Learn Panjabi Typing

A beginner-friendly guide to typing Panjabi (Punjabi) using English letters. Learn about the Panjabi language, Gurmukhi script, alphabets, pronunciation, and typing basics.

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About Panjabi Language

Panjabi (ਪੰਜਾਬੀ) is the official language of Panjab in India and is also widely spoken across Pakistan and by Panjabi communities around the world. More than 130 million people speak Panjabi globally.

Panjabi belongs to the Indo-Aryan language family and is unique among major Indo-Aryan languages because it uses lexical tone to distinguish words.

What we speak is the Panjabi language. What we write is the Gurmukhi script, which is the standard script used for Panjabi in India.

Gurmukhi Script

The Gurmukhi script is an abugida writing system developed from the historic Landa script. It is written from left to right and is used primarily for writing Panjabi in India.

Gurmukhi consists of vowel holders, consonants, vowel signs (matras), and additional letters used for sounds borrowed from Persian, Arabic, and modern vocabulary.

Written from left to right
Uses Gurmukhi script
Contains vowel holders and consonants
Uses vowel signs (matras)

Learn Panjabi Letters (Gurmukhi)

These are the core Panjabi (Gurmukhi) letters. Click any letter to insert it directly into the typing editor above.

Vowels (ਸਵਰ)

Consonants (ਵਿਆਂਜਨ)

Additional Letters (ਵਿਸ਼ੇਸ਼ ਅੱਖਰ)

Gurmukhi (Panjabi) Numerals

Ready to start typing in Panjabi?

You don't need to memorize keyboard layouts. Simply type naturally in English and TypeBharat converts your words into Gurmukhi instantly.

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Panjabi - Frequently Asked Questions

Is Panjabi a language or a script?+−

Panjabi is a language, not a script. In India it is written using the Gurmukhi (ਗੁਰਮੁਖੀ) script, while in Pakistan it is commonly written using the Shahmukhi script. People speak Panjabi, but the script used depends on the region.

How many letters are there in Gurmukhi?+−

The Gurmukhi script has 35 core letters, including 32 consonants and 3 vowel holders. There are also additional secondary consonants used for borrowed sounds.

Do Panjabi letters represent sounds or meanings?+−

Panjabi letters represent sounds. Each letter corresponds to a spoken sound, which makes phonetic typing using English letters easier to learn.

Is Panjabi a tonal language?+−

Yes. Panjabi is the only tonal Indo-Aryan language. Tone can change the meaning of words even if the spelling looks similar.

Do I need to memorize all letters before typing?+−

No. You can start typing Panjabi using English letters immediately. Learning the letters gradually helps you understand and correct spellings better.

Why is it called Panjabi instead of Punjabi?+−

Both 'Panjabi' and 'Punjabi' refer to the same language. 'Panjabi' is closer to the original pronunciation and comes from the Persian words 'Panj' (five) and 'Aab' (water), meaning 'Land of Five Rivers'. 'Punjabi' became the more common English spelling over time. TypeBharat uses 'Panjabi' while also recognizing 'Punjabi' because both names are widely understood.

Why is the region called Panjab?+−

The name 'Panjab' comes from the Persian words 'Panj' meaning 'five' and 'Aab' meaning 'water' or 'river'. It refers to the historic land of five rivers: Jhelum (ਝੇਲਮ), Chenab (ਚਨਾਬ), Ravi (ਰਾਵੀ), Beas (ਬਿਆਸ), and Sutlej (ਸਤਲੁਜ).

Is Punjabi the same as Panjabi?+−

Yes. Punjabi and Panjabi are simply two English spellings of the same language. 'Punjabi' is more common internationally, while 'Panjabi' more closely reflects the native pronunciation and the origin of the word 'Panjab'.

What script is used to write Panjabi?+−

In India, Panjabi is written using the Gurmukhi (ਗੁਰਮੁਖੀ) script. In Pakistan, the same language is primarily written using the Shahmukhi script, which is based on the Perso-Arabic alphabet.

How many people speak Panjabi?+−

Panjabi is one of the world's most widely spoken languages, with more than 150 million speakers across India, Pakistan, and Panjabi communities around the world.