Punjabi Verbs

Welcome to the 10th lesson about verbs in Punjabi. We will first learn about the present tense, followed by the past tense, and future tense. We will also analyze some grammar rules, and finally practice how to ask for direction in Punjabi.

Verbs are used to express an action (I swim) or a state of being (I am). The present tense in Punjabi conveys a situation or event in the present time. Here are some examples:

Present Tense - Punjabi - Pronunciation
I speak English ਮੈਂ ਅੰਗਰੇਜ਼ੀ ਬੋਲਦਾ ਹਾਂ [maiṁ agarēzī bōladā hāṁ]
you speak French ਤੁਸੀਂ ਫਰੈਂਚ ਬੋਲਦੇ ਹੋ [tusīṁ pharain̄ca bōladē hō]
he speaks German ਓਹ ਜਰਮਨ ਬੋਲਦਾ ਹੈ [ōha jaramana bōladā hai]
she speaks Italian ਓਹ ਇਟਾਲੀਅਨ ਬੋਲਦੀ ਹੈ [ōha iṭālī'ana bōladī hai]
we speak Arabic ਅਸੀਂ ਅਰਬੀ ਬੋਲਦੇ ਹਾਂ [asīṁ arabī bōladē hāṁ]
they speak Chinese ਓਹ ਚੀਨੀ ਬੋਲਦੇ ਹਨ [ōha cīnī bōladē hana]

The past tense in Punjabi conveys a situation or event in the past time. Here are some examples:

Past Tense - Punjabi - Pronunciation
I visited France ਮੈਂ ਫਰਾਂਸ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ [maiṁ pharānsa gi'ā sī]
you visited Italy ਤੁਸੀਂ ਇਟਲੀ ਗਏ ਸੀ [tusīṁ iṭalī ga'ē sī]
he visited Morocco ਓਹ ਮੋਰੱਕੋ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ [ōha mōrakō gi'ā sī]
she visited China ਓਹ ਚੀਨ ਗਈ ਸੀ [ōha cīna ga'ī sī]
we visited Mexico ਅਸੀਂ ਮੋਰੱਕੋ ਗਏ ਸੀ [asīṁ mōrakō ga'ē sī]
they visited Kenya ਓਹ ਕੀਨੀਆ ਗਏ ਸੀ [ōha kīnī'ā ga'ē sī]

The future tense in Punjabi conveys a situation or event which is anticipated to happen in the future. Here are some examples:

Future Tense - Punjabi - Pronunciation
I will drink milk ਮੈਂ ਦੁੱਧ ਪੀਵਾਂਗਾ [maiṁ dudha pīvāṅgā]
you will drink coffee ਤੁਸੀਂ ਕੌਫੀ ਪੀਓਗੇ [tusīṁ kauphī pī'ōgē]
he will drink tea ਓਹ ਚਾਹ ਪੀਵੇਗਾ [ōha cāha pīvēgā]
she will drink water ਓਹ ਪਾਣੀ ਪੀਵੇਗੀ [ōha pāṇī pīvēgī]
we will drink apple juice ਅਸੀਂ ਸੇਬਾਂ ਦਾ ਰਸ ਪੀਵਾਂਗੇ [asīṁ sēbāṁ dā rasa pīvāṅgē]
they will drink tea ਓਹ ਚਾਹ ਪੀਣਗੇ [ōha cāha pīṇagē]

Now let's take a break and refresh our vocabulary by learning the body parts.

ear ਕੰਨ [kana]

eye ਅੱਖ [akha]

mouth ਮੂੰਹ [mūha]

nose ਨੱਕ [naka]

hair ਵਾਲ [vāla]

face ਚੇਹਰਾ [cēharā]

head ਸਰਿ [sari]

heart ਦਲਿ [dali]

hand ਹੱਥ [hatha]

fingers ਉਂਗਲਾਂ [uṅgalāṁ]

leg ਲੱਤ [lata]

feet ਪੈਰ [paira]

Travel Phrases in Punjabi

Imagine yourself in some Punjabi speaking country. The following travel phrases are highly important and can help you avoid misunderstanding. Try to memorize them and practice!

English - Punjabi - Pronunciation
Can you help me? ਕੀ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਮੇਰੀ ਮਦਦ ਕਰੋਗੇ? [kī tusīṁ mērī madada karōgē?]
Can I help you? ਕੀ ਮੈਂ ਤੁਹਾਡੀ ਮਦਦ ਕਰਾਂ? [kī maiṁ tuhāḍī madada karāṁ?]
Where is the airport? ਹਵਾਈ ਅੱਡਾ ਕਿੱਥੇ ਹੈ? [havā'ī aḍā kithē hai?]
Go straight ਸਿੱਧੇ ਜਾਓ [sidhē jā'ō]
Then ਫੇਰ [phēra]
Turn left ਖੱਬੇ ਮੁੜੋ [khabē muṛō]
Turn right ਸੱਜੇ ਮੁੜੋ [sajē muṛō]

I hope this lesson about the verbs in Punjabi was not hard for you. Please check out our main menu here for more lessons: homepage. To see the full menu, you can also click on the "Menu" icon on the left side.