The words of Punjabi music and dance: dhol, dholki, tumbi, algoza, chimta, sarangi, ghara and the wooden saap; bhangra, gidda, jhumar, luddi, sammi and malwai gidda; boliyan, mahiya, tappe, jugni and lok geet; plus what dancers wear, a short history of bhangra from harvest fields to UK clubs, and the Punjabi for singer, song, rhythm and tune.
Bhangra (ਭੰਗੜਾ) is Punjab's energetic folk dance, traditionally danced by men at harvest time and now at every wedding; the dhol (ਢੋਲ) is the big two-headed barrel drum that drives it; and the tumbi (ਤੂੰਬੀ) is the one-string instrument that makes the high, twanging riff you hear in so many Punjabi songs. Women's folk dance is gidda (ਗਿੱਧਾ), danced to clapping and teasing couplets called boliyan. Here are the instruments, dances, song forms and costume words you'll meet in Punjabi music, with Gurmukhi and what each one is.
Punjabi Instruments
| Instrument | Gurmukhi | Pronunciation | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dhol | ਢੋਲ | dhòl | Large barrel drum played with two sticks — a heavy dagga and a thin tilli; the heartbeat of bhangra |
| Dholki | ਢੋਲਕੀ | DHÒL-kee | Smaller hand drum — the women's songs at a mehndi or jaggo night |
| Tumbi | ਤੂੰਬੀ | TOOM-bee | One-string plucked instrument with a gourd body; the high riff of bhangra pop. Lal Chand Yamla Jatt is credited with popularising it |
| Algoza | ਅਲਗੋਜ਼ਾ | ul-GO-zaa | A pair of wooden flutes played together — one carries the tune, one a drone |
| Chimta | ਚਿਮਟਾ | CHIM-taa | Long fire tongs fitted with small cymbals — shaken for rhythm, also in gurdwara kirtan |
| Sarangi | ਸਾਰੰਗੀ | saa-RUN-gee | Bowed string instrument — the ballad singers' companion |
| Dhadd | ਢੱਡ | dhudd | Small hourglass drum played by dhadi ballad singers |
| Ghara | ਘੜਾ | GHUH-ṛaa | A clay water pot played as a drum |
| Saap / Kato | ਸੱਪ / ਕਾਟੋ | supp / KAA-to | Wooden props dancers snap in rhythm — the folding "snake" (saap) and the squirrel-headed clapper (kato) |
| Bugchu | ਬੁਗਚੂ | BUG-choo | Small drum-like folk instrument that makes a croaking pluck |
| Harmonium | ਹਾਰਮੋਨੀਅਮ | haar-MO-nee-um | Hand-pumped keyboard — kirtan, folk and the old duet stages |
| Tabla | ਤਬਲਾ | TUB-laa | Pair of hand drums — classical, ghazal and kirtan |
Punjabi Folk Dances
| Dance | Gurmukhi | Who / when | What it's like |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bhangra | ਭੰਗੜਾ | Traditionally men, at harvest and weddings | Big jumps, shoulder shrugs, arms in the air |
| Gidda | ਗਿੱਧਾ | Women, at weddings and Teeyan | A circle; clapping; women take turns in the middle singing boliyan |
| Malwai Gidda | ਮਲਵਈ ਗਿੱਧਾ | Men, from the Malwa region | The men's gidda, with props like the saap and kato |
| Jhumar | ਝੂਮਰ | Men, especially from western Punjab | Slower, swaying and graceful |
| Luddi | ਲੁੱਡੀ | Men, in celebration | A victory dance with one hand behind the back |
| Sammi | ਸੰਮੀ | Women | A graceful dance with swinging arms |
| Kikli | ਕਿੱਕਲੀ | Girls, in pairs | Holding crossed hands and spinning, with a rhyme |
| Dhamaal | ਧਮਾਲ | Men | Fast, energetic, with arms raised |
At a wedding you'll mostly see bhangra and gidda; the others are performed by dance teams. What happens at each ceremony is in Punjabi wedding traditions explained.
