Language/Panjabi/Grammar/Nouns

Panjabi Grammar - Nouns

Hi Panjabi learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about Panjabi nouns. We will discover how to identify them, the different types of nouns in Panjabi, their gender, number, and case.

Take some time to dive into these other pages after completing this lesson: Panjabi Grammar → Basic Sentence Structure → Subject-Object ..., Panjabi Grammar → Introduction to Panjabi Script → Gurmukhi ..., Emotions and Feelings & How to Use Be.

What is a noun?

A noun refers to a person, place, thing, or idea. In Panjabi, a noun is called "ਸਿੱਖ" (sikkh).

Example:

Panjabi	Pronunciation	English
ਕਮਲ	kamal	Lotus

In the example above, "ਕਮਲ" (kamal) is a noun that refers to a type of flower.

Types of Nouns

There are different types of nouns in Panjabi. Here are some examples:

ਵਾਕ || Vak - Common or Countable Nouns

Vak refers to common or countable nouns. These nouns can be singular or plural.

Examples:

• ਗਾਣਾ - Gaana (Song)
• ਕਿਤਾਬ - Kitaab (Book)

When we use a countable noun in a sentence, it takes different forms depending on whether it's in the singular or plural form. This is called "ਵਚਨ" (Vachan) in Panjabi.

Here's an example in the singular and plural form:

• "ਮੈਂ ਕਿਤਾਬ ਪੜਦਾ/ਪੜਦੀ ਹਾਂ ।" (Main kitaab pardaa/pardi haan.) - I am reading a book.
• "ਉਹਨਾਂ ਕਿਤਾਬਾਂ ਨੇ ਉਹਨੂੰ ਬਹੁਤ ਫਾਇਦਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ।" (Unhaan kitaabaan ne unno bahut faidaa dittaa.) - Those books gave them a lot of benefit.

ਅਸਾਧਾਰਣ ਵਾਕ || Asadharn Vak - Proper Nouns

Asadharn Vak refers to proper nouns. These nouns are specific and unique. In general, proper nouns in Panjabi are capitalized.

Examples:

• ਭਾਰਤ - Bharat (India)
• ਕੰਪਿਊਟਰ - Computer

When we use a proper noun in a sentence, it does not take different forms.

Example:

• "ਹਰਮਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਕੰਪਿਊਟਰ ਦੀ ਮਦਦ ਨਾਲ ਗਾਣਾ ਬਣਾਇਆ।" (Harman Singh ne aapne computer di madad naal gaanaa banaaya.) - Harman Singh made a song with the help of his computer.

ਨਾਇਕ || Naik - Abstract Nouns

Naik refers to abstract nouns. These nouns are intangible and refer to emotions, ideas or concepts.

Examples:

• ਪ੍ਰੀਤ - Preet (Love)
• ਆਪਣਾਪਣਾਂ - Apnapanaan (Belongingness)

When we use an abstract noun in a sentence, it does not take different forms.

Example:

• "ਮੈਂ ਨੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਦਾ ਇਜਹਾਰ ਕੀਤਾ।" (Mainne aapne preet da ijhaar kiita.) - I expressed my love.

Gender of Nouns

Nouns in Panjabi also have genders. They can be:

• ਪੁਲਿੰਗ || Puling - Masculine Gender
• ਸਤਰੀੰਗ || Strieng - Feminine Gender

Here are some examples:

Panjabi	Pronunciation	English
ਮੁੰਡਾ	Munda	Boy (Masculine)
ਕੁੜੀ	Kudi	Girl (Feminine)
ਗੁਰੂ	Guru	Guru (Masculine)

To identify the gender of a noun in Panjabi, we consider its ending. For example, nouns ending with "ਆਂ" (aan) are usually feminine, such as "ਕੁੜੀ" (kudi), which means girl.

Example conversation:

• ਕੀ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਕੁੜੀ ਹੋ? (Kee tusi kudi ho?) - Are you a girl?
• ਜੀ ਹਾਂ, ਮੈਂ ਇੱਕ ਕੁੜੀ ਹਾਂ। (Jee haa, main ik kudi haan.) - Yes, I am a girl.

Number of Nouns

We have already seen that in Panjabi, countable nouns can be singular or plural. Here's more detail:

• ਇਕ || Ik - One
• ਦੋ || Do - Two
• ਤਿੰਨ || Tinn - Three
• ਚਾਰ || Char - Four
• ਪੰਜ || Panj - Five
• ਛੇ || Chhe - Six
• ਸੱਤ || Satt - Seven
• ਅੱਠ || Att - Eight
• ਨੌਂ || Nau - Nine
• ਦਸ || Das - Ten

To make a noun plural, we add suffixes to the noun based on its ending.

Example:

Singular	Plural
ਨਲ	ਨਲਾਂ

In the example above, "ਨਲ" (nal) is masculine and singular, whereas "ਨਲਾਂ" (nalaan) is its plural form.

In general, masculine nouns that end with a consonant use "ਆਂ" (aan) suffix for the plural form. Feminine nouns that end with a consonant use "ਈਆਂ" (eeaan), and those that end with "ਆ" (aa) use "ਉਂ" (oon).

Example conversation:

• ਰਾਜਾਂ ਦਾ ਘਰ ਕਿੱਥੇ ਹੈ? (Rajaan da ghar kithhe hai?) - Where is the king's palace?
• ਰਾਜਾਂ ਦੇ ਘਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਹੈ। (Rajaan de ghar vich hai.) - It's inside the king's palace.

Cases of Nouns

Cases refer to the different forms a noun can take based on its function in a sentence. In Panjabi, there are ten cases for nouns.

Here are some examples:

Case	Purpose	Example
ਇਹ	Nominative	This is a book
ਉਸ	Accusative	He read that book
ਉਸਨ	Ergative	He gave me a gift
ਉਸ	Vocative	Girl, are you learning Hindi?

Example conversation:

• ਕੀ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਸਿੱਖਦੇ ਹੋ? (Kee tusi panjabi sikhde ho?) - Are you learning Panjabi?
• ਜੀ ਹਾਂ, ਮੈਂ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਸਿੱਖਦੀ ਹਾਂ। (Jee haa, main panjabi sikhdi haan.) - Yes, I am learning Panjabi.

To improve your Panjabi Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

Sources

• Panjabi Grammar: A Brief Grammar of Panjabi As Spoken in the ...

Other Lessons

• Questions
• Future Tense
• Plural
• Give your Opinion
• Negation
• Gender
• Adjectives
• Pronouns
• Conditional Mood