ਮਦਦ ਕਰੋ!
Madad karo!
Help me!
Usage
Urgent call for help
Grammar Note
"Madad" is borrowed from Arabic. South Asian languages contain many words of Arabic-Persian origin.
ਮੈਨੂੰ ਡਾਕਟਰ ਦੀ ਲੋੜ ਹੈ
Mainu daaktar dee lorh hai
I need a doctor
Usage
Requesting medical help
Grammar Note
"Lorh" (need) is feminine, so "dee" (feminine genitive) is used. English "doctor" is used in Punjabi too.
ਪੁਲਿਸ ਬੁਲਾਓ!
Pulis bulaao!
Call the police!
Usage
Urgently calling for police
Grammar Note
"Bulaao" is the polite imperative "call/summon". Emergency numbers in India: 100 (police), 112 (unified).
ਮੇਰਾ ਪਰਸ ਚੋਰੀ ਹੋ ਗਿਆ
Meraa pars choree ho gayaa
My wallet was stolen
Usage
Reporting a theft
Grammar Note
"Ho gayaa" (become + past) is a compound past expressing completed change. Common Punjabi past construction.
ਹਸਪਤਾਲ ਕਿੱਥੇ ਹੈ?
Haspataal kithe hai?
Where is the hospital?
Usage
Urgently asking for the hospital location
Grammar Note
"Haspataal" is a loan from English "hospital" (same form as Hindi हस्पताल).
ਮੇਰਾ ਪਾਸਪੋਰਟ ਗੁੰਮ ਹੋ ਗਿਆ
Meraa passport gumm ho gayaa
My passport is lost
Usage
Reporting passport loss to police or embassy
Grammar Note
"Ho gayaa" marks completed change of state ("it has become/gotten"). "Jaanaa" (to go) reinforces completion in Punjabi.
ਮੈਨੂੰ ਐਲਰਜੀ ਹੈ
Mainuu allergy hai
I have an allergy
Usage
Informing medical staff about an allergy
Grammar Note
Punjabi expresses "having" with a dative construction: "mainuu...hai" = "to me there is..." rather than "I have...".
ਅੰਬੂਲੈਂਸ ਬੁਲਾਓ!
Ambulance bulaao!
Call an ambulance!
Usage
Urgent request to call an ambulance
Grammar Note
"Bulaao" is the polite/plural imperative of "bulaaunaa" (to call). India's ambulance number is 108 (free) or 112 (integrated emergency).
ਮੈਂ ਰਾਹ ਭੁੱਲ ਗਿਆ ਹਾਂ
Main raah bhull gayaa haan
I am lost
Usage
Saying you are lost
Grammar Note
"Bhull gayaa" is masculine. Female speakers say "bhull gayee haan". Punjabi past tense agrees with gender of subject.
ਦੂਤਾਵਾਸ ਕਿੱਥੇ ਹੈ?
Dootaavaas kithe hai?
Where is the embassy?
Usage
Finding the embassy in an emergency
Grammar Note
"Dootaavaas" is a Sanskrit compound: "doot" (envoy) + "aavaas" (residence). Indian major embassies are in New Delhi.
ਬੰਦ ਕਰੋ!
Band karo!
Stop it!
Usage
Show to firmly refuse persistent touts or unwanted contact — it works without raising your voice
ਮੈਨੂੰ ਹੱਥ ਨਾ ਲਾਓ!
Mainu hath na laao!
Don't touch me!
Usage
Show firmly if someone touches you; it also alerts bystanders to the situation
ਮੈਨੂੰ ਇਕੱਲਾ ਛੱਡੋ!
Mainu ikallaa chhaddo!
Leave me alone!
Usage
Show to shake off someone following you; a female speaker says "ikallee" instead
ਮੈਂ ਪੁਲਿਸ ਬੁਲਾਵਾਂਗਾ!
Main pulis bulaavaangaa!
I will call the police!
Usage
A deterrent against scams or intimidation; a female speaker says "bulaavaangee"
ਅੱਗ ਲੱਗ ਗਈ!
Agg lagg gaee!
Fire!
Usage
Alert people to a fire in a hotel or building
ਚੋਰ
Chor
Thief
Usage
Names the person who steals; pair it with «ਮੇਰਾ ਪਰਸ ਚੋਰੀ ਹੋ ਗਿਆ» (my purse was stolen) when reporting the loss
ਡਾਕਾ
Daakaa
Robbery
Usage
Taking money or goods by force or threat; equivalent to ਡਕੈਤੀ, with the idiom ਡਾਕਾ ਮਾਰਨਾ, "to commit robbery"
ਜੇਬ ਕਤਰਾ
Jeb kataraa
Pickpocket
Usage
ਜੇਬ (pocket) plus ਕਤਰਾ (one who cuts) - used to report thefts on crowded buses or in markets
ਅਗਵਾ
Agvaa
Kidnapping
Usage
Carrying a person off and confining them against their will; the same word covers hijacking
ਕਤਲ
Katal
Murder
Usage
The act of killing a person; ਹੱਤਿਆ and ਖ਼ੂਨ are synonyms, but ਖ਼ੂਨ also means "blood"
ਦੰਗਾ
Dangaa
Riot
Usage
Public disorder or group violence - show it to warn someone off an area or to ask what is happening
ਬੰਬ
Bamb
Bomb
Usage
An explosive device; the same word covers grenades and shells. Show it to report a suspicious object
ਅੱਗ ਲੱਗ ਗਈ! ਭੱਜੋ!
