Basic Nouns

1. ਪਾਣੀ

   paani

   Water

   Usage

   The basic word for drinking water, understood in any eatery or shop

2. ਖਾਣਾ

   khaana

   Food

   Usage

   The general word for food — a way into asking where you can eat

3. ਪੈਸੇ

   paise

   Money

   Usage

   The base word for anything about paying or changing currency

4. ਟਾਇਲਟ

   toilet

   Toilet

   Usage

   Essential when asking directions. The word alone usually does the job

5. ਟਿਸ਼ੂ

   tishoo

   Tissue

   Usage

   Needed at toilets and street stalls that provide no paper

6. ਦਵਾਈ

   davaai

   Medicine

   Usage

   Use it at a pharmacy while miming your symptom

7. ਸਾਮਾਨ

   saamaan

   Luggage

   Usage

   For checking, carrying or collecting bags — common at airports and hotels

8. ਚਾਬੀ

   chaabi

   Key

   Usage

   For room keys and locker keys

9. ਟਿਕਟ

   tikat

   Ticket

   Usage

   Transport or entry tickets. Combine it with a number at the counter

10. ਪਾਸਪੋਰਟ

    paasport

    Passport

    Usage

    Requested at check-in and currency exchange, and the word you need if it goes missing

11. ਫ਼ੋਨ

    fon

    Phone

    Usage

    Usually covers both the device and the act of calling

12. ਚਾਰਜਰ

    chaarjar

    Charger

    Usage

    For borrowing or buying one — often needed at a hotel front desk

13. ਸਟੇਸ਼ਨ

    steshan

    Station

    Usage

    A landmark word when asking for directions

14. ਹਸਪਤਾਲ

    haspataal

    Hospital

    Usage

    For when you fall ill — works as a destination in a taxi

15. ਪੁਲਿਸ

    pulis

    Police

    Usage

    For theft or accidents. Even the bare word conveys urgency

16. ਦੁਕਾਨ

    dukaan

    Shop

    Usage

    The base word when asking where to buy something

17. ਕਮਰਾ

    kamra

    Room

    Usage

    For accommodation — checking vacancies or explaining a room number

18. ਸੜਕ

    sarhak

    Road

    Usage

    For asking the way, ideally while pointing at a map

19. ਪਰਿਵਾਰ

    parivaar

    Family

    Usage

    A guaranteed small-talk topic. Add a number and the conversation keeps going

20. ਨਾਮ

    naam

    Name

    Usage

    For confirming a booking or introducing yourself

21. ਸਿਰ

    sir

    Head

    Usage

    Body part name for pointing out where it hurts

22. ਅੱਖ

    akkh

    Eye

    Usage

    One eye; the plural "akkhaan" means both eyes

23. ਦੰਦ

    dand

    Tooth

    Usage

    Point when reporting toothache or looking for a dentist

24. ਗਲਾ

    galaa

    Throat

    Usage

    Point when reporting a sore throat

25. ਪੇਟ

    pet

    Stomach / belly

    Usage

    Point when reporting stomach pain or diarrhoea

26. ਪਿੱਠ

    pitth

    Back

    Usage

    Point when reporting back pain

27. ਲੱਕ

    lakk

    Lower back / waist

    Usage

    The waist and lower-back area — the spot people mean by "lower back pain"

28. ਪੈਰ

    pair

    Foot

    Usage

    The foot below the ankle; the whole leg is a different word, "latt"

29. ਹੱਥ

    hath

    Hand

    Usage

    The hand below the wrist; the arm is "baanh"

30. ਛਾਤੀ

    chhaatee

    Chest

    Usage

    The chest — intended for telling a doctor about chest pain

31. ਹੋਟਲ

    hotal

    Hotel

    Usage

    A place to stay; note that in India roadside eateries are sometimes also signed "HOTEL"

32. ਹਵਾਈ ਅੱਡਾ

    havaaee addaa

    Airport

    Usage

    Point to give an airport as your destination to a driver

33. ਬੱਸ ਅੱਡਾ

    bass addaa

    Bus terminal

    Usage

    The city bus terminal; a roadside stop is a different word, "bass sṭaap"

34. ਮੈਟਰੋ

    maitro

    Metro / subway

    Usage

    There is no metro inside Punjab state — this is for Delhi and other cities with Punjabi speakers

35. ਦੂਤਾਵਾਸ

    dootaavaas

    Embassy

    Usage

    Embassy; in India these are concentrated in New Delhi

36. ਏਟੀਐਮ

    e-tee-em

    ATM

    Usage

    Cash machine; signs are normally the English "ATM"

37. ਪੈਸੇ ਬਦਲਣ ਦੀ ਦੁਕਾਨ

    paise badlan dee dukaan

    Money exchange

    Usage

    Currency exchange; shopfronts usually read "FOREX" or "MONEY CHANGER"

38. ਲਾਂਡਰੀ

    laandaree

    Laundry shop

    Usage

    A shop that washes clothes for you — coin-operated laundromats barely exist in Punjab

39. ਫਾਇਰ ਸਟੇਸ਼ਨ

    faair steshan

    Fire station

    Usage

    A direct transliteration of English "fire station", used as such in Punjabi signage and reporting

40. ਵਣਜ ਦੂਤਾਵਾਸ

    vanaj dootaavaas

    Consulate

    Usage

    ਵਣਜ (trade) plus ਦੂਤਾਵਾਸ (embassy) - the mission kept in major cities, separate from the embassy in the capital

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