Language/Panjabi/Grammar/Gender
Hi Panjabi learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will dive into the topic of gender in Panjabi grammar. As you know, gender is a crucial element in any language, and Panjabi is no exception. We will discuss the gender of nouns, pronouns, and other important aspects of the language.
Gender of Nouns
In Panjabi, there are two genders: masculine and feminine. Unlike some other languages, such as Spanish or French, there are no neutral-gender nouns in Panjabi.
Mostly, the gender of the noun is identified through the word's ending letter. For example, many feminine nouns end in "-i," while many masculine nouns end in "-a." However, this is not a universal rule, and there are numerous exceptions to it. Therefore, it is vital to memorize the gender of a noun when learning new vocabulary.
Here are some examples:
| Panjabi | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ਲੜਕਾ (pronounced "larrka") | /ləɽkɑ/ | boy (masculine) |
| ਲੜਕੀ (pronounced "larrki") | /ləɽki/ | girl (feminine) |
| ਚੁੱਲੀ (pronounced "chulli") | /tʃʊl:i/ | spoon (feminine) |
| ਗਾੜੀ (pronounced "gaarhi") | /gɑ:ɽi/ | car (feminine) |
| ਕਿਤਾਬ (pronounced "kitaab") | /kɪtɑ:b/ | book (feminine) |
| ਘਰ (pronounced "ghar") | /ɡʱəɾ/ | house (masculine) |
It is important to note that the gender of a noun can't be changed, but there are different ways to create new nouns with a different gender from their root words.
Gender of Pronouns
Pronouns in Panjabi also have gender, just like the nouns. However, unlike other languages, Panjabi does not have a gender-neutral pronoun. Here are some examples:
| Panjabi | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ਉਹ (pronounced "uh") | /ʊh/ | he (masculine) |
| ਉਸਦੀ (pronounced "usdi") | /ʊsd̪i/ | she (feminine) |
| ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ (pronounced "unhaan") | /ʊnhãn/ | they (masculine or mixed gender) |
Using Gender in Sentences
Panjabi speakers use gender when they speak, write or communicate in a conversation. Here are some examples of how Panjabi language speakers use gender and different words to assert gender.
Dialogue:
- Person 1: ਉਸ ਲੜਕੇ ਨੇ ਪਰੀਕਸ਼ਾ ਵਿਚ ਭਾਗ ਲਿਆ। (Us larrke ne pareeksha wich bhaag liya.) (That boy took part in a test.)
- Person 2: ਕੀ ਇਹ ਲੜਕਾ ਬਹੁਤ ਪੜਨ ਵਾਲਾ ਹੈ? (Ki ih larrka bahut padna wala hai?) (Is this boy very studious?)
As you can see, even the adjectives have gender in Panjabi. For example, ਪੜਨ ਵਾਲਾ (padna wala) means studious, is masculine in form, whereas ਪੜਨ ਵਾਲੀ (padna vali) would be feminine in form.
If you want to improve your Panjabi grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
Conclusion
In conclusion, gender plays an essential role in Panjabi's grammar, as it does in many other languages. Learning about gender is an important step towards achieving fluency in any language. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the gender of nouns, pronouns, and other linguistic features.
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
Sources
Related Lessons
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