Signs

1. ਪ੍ਰਵੇਸ਼ ਦੁਆਰ

   Pravesh duaar

   Entrance

   Usage

   Posted at the entrance of buildings, stations and temples, often alongside "ENTRANCE"

2. ਨਿਕਾਸ ਦੁਆਰ

   Nikaas duaar

   Exit

   Usage

   Posted at the exit of buildings, stations and temples, often alongside "EXIT"

3. ਐਮਰਜੈਂਸੀ ਨਿਕਾਸ

   Aimarjainsee nikaas

   Emergency exit

   Usage

   Marks escape routes in hotels, cinemas and airports; in practice usually written "EMERGENCY EXIT"

4. ਖੁੱਲ੍ਹਾ ਹੈ

   Khullhaa hai

   Open

   Usage

   A door hanger at shops and offices; the reverse side usually reads "band hai" (closed)

5. ਬੰਦ ਹੈ

   Band hai

   Closed

   Usage

   Shows a shop is shut; sometimes hand-written on the shutter

6. ਖੁੱਲ੍ਹਣ ਦਾ ਸਮਾਂ

   Khullhan daa samaan

   Opening hours

   Usage

   The heading on the board beside an entrance that lists trading hours

7. ਅੱਜ ਛੁੱਟੀ ਹੈ

   Ajj chhuttee hai

   Closed today

   Usage

   Announces a day off or an unscheduled closure — Indian shops have no equivalent of a "preparing to open" sign

8. ਪੁਰਸ਼

   Purash

   Men

   Usage

   Marks the men's toilet or waiting area; "marad" is also used

9. ਮਹਿਲਾ

   Mahilaa

   Women

   Usage

   Marks the women's toilet or waiting area; "aurat" and "istaree" also appear, though "istaree" can also mean "ironing"

10. ਪ੍ਰਵੇਸ਼ ਵਰਜਿਤ

    Pravesh varjit

    No entry

    Usage

    Bars unauthorised entry — seen at building sites, military land and temple inner areas

11. ਸਿਗਰਟ ਪੀਣਾ ਮਨ੍ਹਾ ਹੈ

    Sigrat peenaa manhaa hai

    No smoking

    Usage

    Indoor public smoking is banned nationwide in India, so this appears in every station, airport and eatery

12. ਸਿਗਰਟ ਪੀਣ ਦੀ ਥਾਂ

    Sigrat peen dee thaan

    Smoking area

    Usage

    Designated areas exist only at airports and large hotels, and are almost always signed "SMOKING AREA" or "SMOKING ZONE" in English

13. ਪੌੜੀਆਂ

    Paurheeaan

    Stairs

    Usage

    Directs you to the staircase — what you look for when the lift is out

14. ਧੱਕੋ

    Dhakko

    Push

    Usage

    A door label; in India these are almost always the English "PUSH"

15. ਖਿੱਚੋ

    Khichcho

    Pull

    Usage

    A door label; in India these are almost always the English "PULL"

16. ਕੰਮ ਜਾਰੀ ਹੈ

    Kamm jaaree hai

    Work in progress

    Usage

    Warns of roadworks or refurbishment; "MEN AT WORK" and "WORK IN PROGRESS" are also common

17. ਖ਼ਰਾਬ ਹੈ

    Kharaab hai

    Out of order

    Usage

    Stuck on broken lifts, ATMs and toilets — often just a hand-written slip of paper

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