Numbers

1. ਇੱਕ, ਦੋ, ਤਿੰਨ

   Ikk, do, tinn

   One, two, three

   Usage

   Basic numbers in Punjabi

   Grammar Note

   Indo-Aryan number system very similar to Hindi (ek, do, teen). Both derive from Sanskrit.

2. ਚਾਰ, ਪੰਜ, ਛੇ

   Chaar, panj, chhe

   Four, five, six

   Usage

   Punjabi numbers 4 to 6

   Grammar Note

   "Panj" (five) is the origin of "Punjab" — the name means "five rivers" (panj=five + aab=water/river in Persian).

3. ਸੱਤ, ਅੱਠ, ਨੌਂ, ਦਸ

   Satt, atth, nauṃ, das

   Seven, eight, nine, ten

   Usage

   Punjabi numbers 7 to 10

   Grammar Note

   These numbers are widely shared across Indo-Aryan languages. English seven/eight/nine/ten are also distant relatives within the Indo-European family.

4. ਸੌ

   Sau

   One hundred

   Usage

   One hundred, used in prices and quantities

   Grammar Note

   "Sau" (hundred) from Sanskrit "ṡata". Thousand = "hazaar" (from Persian), 100,000 = "lakh".

5. ਪਹਿਲਾ

   Pehilaa

   First

   Usage

   Ordinal number meaning first

   Grammar Note

   Ordinals also inflect for gender: "pehilaa" (masc), "pehlī" (fem). Second: "dooja/dooji", Third: "teeja/teeji".

6. ਗਿਆਰਾਂ, ਬਾਰਾਂ, ਤੇਰਾਂ

   Gyaaraan, baaraan, teraan

   Eleven, twelve, thirteen

   Usage

   Punjabi numbers 11 to 13

   Grammar Note

   Punjabi 11–19 have unique forms. Similar to Hindi: 11 gyaaraan, 12 baaraan, 13 teraan, 14 chaudaan, 15 pandraan.

7. ਵੀਹ, ਪੰਜਾਹ, ਸੌ

   Veeh, panjaa, sau

   Twenty, fifty, one hundred

   Usage

   Numbers used in shopping and prices

   Grammar Note

   "Hazaar" (1,000), "lakh" (100,000), "crore" (10,000,000). The Indian numbering system uses lakh and crore in everyday speech.

8. ਕਿੰਨੇ ਦੇ ਹਨ?

   Kinne de han?

   How much do they cost?

   Usage

   Asking the price of something

   Grammar Note

   "Kinne de han?" is the common colloquial price question. "Keemat ki hai?" (What is the price?) is more formal.

9. ਦੋ ਕਿਲੋ ਦਿਓ

   Do kilo diyo

   Give me two kilos

   Usage

   Specifying weight when buying at a market

   Grammar Note

   "Diyo" = please give (polite imperative). Other units: "addha kilo" (half kilo), "paa" (quarter kg = 250g).

10. ਘੜੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਿੰਨੇ ਵੱਜੇ ਹਨ?

    Ghadi vich kinne vajje han?

    What time is it on the clock?

    Usage

    Asking for the current time

    Grammar Note

    "Vajjnaa" means the clock "strikes". "Tinn vajje han" = it is 3 o'clock. Same concept as in Urdu/Hindi "baj".

11. ਮੇਰੀ ਉਮਰ ਸਤਾਈ ਸਾਲ ਹੈ

    Meree umar sataai saal hai

    I'm 27 years old

    Usage

    How to answer when asked your age; the reply to "tuhadi umar ki hai?"

    Grammar Note

    "Umar" is feminine, so the possessive is "meree". "Sataai" is a fused form of "satt" (7) and "veeh" (20) and cannot be built by juxtaposing tens and units. 28 is "aṭhaai".

12. ਇਸ ਸਾਲ ਮੇਰੀ ਉਮਰ ਅਠਾਈ ਸਾਲ ਹੋਵੇਗੀ

    Is saal meree umar aṭhaai saal hovegee

    I turn 28 this year

    Usage

    Saying what age you will reach this year

    Grammar Note

    The future "hovegaa / hovegee" agrees with the subject's gender. The subject "umar" is feminine, hence "hovegee", the same form as in "bordiṅg kadon shuru hovegee?".

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