Punjabi greetings: hello, thank you, and goodbye, with audio
The Punjabi hello is ਸਤਿ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ (sat sri akal), and unlike English greetings it works at any hour, with anyone, in any mood. Every word on this page has a play button with the same audio used in the Ladoo app, because Punjabi is tonal and reading a romanization only gets you halfway.
The essentials
Tap play, listen, then say it out loud. Reading silently will not put the words in your mouth.
The universal Punjabi greeting, literally 'God is the eternal truth'. Works at any time of day, with anyone.
Borrowed from English and used constantly, mostly when answering the phone.
The ji makes it respectful. Safe default with elders and strangers.
A soft, respectful no.
Formal please. Everyday Punjabi often softens requests with ji instead.
The standard thank you.
A warmer, everyday thanks, shared with Urdu.
The traditional farewell.
How you say 'see you later': pher milange, we'll meet again.
As in welcoming a guest: ji aayan nu is the fuller phrase you'll hear at doors.
The answer to 'how are you': main thik haan, I am fine.
The word inside 'how are you': ki haal hai? What's your condition?
How to ask "how are you?"
The everyday question is ਕੀ ਹਾਲ ਹੈ? (ki haal hai?), literally "what is your condition?". Warmer, to someone familiar: ki haal chaal hai? The standard reply is main thik haan, "I am fine", usually followed by asking right back. With elders, add ji to almost anything and you cannot go far wrong.
A note on sat sri akal
Sat sri akal is the Sikh greeting, literally "God is the eternal truth", and it doubles as both hello and goodbye, the way "shalom" or "salaam" does. Muslim Punjabi speakers greet with as-salaam alaikum, and you will also hear namaste from Hindu Punjabi speakers. In the diaspora, sat sri akal is the safe, warm default almost everywhere.
More word lists and guides: family words · love and thanks · food words · the Gurmukhi alphabet
Hear every word, then say it back. The audio on this page is the same audio in the Ladoo app, where every lesson is free.