Food & Drinks

1. ਇਹ ਕੀ ਹੈ?

   Ih kee hai?

   What is this?

   Usage

   Basic question about a food item

   Grammar Note

   Punjabi follows SOV (Subject-Object-Verb) word order. Question words appear mid-sentence.

2. ਬਹੁਤ ਸੁਆਦ ਹੈ

   Bahut suaad hai

   Very delicious

   Usage

   Complimenting delicious food

   Grammar Note

   "Suaad" means taste; "bahut suaad hai" is the colloquial way to say "very tasty". Same root as Hindi "swaad" (taste/flavor).

3. ਮੈਂ ਮਾਸ ਨਹੀਂ ਖਾਂਦਾ

   Main maas nahin khaanda

   I don't eat meat

   Usage

   Stating a dietary restriction

   Grammar Note

   Punjabi verbs agree with speaker's gender: "ਖਾਂਦਾ" (male speaker), "ਖਾਂਦੀ" (female speaker).

4. ਇਸ ਦੀ ਕੀਮਤ ਕਿੰਨੀ ਹੈ?

   Is di keemat kinnee hai?

   How much does this cost?

   Usage

   Asking the price of food

   Grammar Note

   "Keemat" (price) is borrowed from Persian/Arabic. Punjabi vocabulary draws from Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic, and English.

5. ਲੱਸੀ ਲਿਆਓ

   Lassi liaawo

   Please bring lassi (yogurt drink)

   Usage

   Ordering traditional Punjabi yogurt drink

   Grammar Note

   "Liaawo" is the imperative "bring". Lassi is a globally famous drink originating from Punjab.

6. ਮੱਖਣ ਪਰਾਂਠਾ ਦਿਓ

   Makhan paraanthaa diyo

   Please give me a butter paratha

   Usage

   Ordering the classic Punjabi breakfast flatbread. The spelling ਪਰਾਂਠਾ is seen on signs and menus; ਪਰੌਂਠਾ is an alternative spelling.

   Grammar Note

   "Diyo" is the polite imperative "please give". Paratha is a Punjabi staple. Amritsar's Paratha Wali Gali is world-famous.

7. ਦਾਲ ਮੱਖਣੀ ਕਿੰਨੀ ਚੰਗੀ ਹੈ!

   Daal Makhani kinnee changi hai!

   Dal makhani is so delicious!

   Usage

   Praising Punjab's signature creamy lentil dish

   Grammar Note

   "Kinnee changi" is an exclamation "how good!". Dal Makhani is slow-cooked black lentils with butter and cream — a global Punjabi icon.

8. ਮੈਂ ਸ਼ਾਕਾਹਾਰੀ ਹਾਂ

   Main shaakaahaari haan

   I am vegetarian

   Usage

   Declaring vegetarian diet restriction

   Grammar Note

   "Shaakaahaari" is formal Sanskrit-derived term. Colloquially: "Main maas naheen khaandaa" (I don't eat meat).

9. ਲੰਗਰ ਕਿੱਥੇ ਮਿਲੇਗਾ?

   Langar kithe milegaa?

   Where is the langar (free communal meal)?

   Usage

   Finding the free community kitchen at a Gurdwara

   Grammar Note

   Langar is a core Sikh institution — free meals for all regardless of religion or social status. The Golden Temple serves 100,000+ meals daily.

10. ਕੀ ਕੁਝ ਮਿੱਠਾ ਹੈ?

    Ki kujh mitthaa hai?

    Is there anything sweet?

    Usage

    Asking about desserts or sweets

    Grammar Note

    Famous Punjabi sweets: "Gulab Jamun", "Jalebi", "Kheer" (rice pudding), "Pinni" (ghee-nut sweet). Sweets are central to celebrations.

11. ਚੌਲ

    Chaul

    Rice (cooked)

    Usage

    In an eatery this means cooked rice; the same word also covers raw rice at a market

12. ਡਬਲ ਰੋਟੀ

    Dabal rotee

    Bread (loaf)

    Usage

    Western loaf bread; "rotee" alone means chapati flatbread

13. ਨੂਡਲਜ਼

    Noodalz

    Noodles

    Usage

    Noodles such as the chow mein sold at street stalls

14. ਤਿੱਖਾ

    Tikkhaa

    Spicy (chili hot)

    Usage

    Chili heat specifically; outside food contexts the word can also mean "sharp"

15. ਮਿੱਠਾ

    Mitthaa

    Sweet

    Usage

    Sweet in taste; as a noun it also means a sweet or dessert

16. ਕੱਚਾ

    Kachchaa

    Raw (uncooked)

    Usage

    Uncooked; applied to fruit the same word means "unripe"

17. ਲੂਣ

    Loon

    Salt

    Usage

    Point to ask for salt, or to ask for less of it

18. ਖੰਡ

    Khand

    Sugar

    Usage

    Sugar; useful when adjusting how sweet your chai is made

19. ਕਾਲੀ ਮਿਰਚ

    Kaalee mirach

    Black pepper

    Usage

    Black pepper; "mirach" on its own usually means chili

20. ਤੇਲ

    Tel

    Cooking oil

    Usage

    Cooking oil; mustard oil is the Punjabi standard

21. ਸਿਰਕਾ

    Sirkaa

    Vinegar

    Usage

    Vinegar, used in Indo-Chinese dishes and pickles

22. ਮੱਖਣ

    Makkhan

    Butter

    Usage

    Butter — check for it if you are avoiding dairy

23. ਪਨੀਰ

    Paneer

    Cheese (paneer)

    Usage

    Indian fresh cheese; Western cheese is called "cheez" and is a different product

24. ਸ਼ਹਿਦ

    Shehad

    Honey

    Usage

    Honey; also worth asking for when your throat hurts

25. ਸੂਪ

    Soop

    Soup

    Usage

    Soup — an easy order when you are unwell

26. ਦਹੀਂ

    Daheen

    Yoghurt

    Usage

    Plain yoghurt, the standard way to cool down a spicy meal

27. ਫਲ

    Phal

    Fruit

    Usage

    Fruit in general; see the fruits category for individual names

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