Agg lagg gaee! Bhajjo!
Fire! Run!
Usage
Warns of a fire and tells people to get out
Grammar Note
The tusi-level imperative of bhajjna (to run, to flee); the -o ending is used for several people or a polite command.
ਚੋਰ! ਫੜੋ!
Chor! Pharho!
Thief! Catch him!
Usage
Shouted at bystanders while pointing at someone running off
Grammar Note
The tusi-level imperative of pharhna (to catch, to seize).
ਫਾਇਰ ਬ੍ਰਿਗੇਡ ਬੁਲਾਓ!
Faair brigade bulaao!
Please call the fire brigade
Usage
Asks someone to call the fire service; the fire emergency number in India is 101 and the unified number is 112
Grammar Note
The same “X bulaao!” (call X!) pattern as “ਪੁਲਿਸ ਬੁਲਾਓ!” and “ਅੰਬੂਲੈਂਸ ਬੁਲਾਓ!”. Faair is borrowed from English “fire”. “ਫਾਇਰ ਬ੍ਰਿਗੇਡ” refers to the fire brigade as an organisation rather than a vehicle.
ਪੁਲਿਸ ਸਟੇਸ਼ਨ ਕਿੱਥੇ ਹੈ?
Pulis steshan kithe hai?
Where is the police station?
Usage
Shown when looking for a police station to report a crime
Grammar Note
The "X kithe hai?" (where is X?) frame; steshan is the English loan "station" (railway station, police station).
ਮੈਂ ਚੋਰੀ ਦੀ ਰਿਪੋਰਟ ਕਰਨਾ ਚਾਹੁੰਦਾ ਹਾਂ।
Main choree dee report karna chahunda haan.
I want to report a theft
Usage
Shown at a police station to file a theft report - the document an insurer asks for is issued from this report
Grammar Note
The "X di report karna chahunda haan" (I want to report X) frame; a female speaker says chahundi haan.
ਕੀ ਕੋਈ ਜਾਪਾਨੀ ਬੋਲ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ?
Ki koi Japaani bol sakdaa hai?
Is there anyone who speaks Japanese?
Usage
Shown at a police station or hospital when looking for someone who can interpret; «ਕੀ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਅੰਗਰੇਜ਼ੀ ਬੋਲ ਸਕਦੇ ਹੋ?» asks whether someone speaks English
Grammar Note
koi (anyone) is a third-person singular subject, so the verb is bol sakdaa hai; to ask someone directly, use "ki tusseen Japaani bol sakde ho?".
ਇਹ ਵਿਅਕਤੀ ਬੇਹੋਸ਼ ਹੋ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ।
Ih viakti behosh ho gayaa hai.
This person is unconscious
Usage
Shown to bystanders or paramedics while pointing at a collapsed person
Grammar Note
Ho gayaa hai is a perfect construction meaning "has become"; if the person is female, say ho gaee hai.
ਕੋਈ ਡੁੱਬ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ!
Koi dubb rihaa hai!
Someone is drowning
Usage
Alerts bystanders to someone drowning in a river, pond or the sea; show it while pointing at the water
Grammar Note
Dubbna (to drown, to sink) with the progressive rihaa hai: present progressive.
ਮੈਨੂੰ ਕੁੱਟਿਆ ਗਿਆ।
Mainu kuttiaa gayaa.
I was beaten
Usage
Shown to the police or at a hospital to report having been assaulted
Grammar Note
The passive of kuttna (to beat); the auxiliary gayaa does not vary with the speaker's gender in this passive.
ਮੈਨੂੰ ਚਾਕੂ ਮਾਰਿਆ ਗਿਆ।
Mainu chaakoo maariaa gayaa.
I was stabbed
Usage
Reports having been stabbed with a blade; pair it with «ਖ਼ੂਨ ਵਗਣਾ» khoon vagnaa (bleeding) if there is blood
Grammar Note
Chaakoo maarna means to stab; this is its passive, and gayaa does not vary with the speaker's gender.
ਮੇਰੇ ਕਮਰੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਚੋਰੀ ਹੋ ਗਈ।
Mere kamre vich choree ho gaee.