Song Forms and Music Words
| Word | Gurmukhi | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Geet / gaana | ਗੀਤ / ਗਾਣਾ | Song — geet is more poetic, gaana more everyday |
| Lok geet | ਲੋਕ ਗੀਤ | Folk song (literally "people's song") |
| Boli / boliyan | ਬੋਲੀ / ਬੋਲੀਆਂ | A short folk couplet sung in the gidda circle — see boliyan explained |
| Tappe | ਟੱਪੇ | Short, quick-witted folk verses, often sung as a back-and-forth |
| Mahiya | ਮਾਹੀਆ | A short three-line folk verse about the beloved (mahi) |
| Jugni | ਜੁਗਨੀ | A folk form in which "Jugni" — a wandering spirit — travels and comments on the world |
| Heer | ਹੀਰ | The epic of Heer and Ranjha, and the long-drawn style used to sing it |
| Kali / kaliyan | ਕਲੀ / ਕਲੀਆਂ | A ballad verse form — Kuldeep Manak was known as the king of kaliyan |
| Gaayak / gavaiyya | ਗਾਇਕ / ਗਵੱਈਆ | Singer |
| Geetkaar | ਗੀਤਕਾਰ | Lyricist |
| Sur | ਸੁਰ | Note, tune — sur vich is "in tune" |
| Taal | ਤਾਲ | Rhythm, beat |
| Chaal | ਚਾਲ | The basic bhangra dhol rhythm (literally "gait") |
| Akhara | ਅਖਾੜਾ | Open-air stage show in a village — see Chamkila and folk-music words |
What Bhangra and Gidda Dancers Wear
| Item | Gurmukhi | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Kurta | ਕੁੜਤਾ | Long tunic |
| Chadra / tehmat | ਚਾਦਰਾ / ਤਹਿਮਤ | The wrapped cloth worn below the kurta by bhangra dancers |
| Pagg with turla | ਪੱਗ / ਤੁਰਲਾ | Turban with the starched fan (turla) standing up at the top |
| Phumman | ਫੁੰਮਣ | Tassels and pom-poms on the turban or waistcoat |
| Jutti | ਜੁੱਤੀ | Embroidered leather shoes |
| Phulkari | ਫੁਲਕਾਰੀ | Punjab's bright flower-embroidered shawl |
| Paranda | ਪਰਾਂਦਾ | Tasselled braid ornament woven into the hair |
| Jhanjar | ਝਾਂਜਰ | Anklets that chime as you dance |
More clothing words, from salwar to chunni, are in clothes in Punjabi.
Bhangra in a Nutshell
Bhangra began as a harvest dance in Punjab's villages — danced around Vaisakhi, when the wheat came in — and spread with Punjabis around the world. In 1980s Britain, bands such as Alaap and Heera turned it into dance-floor music for second-generation kids, and since then it has mixed with hip-hop, reggae, EDM and pop. When Diljit Dosanjh brings the dhol to a stadium, he's carrying a sound that started in the fields. The festival itself is in Vaisakhi wishes in Punjabi.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between bhangra and gidda?
Bhangra is the high-energy dance traditionally done by men, driven by the dhol. Gidda is the women's dance — a clapping circle where women take turns in the middle singing short couplets called boliyan.
What is a tumbi?
The tumbi (ਤੂੰਬੀ) is a small one-string plucked instrument with a gourd or wooden body. Its bright, high riff is a signature sound of bhangra and Punjabi pop.
What is a dhol?
The dhol (ਢੋਲ) is a large double-headed barrel drum, played with a heavy stick on one side and a thin cane on the other. It's the main instrument of bhangra and the sound that starts a Punjabi wedding party.
What is an algoza?
An algoza (ਅਲਗੋਜ਼ਾ) is a pair of wooden flutes played at the same time — one plays the tune and the other holds a steady drone. It's used in folk music across Punjab.
Keep Learning Punjabi
- Learn Punjabi: Start Here — the free 30-day plan that puts every guide on this site in order, from your first greeting to reading Gurmukhi.
- Punjabi Culture and Festivals Guide — festivals and their dates, wedding traditions, Sikh basics, and the right greeting for every occasion.
Know the Words Behind the Beat
Next time the dhol starts, you'll know what every part of the party is called. Alfaazo teaches everyday Punjabi with native audio, the Gurmukhi script and bite-sized lessons you can finish in five minutes a day. Free on iOS and Android.
Keep reading
Boliyan: Punjabi Folk Couplets Explained — What They Are, Famous Lines and What They Mean
Boliyan (ਬੋਲੀਆਂ) are short, witty Punjabi folk couplets sung in the gidda circle at weddings and Teeyan. How a boli works, famous traditional openings such as Baari barsi khattan gaya si and Kikli kaleer di with their meanings, the wedding song types (ghodiyan, suhag, sithniyan, jaggo songs, doli songs) and how to join a gidda circle, step by step.
How to Learn Punjabi with Punjabi Songs: A Step-by-Step Method (and Which Songs to Start With)
You can learn real Punjabi from songs — if you use them the right way. A step-by-step method: start with the hook and the title, build a word list in Gurmukhi, learn the ni/ve rule and song slang, shadow the pronunciation, and pick songs by difficulty, from slow folk and Sufi to fast bhangra and rap. Plus the dialects you'll hear and why song Punjabi differs from everyday Punjabi.
Diljit Dosanjh Song and Film Titles Explained: What Patola, Muchh, Hass Hass and 20 More Mean
What Diljit Dosanjh's Punjabi titles mean: Proper Patola (a real stunner), Patiala Peg, 5 Taara (five star), Ikk Kudi (a girl), Muchh (moustache), Hass Hass (laughing and laughing), Kinni Kinni, Naina, Sardaar Ji, Ambarsariya, Soorma, Shadaa, Honsla Rakh, Babe Bhangra Paunde Ne, Jodi and Chamkila — with Gurmukhi and the Punjabi grammar each title teaches.