Punjabi Wedding Phrases: Vadhaaian, Baraat and Bhangra ਵਿਆਹ
A Punjabi wedding runs for days and each one has its own language. These are the greetings, congratulations and small talk that carry you through them.
What to know before you use these
- "Vadhaaian" is the congratulations word — "Lakh lakh vadhaaian" is a hundred thousand congratulations. The multiplication is warmth, and nobody hears it as exaggeration.
- A wedding is many events, not one — Jaggo, mehndi, the Anand Karaj, the reception — each runs on its own day with its own greetings and its own dress.
- "Shagan" is the cash gift — Asking whether it has been given is family logistics, not an awkward question about money.
All 20 phrases
Cover:
Congratulations on the wedding!
ਵਿਆਹ ਦੀਆਂ ਲੱਖ-ਲੱਖ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ!
Viah dian lakh lakh vadhaaian!
💡 'lakh lakh' — a hundred thousand congratulations
When is the wedding?
ਵਿਆਹ ਕਦੋਂ ਹੈ?
Viah kadon hai?
You must come to the wedding
ਵਿਆਹ 'ਤੇ ਜ਼ਰੂਰ ਆਉਣਾ
Viah te zaroor aauna
The bride looks beautiful
ਵਹੁਟੀ ਬਹੁਤ ਸੋਹਣੀ ਲੱਗ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ
Vahuti bahut sohni lagg rahi hai
💡 ਵਹੁਟੀ is the everyday word for bride; ਲਾੜੀ is also used
Come on, let's do bhangra!
ਆਜਾ, ਭੰਗੜਾ ਪਾਈਏ!
Aaja, bhangra paaiye!
💡 informal ਆਜਾ — for friends and cousins
Turn the music up
ਗਾਣਾ ਉੱਚਾ ਕਰੋ
Gaana uccha karo
Tonight is the jaggo
ਅੱਜ ਰਾਤ ਜਾਗੋ ਹੈ
Ajj raat jaago hai
💡 pre-wedding night of song, dance and decorated pots
The mehndi ceremony is tomorrow
ਕੱਲ੍ਹ ਮਹਿੰਦੀ ਦੀ ਰਸਮ ਹੈ
Kallh mehndi di rasam hai
The baraat has arrived
ਬਰਾਤ ਆ ਗਈ ਹੈ
Baraat aa gayi hai
💡 the groom's wedding procession
Give them your blessings
ਇਹਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਅਸੀਸ ਦਿਓ
Ehna nu asees dio
💡 said when the couple greets elders
The food is amazing
ਖਾਣਾ ਬਹੁਤ ਵਧੀਆ ਹੈ
Khaana bahut vadhia hai
Take a photo with us
ਸਾਡੇ ਨਾਲ ਫੋਟੋ ਖਿਚਾਓ
Saade naal photo khichao
What time is the reception?
ਰਿਸੈਪਸ਼ਨ ਕਿੰਨੇ ਵਜੇ ਹੈ?
Reception kinne vaje hai?
May the couple always be happy
ਜੋੜੀ ਸਦਾ ਸੁਖੀ ਰਹੇ
Jodi sada sukhi rahe
💡 classic blessing for newlyweds
Whose wedding is it?
ਕੀਹਦਾ ਵਿਆਹ ਹੈ?
Keehda viah hai?
💡 ਕੀਹਦਾ is the spoken form of ਕਿਸ ਦਾ
We danced all night
ਅਸੀਂ ਸਾਰੀ ਰਾਤ ਨੱਚਦੇ ਰਹੇ
Asi saari raat nachde rahe
The Anand Karaj is in the morning
ਅਨੰਦ ਕਾਰਜ ਸਵੇਰੇ ਹੈ
Anand kaaraj savere hai
💡 the Sikh wedding ceremony, held at the gurdwara before noon
Everyone get ready, we leave at five
ਸਾਰੇ ਤਿਆਰ ਹੋ ਜਾਓ, ਅਸੀਂ ਪੰਜ ਵਜੇ ਨਿਕਲਣਾ ਹੈ
Saare tiaar ho jao, asi panj vaje nikalna hai
Have a ladoo
ਲੱਡੂ ਖਾਓ
Laddu khao
💡 ladoo = the sweet of celebrations; 'ladoo khilaana' means sharing good news
Did you give the shagan?
ਸ਼ਗਨ ਦੇ ਦਿੱਤਾ?
Shagan de ditta?
💡 cash gift in an envelope — always an odd amount like £21 or £101
Other situations
Eating & Hospitality
At Home
Emotions & Expressions
Travel & Directions
At the Doctor
Emergencies
On the Phone
At the Gurdwara
Talking with Elders
With Children
Encouragement & Compliments
Apologies & Making Up
Daily Routine
Asking for Help
Airport & Journeys
At School & With Teachers
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.