Learning pronouns in Punjabi, an Indo-Aryan language spoken in the Indian state of Punjab and in parts of Pakistan, is essential for mastering both spoken and written communication. Punjabi pronouns are characterized by their forms according to person, number, gender, and case. This guide covers personal, possessive, demonstrative, reflexive, and interrogative pronouns, providing detailed explanations and examples for each, including transliterations for pronunciation help.

Personal Pronouns

Personal pronouns in Punjabi replace nouns referring to people or things and are used based on the person being referred to.

Subject Pronouns:

• ਮੈਂ (Main) – I: “ਮੈਂ ਜਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹਾਂ।” (Main jā rihā hāṅ) – I am going.
• ਤੂੰ (Tūṁ) – You (singular, informal): “ਤੂੰ ਕੀ ਕਰ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈਂ?” (Tūṁ kī kar rihā hēṅ?) – What are you doing?
• ਉਹ (Oh) – He/She/It: “ਉਹ ਖਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ।” (Oh khā rihā hai) – He/She/It is eating.
• ਅਸੀਂ (Asīṁ) – We: “ਅਸੀਂ ਪੜ੍ਹ ਰਹੇ ਹਾਂ।” (Asīṁ paṛh rahe hāṅ) – We are studying.
• ਤੁਸੀਂ (Tusīṁ) – You (plural or formal): “ਤੁਸੀਂ ਕਿੱਥੇ ਜਾ ਰਹੇ ਹੋ?” (Tusīṁ kithē jā rahe ho?) – Where are you going?
• ਉਹ (Oh) – They: “ਉਹ ਨੱਚ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ।” (Oh nach rahe han) – They are dancing.

Object Pronouns:

Object pronouns in Punjabi often follow the verb and indicate the receiver of the action.

• ਮੈਨੂੰ (Mainūṁ) – Me: “ਉਹ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਜਾਣਦਾ ਹੈ।” (Oh mainūṁ jāndā hai) – He knows me.
• ਤੈਨੂੰ (Tainūṁ) – You: “ਮੈਂ ਤੈਨੂੰ ਬੁਲਾਉਂਦਾ ਹਾਂ।” (Main tainūṁ bulāundā hāṅ) – I am calling you.
• ਉਸ ਨੂੰ (Us nūṁ) – Him/Her: “ਮੈਂ ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਦੇਖਿਆ।” (Main us nūṁ dekhiā) – I saw him/her.
• ਸਾਨੂੰ (Sānūṁ) – Us: “ਉਹ ਸਾਨੂੰ ਮਿਲਿਆ।” (Oh sānūṁ miliā) – He met us.
• ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ (Tuhānūṁ) – You (plural or formal): “ਮੈਂ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਸੁਣਿਆ।” (Main tuhānūṁ suṇiā) – I heard you.
• ਉਹਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ (Uhnāṁ nūṁ) – Them: “ਮੈਂ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਪਿਆਰ ਕਰਦਾ ਹਾਂ।” (Main uhnāṁ nūṁ pyār kardā hāṅ) – I love them.

Possessive Pronouns

Possessive pronouns in Punjabi indicate ownership and agree in gender and number with the noun they modify.

• ਮੇਰਾ/ਮੇਰੀ/ਮੇਰੇ (Merā/Merī/Mere) – My: “ਮੇਰਾ ਘਰ।” / “ਮੇਰੀ ਕਿਤਾਬ।” / “ਮੇਰੇ ਦੋਸਤ।” (Merā ghar / Merī kitāb / Mere dost) – My house. / My book. / My friends.
• ਤੇਰਾ/ਤੇਰੀ/ਤੇਰੇ (Terā/Terī/Tere) – Your (singular, informal): “ਤੇਰਾ ਸਕੂਲ।” (Terā skūl) – Your school.
• ਉਸ ਦਾ/ਉਸ ਦੀ/ਉਸ ਦੇ (Us dā/Us dī/Us de) – His/Her: “ਉਸ ਦਾ ਕੁੱਤਾ।” (Us dā kuṭṭā) – His dog.
• ਸਾਡਾ/ਸਾਡੀ/ਸਾਡੇ (Sāḍā/Sāḍī/Sāḍe) – Our: “ਸਾਡਾ ਪਰਿਵਾਰ।” (Sāḍā parivār) – Our family.
• ਤੁਹਾਡਾ/ਤੁਹਾਡੀ/ਤੁਹਾਡੇ (Tuhāḍā/Tuhāḍī/Tuhāḍe) – Your (plural or formal): “ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਦੇਸ਼।” (Tuhāḍā deś) – Your country.
• ਉਹਨਾਂ ਦਾ/ਉਹਨਾਂ ਦੀ/ਉਹਨਾਂ ਦੇ (Uhnāṁ dā/Uhnāṁ dī/Uhnāṁ de) – Their: “ਉਹਨਾਂ ਦਾ ਕਾਰਜ।” (Uhnāṁ dā kāraj) – Their work.

Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative pronouns in Punjabi point to specific nouns and vary based on proximity.

• ਇਹ (Ih) – This: “ਇਹ ਕਿਤਾਬ।” (Ih kitāb) – This book.
• ਉਹ (Uh) – That: “ਉਹ ਕਿਤਾਬ।” (Uh kitāb) – That book.

Reflexive Pronouns

Reflexive pronouns in Punjabi are used when the subject performs an action upon itself, typically using “ਆਪਣਾ” (āpṇā) for oneself.

• ਆਪਣਾ (Āpṇā) – Oneself: “ਉਹ ਆਪਣਾ ਕੰਮ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ।” (Uh āpṇā kamm kardā hai) – He does his work himself.

Interrogative Pronouns

Interrogative pronouns are used to ask questions about people, places, or things.

• ਕੌਣ (Kaun) – Who: “ਕੌਣ ਆਇਆ?” (Kaun āiā?) – Who came?
• ਕੀ (Kī) – What: “ਤੂੰ ਕੀ ਕਰ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈਂ?” (Tūṁ kī kar rihā hēṅ?) – What are you doing?
• ਕਿੱਥੇ (Kitthe) – Where: “ਤੂੰ ਕਿੱਥੇ ਜਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈਂ?” (Tūṁ kitthe jā rihā hēṅ?) – Where are you going?

Understanding and correctly using Punjabi pronouns is vital for navigating both simple and complex conversations. Practice forming sentences with each type of pronoun, and try to engage in conversations or writing exercises to apply these concepts actively. Remember, context and the nuances of Punjabi grammar and culture play a significant role in choosing the correct pronoun form.