The food words
Punjabi home and restaurant cooking leans on breads, dals, dairy, and sturdy vegetables. These are the words on every menu:
| Punjabi | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ਰੋਟੀ / ਚਪਾਤੀ | roṭī / capātī | flatbread — the everyday bread |
| ਨਾਨ | nān | naan — tandoor bread |
| ਦਾਲ | dāl | lentils / a lentil dish |
| ਚਾਵਲ | cāval | cooked rice |
| ਬਿਰਯਾਨੀ | biryānī | biryani — the celebrated rice dish |
| ਸਬਜ਼ੀ | sabzī | vegetables / a vegetable curry |
| ਪਨੀਰ | panīr | paneer — fresh cheese |
| ਮੱਖਣ | makkhaṇ | butter |
| ਦਹੀਂ | dahīṁ | yogurt |
| ਲੱਸੀ | lassī | lassi — sweet or salted yogurt drink |
| ਚਾਹ | cāh | tea — usually milky, spiced |
| ਪਾਣੀ | pāṇī | water |
| ਆਲੂ | ālū | potato |
| ਮੀਠਾ | mīṭhā | sweet / dessert |
Taste and spice
| Punjabi | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ਤਿੱਖਾ | tīkkhā | spicy-hot |
| ਮਸਾਲੇਦਾਰ | masāledār | rich in spices — tasty-spiced |
| ਮਿੱਠਾ | miṭṭhā | sweet |
| ਖੱਟਾ | khaṭṭā | sour |
| ਨਮਕੀਨ | namkīn | salty |
| ਗਰਮ | garam | hot (temperature) |
| ਠੰਡਾ | ṭhaṇḍā | cold |
| ਸੁਆਦੀ | suādī | tasty, delicious |
Ordering
| Punjabi | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ਇੱਕ ਟੇਬਲ ਲਈ | ikk ṭebal laī | a table for one... (say 'ikk ṭebal, please') |
| ਮੇਨੂ ਦਿਓ ਜੀ | menū dio jī | the menu please |
| ਮੈਨੂੰ ___ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ | maiṁnūṁ ___ cāhīdā hai | I'd like ___ (m. speaker) |
| ਮੈਨੂੰ ___ ਚਾਹੀਦੀ ਹੈ | maiṁnūṁ ___ cāhīdī hai | I'd like ___ (f. speaker) |
| ਇੱਕ ਚਾਹ ਦਿਓ ਜੀ | ikk cāh dio jī | one tea please |
| ਦੋ ਰੋਟੀਆਂ | do roṭīāṁ | two rotis |
| ਇੱਕ ਲੱਸੀ | ikk lassī | one lassi |
| ਬਹੁਤ ਤਿੱਖਾ ਨਹੀਂ | bahut tīkkhā nahīṁ | not too spicy |
| ਥੋੜ੍ਹਾ ਤਿੱਖਾ | thoṛhā tīkkhā | a little spicy |
| ਬਿਨਾਂ ਮੱਖਣ | bināṁ makkhaṇ | without butter |
Vegetarian and dietary
Punjab is friendly territory for vegetarians — the word to know is ਸ਼ਾਕਾਹਾਰੀ śākāhārī 'vegetarian' (its counterpart ਮਾਂਸਾਹਾਰੀ māṁsāhārī 'meat-eating'). Many dhabas are veg-only anyway.
| Punjabi | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ਮੈਂ ਸ਼ਾਕਾਹਾਰੀ ਹਾਂ | maiṁ śākāhārī hāṁ | I'm vegetarian |
| ਕੀ ਇਹ ਸ਼ਾਕਾਹਾਰੀ ਹੈ? | kī ih śākāhārī hai? | is this vegetarian? |
| ਮੀਟ ਨਹੀਂ | mīṭ nahīṁ | no meat |
| ਅੰਡਾ ਨਹੀਂ | aṇḍā nahīṁ | no egg |
| ਇਸ ਵਿਚ ਕੀ ਹੈ? | is vic kī hai? | what's in this? |
During the meal and paying
| Punjabi | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ਬਹੁਤ ਸੁਆਦੀ ਹੈ | bahut suādī hai | it's very tasty — the compliment every cook wants |
| ਅਜੇ ਕੁਝ ਹੋਰ | aje kujh hor | something more |
| ਬੱਸ, ਧੰਨਵਾਦ | bass, dhannvād | that's all, thank you |
| ਬਿੱਲ ਲਿਆਓ ਜੀ | bill liāo jī | please bring the bill |
| ਕਿੰਨਾ ਹੋਇਆ? | kinnā hoiā? | how much is it (total)? |
| ਕਾਰਡ ਚੱਲਦਾ ਹੈ? | kārḍ calldā hai? | do you take card? |
The dhaba and the thali
Two Punjab food experiences worth knowing by name:
- ਢਾਬਾ ḍhābā — the roadside eatery: hearty food, plastic chairs, truck drivers and families side by side. The dal makhani is the point.
- ਥਾਲੀ thālī — a set meal on one plate: roti or rice, dal, sabzi, salad, and yogurt together. Ordering 'ikk thālī' gets you dinner.
In gurdwaras, the ਲੰਗਰ laṅgar — the free community kitchen — serves everyone who comes. It's a cornerstone of Sikh life and one of the most generous food traditions anywhere.
Mini practice
Q1. ਲੱਸੀ (lassī) is:
- A rice dish
- A yogurt drink
- A type of bread
- A dessert
Answer: A yogurt drink
Q2. ਸ਼ਾਕਾਹਾਰੀ (śākāhārī) means:
- Spicy
- Vegetarian
- Sweet
- Hot (temperature)
Answer: Vegetarian
Q3. To ask for the bill politely:
- ਬਿੱਲ ਦਿਓ ਜੀ / ਬਿੱਲ ਲਿਆਓ ਜੀ
- ਪੈਸੇ ਦਿਓ
- ਮੇਨੂ ਲਿਆਓ
- ਕਿੰਨਾ ਹੈ ਬਿਨਾਂ ਜੀ
Answer: ਬਿੱਲ ਦਿਓ ਜੀ / ਬਿੱਲ ਲਿਆਓ ਜੀ
Q4. 'Bahut tīkkhā nahīṁ' requests:
- Extra spicy
- Not too spicy
- No food
- More butter
Answer: Not too spicy
Q5. ਮੈਨੂੰ ___ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ is 'I'd like ___' said by:
- A female speaker
- A male speaker
- A child only
- Anyone, gender doesn't matter
Answer: A male speaker