Donate

Punjabi for School: Teachers, Homework and Exams ਸਕੂਲ

Parents' evenings, homework, and the phrases that come up between a Punjabi-speaking family and a school.

What to know before you use these

  • "Master ji" and "Bhain ji" address teachers — The "ji" is not optional, and a teacher is rarely addressed by name. This holds in a Punjabi school and in a weekend Punjabi class alike.
  • Useful in both directions — A parent at a school meeting needs one half of this page; a child in a classroom needs the other. Most diaspora families need both.
  • "Mehnat" outranks talent — Effort, not ability, is what achievement is credited to. "Mehnat rang liayi" — your hard work bore colour — is the standard congratulation.

All 18 phrases

Cover:
Which class are you in?
ਤੂੰ ਕਿਹੜੀ ਜਮਾਤ ਵਿੱਚ ਪੜ੍ਹਦਾ ਏਂ?
Tu kihri jamaat vich parhda ain?
💡 ਤੂੰ is natural with kids; to a girl say ਪੜ੍ਹਦੀ ਏਂ (parhdi ain)
Teacher ji, I have a question
ਮਾਸਟਰ ਜੀ, ਮੇਰਾ ਇੱਕ ਸਵਾਲ ਹੈ
Master ji, mera ikk sawaal hai
💡 ਮਾਸਟਰ ਜੀ / ਭੈਣ ਜੀ are the traditional ways to address teachers
They say
ਹੱਥ ਖੜ੍ਹਾ ਕਰੋ
Hath kharha karo — Raise your hand
May I come in?
ਜੀ, ਕੀ ਮੈਂ ਅੰਦਰ ਆ ਸਕਦਾ ਹਾਂ?
Ji, ki main andar aa sakda haan?
💡 a woman says ਆ ਸਕਦੀ ਹਾਂ (aa sakdi haan)
I don't understand this
ਮੈਨੂੰ ਇਹ ਸਮਝ ਨਹੀਂ ਆਉਂਦਾ
Mainu eh samajh nahin aunda
Please explain it once more
ਕਿਰਪਾ ਕਰਕੇ ਇੱਕ ਵਾਰ ਫੇਰ ਸਮਝਾ ਦਿਓ
Kirpa karke ikk vaar pher samjha deo
How did the exam go?
ਪੇਪਰ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਹੋਇਆ?
Paper kiven hoya?
💡 exams are always 'paper' in spoken Punjabi
They say
ਮੈਂ ਪਾਸ ਹੋ ਗਿਆ!
Main pass ho gia! — I passed!
I passed!
ਮੈਂ ਪਾਸ ਹੋ ਗਿਆ!
Main pass ho gia!
💡 a girl says ਹੋ ਗਈ (ho gayi)
They say
ਸ਼ਾਬਾਸ਼ ਪੁੱਤ, ਮਿਹਨਤ ਰੰਗ ਲਿਆਈ!
Shaabash putt, mehnat rang liayi! — Well done, my child!
Study with your heart in it
ਦਿਲ ਲਾ ਕੇ ਪੜ੍ਹਾਈ ਕਰ
Dil la ke parhai kar
💡 ਤੂੰ form — the classic parental line, lit. 'attach your heart and study'
When does school start?
ਸਕੂਲ ਕਦੋਂ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ?
School kadon shuru hunda hai?
The teacher is very good
ਟੀਚਰ ਬਹੁਤ ਵਧੀਆ ਹੈ
Teacher bahut vadhia hai
Did you do your homework?
ਤੂੰ ਆਪਣਾ ਹੋਮਵਰਕ ਕੀਤਾ?
Tu apna homework keeta?
May I go to the washroom?
ਕੀ ਮੈਂ ਬਾਥਰੂਮ ਜਾ ਸਕਦਾ ਹਾਂ?
Ki main bathroom ja sakda haan?
Do your work quietly
ਚੁੱਪ ਕਰਕੇ ਆਪਣਾ ਕੰਮ ਕਰੋ
Chupp karke apna kamm karo
Raise your hand
ਹੱਥ ਖੜ੍ਹਾ ਕਰੋ
Hath kharha karo
Well done, my child!
ਸ਼ਾਬਾਸ਼ ਪੁੱਤ, ਮਿਹਨਤ ਰੰਗ ਲਿਆਈ!
Shaabash putt, mehnat rang liayi!
💡 lit. 'your hard work brought colour' — effort paid off
When is the parents' meeting?
ਮਾਪਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਮੀਟਿੰਗ ਕਦੋਂ ਹੈ?
Maapiaan di meeting kadon hai?
What do you want to become when you grow up?
ਵੱਡਾ ਹੋ ਕੇ ਕੀ ਬਣਨਾ ਚਾਹੁੰਦਾ ਏਂ?
Vadda ho ke ki banna chahunda ain?
💡 to a girl: ਵੱਡੀ ਹੋ ਕੇ ਕੀ ਬਣਨਾ ਚਾਹੁੰਦੀ ਏਂ (vaddi... chahundi ain)
Books are your best friends
ਕਿਤਾਬਾਂ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਚੰਗੀਆਂ ਦੋਸਤ ਹੁੰਦੀਆਂ ਹਨ
Kitaabaan sabh ton changiaan dost hundiaan han

Other situations

Eating & Hospitality At Home Emotions & Expressions Travel & Directions At the Doctor Emergencies On the Phone At the Gurdwara Weddings & Parties Talking with Elders With Children Encouragement & Compliments Apologies & Making Up Daily Routine Asking for Help Airport & Journeys Renting & Household Problems At the Bank & Sending Money Taxis & Buses Cooking Together Festival Greetings Condolences & Comfort Catching Up & Small Talk

Smaller topics — meeting someone new, the weather, shopping, work, family — live in the full phrasebook, alongside every phrase on this page. See the phrasebook index for the whole set, or the dialogues for these phrases inside whole conversations.