Punjabi

or Pan·ja·bi

[ puhn-jah-bee ]

noun

, plural Pun·ja·bis

1. a native or inhabitant of the Punjab.
2. an Indic language of the Punjab.

adjective

1. of or relating to the Punjab, its people, or their language.

Punjabi

/ pʌnˈdʒɑːbɪ /

noun

1. a member of the chief people of the Punjab
2. the state language of the Punjab, belonging to the Indic branch of the Indo-European family

adjective

1. of or relating to the Punjab, its people, or their language

Word History and Origins

Origin of Punjabi¹

First recorded in 1780–90; Punjab + -ī a suffix indicating relationship or origin

Example Sentences

A cash-driven economy, bolstered by drugs, real estate and illegal liquor sales, has fuelled this rise, creating an ecosystem that blends crime with Punjabi pop culture, many say.

From BBC

He explains that the Indian diaspora in Canada, once predominantly Punjabi and Sikh, has become more diverse, now including a significant number of Hindus and immigrants from southern India and the western state of Gujarat.

From BBC

“Two years in, and still house full on weekends in Pakistan! Now, I can’t wait for our Punjabi audience in India to experience the magic of this labour of love!” he wrote on Instagram.

From BBC

The trailblazing Punjabi artist has had a dizzying rise over the past few years.

From BBC

Speaking in a mixture of Hindi and Punjabi, Paramjit described how one company asked her to work for a £5 hourly rate, adding others did not give her holiday or sick pay.

From BBC