My room was broken into
Usage
Tells a hotel or the police that your room was entered and robbed while you were out
Grammar Note
The subject is the feminine noun choree (theft), so the verb is ho gaee (with a masculine subject it would be ho gayaa). "mere kamre vich" means "in my room".
ਉਹ ਵਿਅਕਤੀ ਅਪਰਾਧੀ ਹੈ।
Uh viakti apraadhee hai.
That person is the culprit
Usage
Shown to the police while pointing at the offender; use it only when the person is in sight
Grammar Note
Punjabi equational sentences (A is B) take the order "A B hai."
ਮੈਨੂੰ ਧੋਖਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਗਿਆ।
Mainu dhokhaa dittaa gayaa.
I was deceived
Usage
Shown to report a scam or having been overcharged
Grammar Note
Dhokhaa dena means to deceive; this is its passive, and the auxiliary gayaa does not vary with the speaker's gender.
ਮੈਂ ਆਪਣਾ ਸਾਮਾਨ ਭੁੱਲ ਗਿਆ।
Main aapnaa saamaan bhull gayaa.
I left it behind
Usage
Says you left your things behind in a shop, a vehicle or your lodging - not a theft, so keep it separate from «ਮੇਰਾ ਪਰਸ ਚੋਰੀ ਹੋ ਗਿਆ»
Grammar Note
bhull gayaa means "forgot / left behind"; "main aapnaa saamaan bhull gayaa" is "I left my luggage behind". A female speaker says bhull gaee.
ਸੜਕ ਹਾਦਸਾ ਹੋ ਗਿਆ।
Sarak haadsaa ho gayaa.
There has been a traffic accident
Usage
Reports that an accident has happened; pair it with «ਅੰਬੂਲੈਂਸ ਬੁਲਾਓ!» ambulance bulaao! if an ambulance is needed
Grammar Note
"haadsaa ho gayaa" (there has been an accident) prefixed with sarhak (road) - the standard modern term for a traffic accident.
ਮੈਨੂੰ ਕਾਰ ਨੇ ਟੱਕਰ ਮਾਰੀ।
Mainuu car ne takkar maaree.
I was hit by a car
Usage
Reports a collision with a car; pair it with «ਟੁੱਟੀ ਹੋਈ ਹੱਡੀ» tuttee hoee haddee (fracture) or similar if you are injured
Grammar Note
"X ne Y nun takkar maaree" means "X struck Y". Takkar is feminine, hence maaree.
ਐਮਰਜੈਂਸੀ ਨਿਕਾਸ ਵੱਲ ਭੱਜੋ!
Aimarjainsee nikaas vall bhajjo!
Please escape through the emergency exit
Usage
Shown while pointing at the escape route during a fire or a power cut; «ਐਮਰਜੈਂਸੀ ਨਿਕਾਸ» is the sign itself
Grammar Note
vall is the directional postposition (towards); bhajjo is the tusi-level imperative of bhajjna (to run, to flee). "ton" (from) is avoided because it would read as "run away from the emergency exit".
ਖਤਰਾ!
Khataraa!
Watch out!
Usage
A one-word warning of immediate danger; also used on road and construction signs
Grammar Note
The noun (danger) behind khatarnak (dangerous); a one-word warning.
ਜਲਦੀ ਕਰੋ!
Jaldi karo!
Please hurry
Usage
Shown to ask paramedics or the police to come quickly, or to ask a driver to hurry
Grammar Note
jaldi (quickly) plus karo, the tusi-level imperative of karna (to do) - the same -o form as in "madad karo!".
ਹੁਣੇ ਆਓ!
Hune aao!
Please come right away
Usage
Shown on the phone or face to face to ask someone to come immediately
Grammar Note
hune (right now) with aao, the tusi-level imperative of aauna (to come).
ਇਹ ਐਮਰਜੈਂਸੀ ਹੈ।
Ih aimarjainsee hai.
It's an emergency
Usage
Shown to ask to be dealt with without waiting in line - at a hospital reception or a police station
Grammar Note
Aimarjainsee is a loan from English "emergency"; "ih aimarjainsee hai" means "this is an emergency".
ਕੀ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਹਸਪਤਾਲ ਤੱਕ ਛੱਡ ਸਕਦੇ ਹੋ?
Ki tusseen mainuu haspataal takk chhadd sakde ho?
Can you take me to a hospital?
Usage
Shown to a taxi driver or a bystander to be taken to a hospital; «ਮੈਨੂੰ ਡਾਕਟਰ ਕੋਲ ਜਾਣਾ ਹੈ» is for when you can get there yourself
Grammar Note
"ki tusseen mainuu ... takk chhadd sakde ho?" is a polite request frame meaning "can you take / drop me to ...?"; takk means "up to".
More Punjabi phrases
- Basic Words
- Basic Nouns
- Basic Verbs
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