Music & Entertainment

10 phrases · Punjabi with romanization, English and audio

  1. ਭੰਗੜਾ ਨੱਚੋ

    Bhangraa nachcho

    Dance the Bhangra

    Usage

    Invitation to join the traditional Punjabi folk dance Bhangra

    Grammar Note

    "ਨੱਚੋ" is the imperative of "ਨੱਚਣਾ" (to dance). Bhangra originates from the harvest festival "ਵਿਸਾਖੀ".

  2. ਢੋਲ ਵਜਾਓ

    Dhol vajaao

    Play the dhol (drum)

    Usage

    Asking someone to play the dhol drum at a wedding or festival

    Grammar Note

    "ਵਜਾਉਣਾ" is the verb for playing a musical instrument. The dhol is the iconic percussion of Punjabi music.

  3. ਇਹ ਗਾਣਾ ਬਹੁਤ ਮਸ਼ਹੂਰ ਹੈ

    Ih gaanaa bahut mashahoor hai

    This song is very famous

    Usage

    Talking about a popular or well-known song

    Grammar Note

    "ਮਸ਼ਹੂਰ" from Arabic "mashhur" (famous). Used across Urdu and Hindi as well.

  4. ਮੈਨੂੰ ਗਿੱਧਾ ਪਸੰਦ ਹੈ

    Mainuu Giddhaa pasand hai

    I like Giddha (women's folk dance)

    Usage

    Expressing preference for Giddha, the traditional Punjabi women's folk dance

    Grammar Note

    "ਮੈਨੂੰ … ਪਸੰਦ ਹੈ" means "I like …". This is a dative construction where the experiencer takes dative case.

  5. ਰਬਾਬ ਕਿਸਨੇ ਬਣਾਈ?

    Rabaab kisne banaai?

    Who made this rabab?

    Usage

    Asking about who made the traditional Punjabi stringed instrument rabab

    Grammar Note

    In past transitive sentences in Punjabi, the subject takes "ਨੇ" (ergative marker) and the verb agrees with the object.

  6. ਆਵਾਜ਼ ਉੱਚੀ ਕਰੋ

    Aawaaz uchhee karo

    Increase the volume

    Usage

    Asking someone to turn up the volume of music or speaker

    Grammar Note

    "ਆਵਾਜ਼" (sound) is a Persian-origin feminine noun. "ਉੱਚੀ ਕਰੋ" = "make it high/loud".

  7. ਤਾਲ ਮਿਲਾਓ

    Taal milaao

    Match the rhythm / Keep the beat

    Usage

    Instructing musicians to keep in time with the rhythm

    Grammar Note

    "ਤਾਲ" (rhythm/beat) is from Sanskrit and central to Indian classical music and Punjabi folk music alike.

  8. ਗੀਤ ਸੁਣਾਓ

    Geet sunaao

    Sing a song for me

    Usage

    Asking someone to sing or perform a song

    Grammar Note

    "ਸੁਣਾਉਣਾ" is the causative of "ਸੁਣਨਾ" (to hear). Means "to make someone hear / to perform for".

  9. ਸੁਰ ਬਿਲਕੁਲ ਸਹੀ ਹੈ

    Sur bilkul sahi hai

    The pitch is perfectly correct

    Usage

    Complimenting a musician's accurate pitch or tune

    Grammar Note

    "ਸੁਰ" from Sanskrit "svara". "ਬਿਲਕੁਲ" and "ਸਹੀ" are Arabic-origin words, reflecting Punjabi's multilayered vocabulary.

  10. ਲੋਕ ਸੰਗੀਤ ਬਹੁਤ ਮਿੱਠਾ ਹੈ

    Lok sangeet bahut mitthaa hai

    Folk music is very sweet / melodious

    Usage

    Expressing appreciation for Punjabi folk music

    Grammar Note

    In Punjabi, "ਮਿੱਠਾ" (sweet) is used metaphorically to describe beautiful music or voice — a synesthetic expression.

More Punjabi phrases

Browse all TravelPhrases languages