Punjabi Lyrics and Glossary

Understanding the songs is an important part of learning bhangra. The lyrics are punjabi culture, and bhangra reflects the lyrics. Here are some traditional and popular song translations. The list hopefully will continue to grow. The glossary contains mostly common words and should help those of you who don't know punjabi to be able to get the gist of your favorite punjabi songs. Unfortunately most of us are too busy to translate songs for people, but if you'd like to CONTRIBUTE A TRANSLATION of a new song please send email to bhangra-request.

Punjabi Song Lyrics

Ambarsare diyan Vardiyan (traditional)
Aj Bhangra Paun noo Ji Karda (Malkit Singh)
Darshan (Tere hoye savere) (B21)
Dupatta Tera Sat Rang Da (Shamsher Sandhu)
Gore Gal Utte Neel Piya (Sirdhool Sikandher)
Jaago Ainyan (version by Premi)
Jatt Ho Gaya Sharabi (Kuldip Manak)
Jind Mahi (traditional)
Jugni (traditional)
Kanak di Rakhi (classic)
Kabza (Babbu Mann)
Ral ke, Ral ke, Ral ke (Bhindrakhia)

Glossary

Loki:
Kurdiyan
Munde
Muttiyaar
Gabroo

Jatt
Jattiyan
Baniya
Pehlwaan
Sapera
Charda
Jind Mahi
Jugni

Veer
Bhabhi
Putt
Mapiyan
Yaar, Mittar

= people
= girls (kurdi=girl) usually single and young
= boys (munda=boy)
= woman. Emphasizes the difference between a woman and a girl
= man. (gabroo javan=young man)

= punjabi farmers
= punjabi women (jatti)
= moneylender, landlord (the quintessential bad guy)
= wrestler (atheltic forms a big part of punjabi culture)
= snake-charmer (sup/sap = snake)
= bachelor
= love of my life (jind=life)
= the quintessential woman. The object of envy and the butt of jokes,
the embodiment of the modern punjabi woman.

= brother (veer mera = my brother)
= sister-in-law (pronounced Pbabi)
= son
= parents
= friend (yaar could also mean boyfriend or girlfriend)

Pind:
Dhol
Mela
Vaisakhi
Lohrdi
Gidda
Vihya

Phasal
Kanak
Bajara
Belgardi

Akharda
Gharda
Manja

Lassi
Murga
Sharab

Cities in Punjab:

= village
= two-sided bhangra drum (dholki= smaller drum played with both hands)
= Fair (outdoor festival)
= Harvest Festival
= start of the planting season
= women's dance
= wedding

= crop
= grain
= barley
= ox cart (bel=ox, gardi=car)

= wrestling ring
= clay round pot (often carried on the head)
= bed

= buttermilk drink
= chicken (tittar = quail)
= liquor, most likely scotch

= Patiala, Jullundhar, Karnal, Amritsar (ambarsar), Chandigarh

Kaparde:
Kurdiyan
Salwaar
Kameez
Dupatta
Lehnga
Ghaghra
Guutt
Paranda
Gehne

Munde
Pag
Kurta
Lungi
Jutti
Kirpan

= clothes

= pant
= shirt
= scarf
= shirt + skirt
= skirt (gharara in hindi)
= braid
= tassle for braid
= jewelery

= turban
= shirt
= cloth tie around waist (similar idea to dhoti)
= shoe
= dagger

Verbs and Actions:
Nach
Gana
Vekh

Vich
Naal
Uuppr
Thale
Edher
Odher

= dance (nachde = dancing, nachiye = let's dance, nachna = to dance)
= sing (gaunde = singing)
= see (vekh ke ..= upon seeing..)

= in
= with (mere naal = with me)
= up
= down
= here
= there

Some Phrases:
Balle!
Chak de Phate
Haripa!
Shavaa!

Oye Sohniyon
Oye Heeriye
Oye Makhna

Kiddan?
Aao Nachiye

= hurrah! (Balle Shera = balle tiger)
= Kick butt! (chuke gaye phate = got butt kicked, chuk=pick up, phata=2x4)
= hurrah! (comes from hariyan paliyan or green fields)
= hurrah (often said by girls, as part of gidda)

= hey beautiful (somewhat unisex statement, sohniye=girl sohniya=guy)
= hey gorgeous (heera = diamond)
= hey my buttermilk (makhan=butter, usually a comment on skin quality)

= what's up?
= let's dance (nach = dance)

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