images
- Search for speaking practice partners
- Frequency and thematic dictionaries for any language
- Alert system with exercise reminders
- Live video and messaging to facilitate learning
Join our global Punjabi learning community
Collaborate with native Punjabi speakers and fellow learners: exchange messages, correct each other's cards, and practice real conversation.
Send friend requests to the speakers you click with and build your own friends list - many practice partners become real friends.
Are you an educator? Teach Punjabi online · Create an online Punjabi school · Build a Punjabi curriculum
Frequently asked questions about learning Punjabi
How difficult is it to learn Punjabi?
How difficult Punjabi is depends on your background, but every language becomes manageable with consistent daily practice. Focusing on the most frequent words first means you can understand and say a lot early on. In the US Foreign Service Institute ranking, Punjabi is a Category III language - about 1100 class hours to professional working proficiency for English speakers.
What should I learn first to reach a basic level in Punjabi?
Start with the 100-500 most frequent words (free in our apps) and the thematic dictionaries most relevant to your daily life. Set clear goals and practise a few minutes every day - consistency is what produces results. Then connect with other learners to build confidence at your new basic level.
How long does it take to learn Punjabi?
Most learners reach a comfortable conversational level in Punjabi within 8-18 months of consistent daily study. Practising vocabulary with spaced repetition and speaking regularly speeds this up considerably. About 150 million people across 2 countries speak Punjabi, so you will never run short of practice partners.
How do I improve my Punjabi vocabulary?
Use the spaced-repetition and flashcard systems in the app. You can set daily, weekly, or yearly goals in our mobile apps and steadily reach the vocabulary size you’re aiming for.
Is Punjabi pronunciation hard?
Every language has a few sounds that take practice, but Punjabi pronunciation becomes consistent with regular listening and speaking. Hearing the language often matters more than memorising rules.
How do I get Free Punjabi speaking practice?
Open the Practice or Friends page in the app, send practice requests, and start real conversations with other learners - don’t be shy! You can also mention that you want speaking practice when you create your account, and the platform will help match you with suitable partners.
Do I need to learn the Punjabi alphabet first?
If Punjabi uses a different script, learning it early unlocks reading - and it's usually faster than people expect. On Lingocard you'll find every alphabet, with example words, free.