ਬਹੁਤ
bahut/bɔː˩˥.t/
The English phrase 'a lot' can be translated into Punjabi as ਬਹੁਤ (bahut).
ਬਹੁਤ is used to mean 'a lot' or 'very'. While it can express quantity, it is most commonly used as an intensifier to mean 'very', such as in the phrase 'very good'.
Meaning: very much (adv)
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /bɔː˩˥.t/ (bahut). It consists of two syllables.
Did you know?
- The root of ਬਹੁਤ can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European word *bʰenǵʰ-, which originally meant 'thick'.
- While ਬਹੁਤ is used for quantity, Punjabi speakers often use a variety of complementary gestures and facial expressions to emphasize just how 'much' they mean.
- In some Punjabi dialects, the intensity of ਬਹੁਤ is increased by repeating it or pairing it with specific idioms that English lacks a single word for.
Examples in context
- ਜੇ ਤੁਸੀੰ ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ ਆਪਣੇ ਦਿਲ ਦੀ ਗੱਲ ਕਹੋਂਗੇ ਤਾਂ ਹੋ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ ਬਹੁਤ ਸਾਰੇ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਨਰਾਜ਼ ਕਰੋਗੇ।If you say exactly what's on your mind all the time, you're likely to upset a lot of people.This sentence shows how to use ਬਹੁਤ when referring to an amount of people.Tatoeba #3786251 by RadiumCat, translation #3786250 by patgfisher
- ਉਹਨਾਂ ਦਾ ਮਾਰਚ ਬਹੁਤ ਜ਼ਿਆਦਾ ਮਜ਼ੇਦਾਰ ਸੀTheir march was a lot of fun.
- ਮੈਨੂੰ ਬਹੁਤ ਪਸੰਦ ਹੈ।mainū bahut pasand hai.I like it a lot.
- ਉਹ ਬਹੁਤ ਸ਼ੁਕਰਗੁਜ਼ਾਰ ਹੈ।oh bahut shukarguzār hai.He is very much grateful.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a meal they just ate.
- ਰਵਿੰਦਰ Ravinderਕੀ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਖਾਣਾ ਪਸੰਦ ਆਇਆ?kī tuhānū khāṇā pasanda āyā?Did you like the food?
- ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ Manpreetਹਾਂ, ਮੈਨੂੰ ਇਹ ਬਹੁਤ ਸਵਾਦ ਲੱਗਿਆ।hām, mainū iha bahuta savāda lagiyā.Yes, I found it very tasty.
- ਰਵਿੰਦਰ Ravinderਮੈਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਬਹੁਤ ਪਸੰਦ ਹੈ।mainū vī bahuta pasanda hai.I like it a lot too.
- ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ Manpreetਚਲੋ, ਅਗਲੀ ਵਾਰ ਫਿਰ ਆਵਾਂਗੇ।chalō, aglī vāra phira āvāṅgē.Let's come again next time.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ਬਹੁਤ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ਬਹੁਤ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
