Whether you’re navigating the streets of Chandigarh or finding your way in a Punjabi village, knowing how to ask for and understand directions is essential.
In this lesson, you’ll learn common transport words and phrases for giving and asking directions in Punjabi.
1. Modes of Transportation
| English | Punjabi (Gurmukhi) | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Car | ਗੱਡੀ | Gaḍḍī |
| Bus | ਬੱਸ | Bas |
| Train | ਰੇਲ ਗੱਡੀ | Rel Gaḍḍī |
| Bicycle | ਸਾਈਕਲ | Sāikal |
| Airplane | ਜਹਾਜ਼ | Jahāz |
| Taxi | ਟੈਕਸੀ | Ṭaiksī |
2. Common Direction Words
| English | Punjabi (Gurmukhi) | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Left | ਖੱਬੇ | Khabbē |
| Right | ਸੱਜੇ | Sajjē |
| Straight | ਸਿੱਧਾ | Siddhā |
| Near | ਨੇੜੇ | Neṛē |
| Far | ਦੂਰ | Dūr |
3. Useful Phrases
- ਬੱਸ ਅੱਡਾ ਕਿੱਥੇ ਹੈ? (Bas aḍḍā kithē hai?) → Where is the bus station?
- ਰੇਲਵੇ ਸਟੇਸ਼ਨ ਕਿੰਨੀ ਦੂਰ ਹੈ? (Relve sṭēshan kinnī dūr hai?) → How far is the railway station?
- ਸਿੱਧੇ ਜਾਓ। (Siddhē jāo.) → Go straight.
- ਖੱਬੇ ਮੁੜੋ। (Khabbē muṛo.) → Turn left.
- ਮੈਨੂੰ ਹਵਾਈ ਅੱਡੇ ਲੈ ਚੱਲੋ। (Mainū hawāī aḍḍē lai challo.) → Take me to the airport.
4. Tips for Travel in Punjab
- Many people will happily give directions, even if they use landmarks instead of street names.
- Learn basic numbers to understand distances.
- If unsure, ask again politely — locals appreciate patience.
5. Practice
Translate into Punjabi:
- Go right.
- Where is the taxi stand?
- The train station is far.
Quick Recap:
✅ Transportation – ਗੱਡੀ, ਬੱਸ, ਰੇਲ ਗੱਡੀ, ਸਾਈਕਲ, ਜਹਾਜ਼, ਟੈਕਸੀ
✅ Directions – ਖੱਬੇ, ਸੱਜੇ, ਸਿੱਧਾ, ਨੇੜੇ, ਦੂਰ
✅ Asking for locations politely