If you want to be able to read and write in Punjabi then the first step is learning the alphabet.
This can be daunting at first but with the right resources you’ll master it in no time.
This guide will give you the resources you need and tell you how to learn the Punjabi alphabet.
So, how much do you actually need to learn?
Table of Contents
What Script Does Punjabi Use?
In India, Punjabi is written using the Gurmukhi script which is a member of the Indic family of scripts. It is written from left to right. This script is particularly associated with the Sikh people in India.
In Pakistan, Punjabi is written using the Shahmukhi script. This script is written from right to left.
The two scripts are very different and are not mutually intelligible.
This post will focus on the Gurmukhi script.
How Many Letters Are There In The Punjabi Alphabet?
The Gurmukhi script was developed from the Landa scripts, a series of ancient scripts used in Punjab and nearby parts of Northern India.
Gurmukhi is made up of 35 letters plus a few additional symbols.
The Punjabi alphabet is an abugida which means letters can be made up of a consonant and a vowel. This is different to English where each letter is either a consonant or a vowel.
As an example, ਵ is pronounced ‘va’ and ਲ is pronounced ‘la’.
The Punjabi alphabet also uses diacritics which are small symbols that can appear above, below, before or after a letter. These change the vowel sound of the letter.
This might sound complicated but there are plenty of resources out there to help you learn the Punjabi alphabet. There’s lots of variety and different resources that meet different peoples needs.
Let’s have a look at some.
Learn The Punjabi Alphabet Online
There’s plenty of great online resources that will help you learn the Punjabi alphabet, many of which are completely free.
Quizlet
Quizlet is an online learning tool that uses flashcards and games to help you learn!
They have a range of free flashcard decks featuring the Gurmukhi alphabet. This flashcard deck teaches you the names of the letters whereas this flashcard deck teaches you the sounds that the letters make.
There’s loads of different ways to study the flashcards with Quizlet.
I’d recommend using the ‘Learn’ feature which creates a personalised study plan just for you and uses spaced repetition to help you master the alphabet. You can also learn with games such as ‘Match’ where you match the corresponding letters.
Memrise
Memrise is an online language learning app that uses fun games to help it’s users learn their chosen language.
They have a free Gurmukhi alphabet course that will teach you to recognise the Gurmukhi letters and the sounds they make. This course is written using IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) so if you don’t know IPA then it probably won’t be that useful.
It’s really interactive and gradually introduces all the letters slowly so you have time to consolidate them all. There’s also plenty of opportunities to practice what you’ve learnt.
The only issue is that it doesn’t have sound so I’d suggest using another resource alongside it to ensure you have the correct pronunciation. The next resource is perfect for this.
Discover Sikhism
This website is a great reference point for the Punjabi alphabet. It shows all the letters in a handy table.
The best part is that you can click on any letter and hear the pronunciation. It goes over the actual name of each letter and the sound the letter makes.
Click here to visit their website.
Learn The Punjabi Alphabet With YouTube Videos
YouTube is a fantastic resource for learning any language as there are so many videos uploaded everyday from all around the world.
Videos are really useful resources as they will help you to improve your pronunciation. It’s important to know how to say the letters of the alphabet correctly.
I’ve selected a few handy videos that you can use to help you learn the Punjabi alphabet.
Video Resource 1
This video by Absolute Punjab is really useful for learning Gurmukhi as the speaker goes over each letter giving the name, the pronunciation and he also shows you how to write the letter. He does have a few videos in total that cover the entire alphabet.
Check out part 1 below:
Video Resource 2
This handy video goes over each letter of the Punjabi alphabet giving you the pronunciation and also showing you how to write the letter.
Check it out below:
Video Resource 3
Tejinder Kaur has an extensive video series where she teaches you Gurkmukhi in depth. She begins by showing you how to write and pronounce the letters and then shows you how to form your first words and sentences. You can view the full playlist here which consists of 62 videos!
Check out one of the videos below:
Punjabi Alphabet Song
This fun Punjabi alphabet song video aimed at kids is a great way to remember the Gurmukhi alphabet as it’s super memorable. Sing along and learn the alphabet.
Check it out below:
Learn The Punjabi Alphabet With Worksheets And Books
Worksheets and workbooks are especially good for learning how to write Gurmukhi letters. If you want to be able to read and write in Punjabi then try out some of these resources.
Kids Activity Book
This Punjabi alphabet kids activity book is a great introduction for the alphabet. It gives each letter, the name of each letter and an example Punjabi word. There’s also space for you to practice writing the letter.
Tracing Book
You can use a Punjabi handwriting workbook like this one, to practice writing the letters. It has plenty of space in the workbook for you to trace the letters. Once you feel confident, you can try writing them yourself.
Reference Book
If you’re looking for a book that goes into lots of detail then try ‘Complete Panjabi’. It’s a great reference point that covers the alphabet in lots of detail and gives lots of examples so you can truly master the Punjabi alphabet.
PDF Worksheet
If you’re looking for a free resource, then check out the free PDF worksheets by Panti Akhar. You’ll also find some great tracing worksheets on Indif.
You can print these out and practice writing the letters, the worksheet gives space to trace the letters and write them by yourself.
Thanks for reading this guide on how to learn the Punjabi alphabet. I’ve covered a range of different resources for all different types of learners, hopefully you found something useful that suits your learning style.
A free way to learn Punjabi is through YouTube. Check out the best YouTube channels to learn Punjabi.
Related Reading: