Language/Panjabi/Grammar/Nouns
Hi Panjabi learners! ๐
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 โ Basic Sentence Structure โ Subject-Object ..., Panjabi Grammar โ Introduction to Panjabi Script โ Gurmukhi ..., Emotions and Feelings & How to Use Be.
What is a noun?[edit | edit source]
A noun refers to a person, place, thing, or idea. In Panjabi, a noun is called "เจธเจฟเฉฑเจ" (sikkh).
Example:
Panjabi | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
เจเจฎเจฒ | kamal | Lotus |
In the example above, "เจเจฎเจฒ" (kamal) is a noun that refers to a type of flower.
Types of Nouns[edit | edit source]
There are different types of nouns in Panjabi. Here are some examples:
เจตเจพเจ || Vak - Common or Countable Nouns[edit | edit source]
Vak refers to common or countable nouns. These nouns can be singular or plural.
Examples:
- เจเจพเจฃเจพ - Gaana (Song)
- เจเจฟเจคเจพเจฌ - 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 "เจตเจเจจ" (Vachan) in Panjabi.
Here's an example in the singular and plural form:
- "เจฎเฉเจ เจเจฟเจคเจพเจฌ เจชเฉเจฆเจพ/เจชเฉเจฆเฉ เจนเจพเจ เฅค" (Main kitaab pardaa/pardi haan.) - I am reading a book.
- "เจเจนเจจเจพเจ เจเจฟเจคเจพเจฌเจพเจ เจจเฉ เจเจนเจจเฉเฉฐ เจฌเจนเฉเจค เจซเจพเจเจฆเจพ เจฆเจฟเฉฑเจคเจพเฅค" (Unhaan kitaabaan ne unno bahut faidaa dittaa.) - Those books gave them a lot of benefit.
เจ เจธเจพเจงเจพเจฐเจฃ เจตเจพเจ || Asadharn Vak - Proper Nouns[edit | edit source]
Asadharn Vak refers to proper nouns. These nouns are specific and unique. In general, proper nouns in Panjabi are capitalized.
Examples:
- เจญเจพเจฐเจค - Bharat (India)
- เจเฉฐเจชเจฟเจเจเจฐ - Computer
When we use a proper noun in a sentence, it does not take different forms.
Example:
- "เจนเจฐเจฎเจจ เจธเจฟเฉฐเจ เจจเฉ เจเจชเจฃเฉ เจเฉฐเจชเจฟเจเจเจฐ เจฆเฉ เจฎเจฆเจฆ เจจเจพเจฒ เจเจพเจฃเจพ เจฌเจฃเจพเจเจเฅค" (Harman Singh ne aapne computer di madad naal gaanaa banaaya.) - Harman Singh made a song with the help of his computer.
เจจเจพเจเจ || Naik - Abstract Nouns[edit | edit source]
Naik refers to abstract nouns. These nouns are intangible and refer to emotions, ideas or concepts.
Examples:
- เจชเฉเจฐเฉเจค - Preet (Love)
- เจเจชเจฃเจพเจชเจฃเจพเจ - Apnapanaan (Belongingness)
When we use an abstract noun in a sentence, it does not take different forms.
Example:
- "เจฎเฉเจ เจจเฉ เจเจชเจฃเฉ เจชเฉเจฐเฉเจค เจฆเจพ เจเจเจนเจพเจฐ เจเฉเจคเจพเฅค" (Mainne aapne preet da ijhaar kiita.) - I expressed my love.
Gender of Nouns[edit | edit source]
Nouns in Panjabi also have genders. They can be:
- เจชเฉเจฒเจฟเฉฐเจ || Puling - Masculine Gender
- เจธเจคเจฐเฉเฉฐเจ || Strieng - Feminine Gender
Here are some examples:
Panjabi | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
เจฎเฉเฉฐเจกเจพ | Munda | Boy (Masculine) |
เจเฉเฉเฉ | Kudi | Girl (Feminine) |
เจเฉเจฐเฉ | Guru | Guru (Masculine) |
To identify the gender of a noun in Panjabi, we consider its ending. For example, nouns ending with "เจเจ" (aan) are usually feminine, such as "เจเฉเฉเฉ" (kudi), which means girl.
Example conversation:
- เจเฉ เจคเฉเจธเฉเจ เจเฉเฉเฉ เจนเฉ? (Kee tusi kudi ho?) - Are you a girl?
- เจเฉ เจนเจพเจ, เจฎเฉเจ เจเฉฑเจ เจเฉเฉเฉ เจนเจพเจเฅค (Jee haa, main ik kudi haan.) - Yes, I am a girl.
Number of Nouns[edit | edit source]
We have already seen that in Panjabi, countable nouns can be singular or plural. Here's more detail:
- เจเจ || Ik - One
- เจฆเฉ || Do - Two
- เจคเจฟเฉฐเจจ || Tinn - Three
- เจเจพเจฐ || Char - Four
- เจชเฉฐเจ || Panj - Five
- เจเฉ || Chhe - Six
- เจธเฉฑเจค || Satt - Seven
- เจ เฉฑเจ || Att - Eight
- เจจเฉเจ || Nau - Nine
- เจฆเจธ || Das - Ten
To make a noun plural, we add suffixes to the noun based on its ending.
Example:
Singular | Plural |
---|---|
เจจเจฒ | เจจเจฒเจพเจ |
In the example above, "เจจเจฒ" (nal) is masculine and singular, whereas "เจจเจฒเจพเจ" (nalaan) is its plural form.
In general, masculine nouns that end with a consonant use "เจเจ" (aan) suffix for the plural form. Feminine nouns that end with a consonant use "เจเจเจ" (eeaan), and those that end with "เจ" (aa) use "เจเจ" (oon).
Example conversation:
- เจฐเจพเจเจพเจ เจฆเจพ เจเจฐ เจเจฟเฉฑเจฅเฉ เจนเฉ? (Rajaan da ghar kithhe hai?) - Where is the king's palace?
- เจฐเจพเจเจพเจ เจฆเฉ เจเจฐ เจตเจฟเฉฑเจ เจนเฉเฅค (Rajaan de ghar vich hai.) - It's inside the king's palace.
Cases of Nouns[edit | edit source]
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 |
---|---|---|
เจเจน | Nominative | This is a book |
เจเจธ | Accusative | He read that book |
เจเจธเจจ | Ergative | He gave me a gift |
เจเจธ | Vocative | Girl, are you learning Hindi? |
Example conversation:
- เจเฉ เจคเฉเจธเฉเจ เจชเฉฐเจเจพเจฌเฉ เจธเจฟเฉฑเจเจฆเฉ เจนเฉ? (Kee tusi panjabi sikhde ho?) - Are you learning Panjabi?
- เจเฉ เจนเจพเจ, เจฎเฉเจ เจชเฉฐเจเจพเจฌเฉ เจธเจฟเฉฑเจเจฆเฉ เจนเจพเจเฅค (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[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Questions
- Future Tense
- Plural
- Give your Opinion
- Negation
- Gender
- Adjectives
- Pronouns
- Conditional Mood