Dating or married to someone Punjabi? The greetings, the right titles for every aunty and uncle, the compliments, and the in-law words that will make a brilliant first impression — with Gurmukhi and pronunciation.
Meeting your Punjabi partner's family comes down to three things: greet the elders properly (hands folded, a warm Sat Sri Akaal ji), call people by the right title (Aunty ji, Uncle ji, Bhaji, Bhabi ji), and love the food out loud (bahut swaad hai!). This guide gives you every phrase for the day — and what to call everyone once you're part of the family.
The First Ten Seconds: Greetings That Land
Punjabi families are Sikh, Hindu, Muslim or Christian, so the greeting follows the family — ask your partner which one to use. Whatever the words, the body language is the same: a gentle nod, hands pressed together, and a smile.
| Greeting | Gurmukhi | Use with |
|---|---|---|
| Sat Sri Akaal ji | ਸਤ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ ਜੀ | Sikh families — the most common Punjabi greeting |
| Namaste ji | ਨਮਸਤੇ ਜੀ | Hindu Punjabi families |
| Assalam-o-Alaikum | ਅੱਸਲਾਮ-ਓ-ਅਲੈਕੁਮ | Muslim Punjabi families |
| Tuhanu mil ke bahut khushi hoyi | ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਮਿਲ ਕੇ ਬਹੁਤ ਖੁਸ਼ੀ ਹੋਈ | "So happy to meet you" — works for everyone |
You may see your partner bend to touch a grandparent's feet. That's pairi pauna (ਪੈਰੀਂ ਪੌਣਾ), a traditional gesture of respect to elders; the elder answers with a blessing such as jeonde raho ("live long"). Some families expect it, many don't — follow your partner's lead, and don't worry if you skip it. For the full backstory of the main greeting, see what Sat Sri Akaal means.
What to Call Everyone (The Cheat Sheet)
You'll rarely use first names with anyone older than you. Instead, Punjabi uses titles — and adding ji to any of them adds respect.
| Who | Call them | Gurmukhi |
|---|---|---|
| Any older woman / man | Aunty ji / Uncle ji | ਆਂਟੀ ਜੀ / ਅੰਕਲ ਜੀ |
| Partner's parents (once close — ask first) | Mummy ji / Papa ji | ਮੰਮੀ ਜੀ / ਪਾਪਾ ਜੀ |
| Grandmother / grandfather | Bibi ji or Dadi ji / Dada ji (father's side); Nani ji / Nana ji (mother's side) | ਬੀਬੀ ਜੀ · ਦਾਦੀ ਜੀ / ਦਾਦਾ ਜੀ · ਨਾਨੀ ਜੀ / ਨਾਨਾ ਜੀ |
| Older brother or male cousin | Bhaji / Veerji | ਭਾ ਜੀ / ਵੀਰ ਜੀ |
| Older brother's wife | Bhabi ji | ਭਾਬੀ ਜੀ |
| Older sister or female cousin | Bhainji / Didi | ਭੈਣ ਜੀ / ਦੀਦੀ |
Punjabi has a specific word for every relative — father's older brother, mother's sister's husband, and so on. When you're ready to go deeper, our Punjabi family words guide maps the whole tree.
In-Law Words You'll Start Hearing
Once things get serious, these are the words that describe you and the people around you. Your partner's family home is the saure (ਸਹੁਰੇ) — "the in-laws' place".
| Relationship | Punjabi | Gurmukhi |
|---|---|---|
| Mother-in-law | Sass | ਸੱਸ |
| Father-in-law | Sohra | ਸਹੁਰਾ |
| Daughter-in-law | Nooh | ਨੂੰਹ |
| Son-in-law | Jawai | ਜਵਾਈ |
| Husband's older brother / his wife | Jeth / Jethani | ਜੇਠ / ਜਠਾਣੀ |
| Husband's younger brother / his wife | Deor / Derani | ਦਿਓਰ / ਦਰਾਣੀ |
| Husband's sister | Nanad | ਨਣਦ |
| Wife's brother / wife's sister | Sala / Sali | ਸਾਲਾ / ਸਾਲੀ |
| Wife's sister's husband | Sandhu | ਸਾਂਢੂ |
| Your child's parents-in-law | Kurm / Kurmani | ਕੁੜਮ / ਕੁੜਮਣੀ |
Compliments, Thank-Yous and Surviving the Food
You will be fed — generously, repeatedly, lovingly. These lines are your survival kit.
| Say this | Gurmukhi | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Bahut swaad hai! | ਬਹੁਤ ਸਵਾਦ ਹੈ! | It's delicious! (say it to whoever cooked) |
| Hor nahi, pet bhar gaya | ਹੋਰ ਨਹੀਂ, ਪੇਟ ਭਰ ਗਿਆ | No more, I'm full (you'll need this three times) |
| Tuhada ghar bahut sohna hai | ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਘਰ ਬਹੁਤ ਸੋਹਣਾ ਹੈ | Your home is lovely |
| Bahut bahut shukriya / Dhanvaad ji | ਬਹੁਤ ਬਹੁਤ ਸ਼ੁਕਰੀਆ / ਧੰਨਵਾਦ ਜੀ | Thank you so much |
| Main thodi Punjabi sikh riha / rahi haan | ਮੈਂ ਥੋੜ੍ਹੀ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਸਿੱਖ ਰਿਹਾ / ਰਹੀ ਹਾਂ | I'm learning a little Punjabi (the line that wins the room) |
The last one matters most. Nothing delights a Punjabi family like a partner who is trying. For more table talk, see our food and kitchen vocabulary and the many ways to say thank you in Punjabi.
Saying "I Love You" the Right Way
Punjabi verbs change with the speaker's gender: a man says Main tainu pyaar karda haan, a woman says Main tainu pyaar kardi haan. Get that one letter right and you'll sound like you mean it. All the variations, plus terms of endearment like jaan, are in our guide to saying "I love you" in Punjabi.
Etiquette in Sixty Seconds
- Never arrive empty-handed — a box of mithai (sweets) or fruit is perfect.
- Shoes off at the door, and in any prayer room.
- Accept the chai at least once; refusing everything reads as cold.
- Compliment the cooking specifically — "the daal is amazing" beats "everything's nice".
- Use titles and "ji", never first names for elders.
- Dress a notch smarter than you think you need to for a first visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I greet my Punjabi partner's parents?
Press your hands together, smile, and say Sat Sri Akaal ji (Sikh families), Namaste ji (Hindu families) or Assalam-o-Alaikum (Muslim families). Add "Tuhanu mil ke bahut khushi hoyi" — "so happy to meet you" — and you're off to a perfect start.
What should I call my partner's parents in Punjabi?
Start with Aunty ji and Uncle ji, which are respectful and safe. Once you're close — and after asking your partner — many families love being called Mummy ji and Papa ji.
What does "pairi pauna" mean?
Pairi pauna (ਪੈਰੀਂ ਪੌਣਾ) means touching an elder's feet as a sign of respect, usually for grandparents. The elder replies with a blessing like jeonde raho ("live long"). It's optional for partners — follow your partner's lead.
Learn the Punjabi That Wins Over a Family
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