Clothes in Punjabi: Suit, Kurta, Pagg, Jutti and 50 Clothing Words With Gurmukhi

"Clothes" in Punjabi is kapde (ਕੱਪੜੇ). A shirt is a kameez (ਕਮੀਜ਼), trousers are pant (ਪੈਂਟ), shoes are jutti (ਜੁੱਤੀ) or boot (ਬੂਟ), a scarf is a chunni (ਚੁੰਨੀ), a turban is a pagg (ਪੱਗ), and the outfit that Punjabi women wear everywhere from Ludhiana to Leicester is simply suit (ਸੂਟ): the salwar kameez. The verb "to wear" is pauna (ਪਾਉਣਾ) — "put on a sweater" is sweater paa lo, which you will hear every day between October and April. Here are 50 clothing words, the traditional dress explained, and the phrases that go with them.

Everyday Clothes

English	Punjabi	Gurmukhi	Pronunciation
Clothes	Kapde	ਕੱਪੜੇ	KUP-day
Shirt, tunic	Kameez	ਕਮੀਜ਼	ka-MEEZ
Trousers	Pant	ਪੈਂਟ	paint
Jeans / T-shirt	Jeans / T-shirt	ਜੀਨਜ਼ / ਟੀ-ਸ਼ਰਟ	—
Sweater / jacket / coat	Sweater / jacket / coat	ਸਵੈਟਰ / ਜੈਕਟ / ਕੋਟ	—
Socks	Jurabaan	ਜੁਰਾਬਾਂ	ju-RAA-baan
Shoes	Boot / jutti	ਬੂਟ / ਜੁੱਤੀ	boot / JUT-tee
Sandals, flip-flops	Chappal	ਚੱਪਲ	CHUP-pul
Cap, hat	Topi	ਟੋਪੀ	TO-pee
Gloves	Dastane	ਦਸਤਾਨੇ	dus-TAA-nay
Scarf (winter) / muffler	Muffler	ਮਫ਼ਲਰ	MUF-lur
Shawl / woollen wrap	Shaal / loi	ਸ਼ਾਲ / ਲੋਈ	shaal / LO-ee
Vest / underwear	Baniyaan / kachha	ਬਨਿਆਨ / ਕੱਛਾ	ba-ni-AAN / KUCH-chhaa
Belt	Peti / belt	ਪੇਟੀ	PAY-tee
Wallet / purse	Batua / purse	ਬਟੂਆ	ba-TOO-aa
Umbrella	Chhatri	ਛਤਰੀ	CHHUT-ree
Glasses	Ainak	ਐਨਕ	AI-nuk
Watch	Ghadi	ਘੜੀ	GHA-dee
Pocket	Jeb	ਜੇਬ	jayb
Button	Button / batan	ਬਟਨ	BUT-un

Traditional Punjabi Dress

English	Punjabi	Gurmukhi	What it is
Salwar kameez (the outfit)	Suit	ਸੂਟ	The everyday and festive outfit for women: loose trousers, a long tunic and a scarf
Loose trousers	Salwar	ਸਲਵਾਰ	The pleated Patiala salwar is the famous Punjabi style
Scarf	Chunni / dupatta	ਚੁੰਨੀ / ਦੁਪੱਟਾ	Worn over the shoulders; covers the head at the gurdwara
Short tunic	Kurti	ਕੁੜਤੀ	A shorter kameez, often worn with jeans
Long shirt (men)	Kurta	ਕੁੜਤਾ	Worn with pajama or chaadra
Loose trousers (men)	Pajama	ਪਜਾਮਾ	Kurta-pajama is the standard men's traditional outfit
Men's wrap	Chaadra / tamba	ਚਾਦਰਾ / ਤੰਬਾ	The lungi-style wrap worn for bhangra and in the village
Turban	Pagg / pagdi / dastaar	ਪੱਗ / ਪਗੜੀ / ਦਸਤਾਰ	Dastaar is the respectful word; pagg bannhni is to tie a turban
Boys' head covering	Patka	ਪਟਕਾ	The small cloth tied over a Sikh boy's hair
Casual turban cloth	Parna	ਪਰਨਾ	Loosely tied, for farm work or bhangra
Embroidered shoes	Jutti / khussa	ਜੁੱਤੀ / ਖੁੱਸਾ	Punjabi jutti from Patiala; khussa is the Pakistani Punjab name
Embroidered shawl	Phulkari	ਫੁਲਕਾਰੀ	"Flower work" — the iconic Punjabi embroidery, worn at weddings and festivals
Wedding skirt	Lehnga	ਲਹਿੰਗਾ	The bride's outfit, and guests' at big weddings
Sari	Saari	ਸਾੜ੍ਹੀ	Less traditional in Punjab than the suit, but worn at weddings
Men's formal coat	Sherwani	ਸ਼ੇਰਵਾਨੀ	Groom's wear

