English Reference

Word

punjabi

Phoneticspun·jabi

Definition

n. a person from the Punjab region of India and Pakistan, or the language they speak.

n. an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the Punjab region; also refers to a member of the ethnic group originating from that area.

Examples

“My neighbor speaks Punjabi and English fluently.”

“The local community center offers classes for children to learn Punjabi so they can speak with their grandparents.”

“While Punjabi is the most widely spoken language in Pakistan, it is often used in informal settings while Urdu remains the primary language for government and education.”

Examples

simple

“My neighbor speaks Punjabi and English fluently.”

contextual

“The local community center offers classes for children to learn Punjabi so they can speak with their grandparents.”

complex

“While Punjabi is the most widely spoken language in Pakistan, it is often used in informal settings while Urdu remains the primary language for government and education.”

Usage

Uncountable when referring to the language; countable when referring to an individual person.

Real-World Examples

“While AI can be used for translations, the tools aren't always accurate — and can lead to inappropriate results, especially in health-care documents. A team of researchers wants to change that — so Punjabi women can better access the medical care they need.”
CBC News · 22 Sept 2025
“But Punjabi, spoken in the Indian province of Punjab, had the largest increase, growing more than 80% compared to 2016.”
The Guardian · 28 Jun 2022
“The lyrics reflect the timeless narrative of forbidden love and are penned in Punjabi, a language shared by both nations.”
The Guardian · 13 May 2022
“Punjabi Dhaba is a family-run truck in Bakersfield, serving simple fare, like parathas stuffed with a mix of vegetables, to a growing population of Californian truckers with roots in Punjab.”
The New York Times · 26 Aug 2019

Etymology

Borrowed from Classical Persian پنجابی (panjābī), from پنجاب (panjāb) + ـی (-ī, adjectival suffix). Equivalent to Punjab + -i.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
B1 · Intermediate
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

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English Reference