Jewellery and Accessories

English	Punjabi	Gurmukhi	Pronunciation
Jewellery	Gehne	ਗਹਿਣੇ	GEH-nay
Necklace	Haar	ਹਾਰ	haar
Ring	Mundri	ਮੁੰਦਰੀ	MUN-dree
Bangles	Choodiyan	ਚੂੜੀਆਂ	CHOO-dee-aan
Thick bangle / Sikh steel bracelet	Kangan / kara	ਕੰਗਣ / ਕੜਾ	KUN-gun / KA-daa
Earrings / dangling earrings	Vaaliyan / jhumke	ਵਾਲੀਆਂ / ਝੁਮਕੇ	VAA-lee-aan / JHUM-kay
Forehead ornament	Tikka	ਟਿੱਕਾ	TIK-kaa
Nose ring / nose stud	Nath / koka	ਨੱਥ / ਕੋਕਾ	nutth / KO-kaa
Anklets	Jhanjar	ਝਾਂਜਰ	JHAAN-jur
Hair tassel	Paranda	ਪਰਾਂਦਾ	pa-RAAN-daa
Kohl	Surma	ਸੁਰਮਾ	SUR-maa
Bindi / henna	Bindi / mehndi	ਬਿੰਦੀ / ਮਹਿੰਦੀ	BIN-dee / MEHN-dee

Verbs and Phrases for Clothes

English	Punjabi	Gurmukhi
To wear, to put on	Pauna	ਪਾਉਣਾ
To take off	Laahuna	ਲਾਹੁਣਾ
To change clothes	Kapde badalna	ਕੱਪੜੇ ਬਦਲਣਾ
To wash / to iron	Dhona / press karna	ਧੋਣਾ / ਪ੍ਰੈੱਸ ਕਰਨਾ
To get stitched / tailor / measurements	Silauna / darzi / naap	ਸਿਲਾਉਣਾ / ਦਰਜ਼ੀ / ਨਾਪ
To tie a turban	Pagg bannhni	ਪੱਗ ਬੰਨ੍ਹਣੀ
Put on warm clothes	Garam kapde paa lo	ਗਰਮ ਕੱਪੜੇ ਪਾ ਲੋ
Put on a sweater	Sweater paa lo	ਸਵੈਟਰ ਪਾ ਲੋ
Change your clothes	Kapde badal lo	ਕੱਪੜੇ ਬਦਲ ਲੋ
Take your shoes off and come in	Jutti laah ke andar aao	ਜੁੱਤੀ ਲਾਹ ਕੇ ਅੰਦਰ ਆਓ
This suit is beautiful	Eh suit bahut sohna hai	ਇਹ ਸੂਟ ਬਹੁਤ ਸੋਹਣਾ ਹੈ
What's your size?	Tuhada size ki hai?	ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਸਾਈਜ਼ ਕੀ ਹੈ?
It doesn't fit	Eh fit nahi aunda	ਇਹ ਫ਼ਿੱਟ ਨਹੀਂ ਆਉਂਦਾ
It's a bit tight / loose	Thoda tang hai / khulla hai	ਥੋੜ੍ਹਾ ਤੰਗ ਹੈ / ਖੁੱਲ੍ਹਾ ਹੈ
Are the clothes dry?	Kapde sukk gaye?	ਕੱਪੜੇ ਸੁੱਕ ਗਏ?
Take your chunni (for the gurdwara)	Chunni lai laa	ਚੁੰਨੀ ਲੈ ਲਾ
You look very smart	Tusi bahut sohne lag rahe ho	ਤੁਸੀਂ ਬਹੁਤ ਸੋਹਣੇ ਲੱਗ ਰਹੇ ਹੋ

What to Wear Where

At the gurdwara: anything modest, head covered — a suit with a chunni does both jobs (see gurdwara etiquette). At a wedding: bright and festive — a suit, lehnga or sari for women, kurta-pajama, sherwani or a suit for men, never red if you're a guest (wedding guide). At Lohri and Vaisakhi: phulkari, yellow and orange, your brightest jutti. At a funeral or bhog: white or pale colours, head covered. For colour words to describe all of it, see colours in Punjabi; to buy it, shopping in Punjabi; and for why you'll be told to put on a sweater, weather in Punjabi.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you say clothes in Punjabi?

Kapde (ਕੱਪੜੇ). "Put on your clothes" is kapde paa lo, "change your clothes" is kapde badal lo.

What is a Punjabi suit?

A suit (ਸੂਟ) is the salwar kameez — loose trousers (salwar), a long tunic (kameez) and a scarf (chunni). It's the everyday and festive dress of Punjabi women, and the Patiala salwar is its most famous style.

How do you say shoes in Punjabi?

Jutti (ਜੁੱਤੀ) for traditional embroidered shoes and, loosely, any footwear; boot (ਬੂਟ) for Western shoes; chappal for sandals. "Take your shoes off" is jutti laah.

What is a pagg?

A pagg (ਪੱਗ) is a turban — also pagdi, or respectfully dastaar. "To tie a turban" is pagg bannhni; a Sikh boy's small head covering is a patka.

Dress the Part — and Say It in Punjabi

From suit to jutti, the words come first; the wedding invitations follow. 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.