ਸ਼ਰਾਬ
śarāb
The English word alcohol is ਸ਼ਰਾਬ (śarāb) in Punjabi.
ਸ਼ਰਾਬ is the most common way to refer to alcohol in a general sense in Punjabi, although it specifically refers to alcoholic beverages such as wine or spirits.
Meaning: intoxicating beverage (noun)
Which one should you use?
While ਸ਼ਰਾਬ is the standard term for the beverage itself, the word Nasha refers more to the state of intoxication or being high and is used informally to refer to alcoholic drinks.
How do you pronounce it?
śarāb
Did you know?
- In Punjabi poetry and Sufi literature, ਸ਼ਰਾਬ is frequently used as a metaphor for divine love or spiritual intoxication rather than the beverage itself.
- In Punjabi culture, the word Nasha can be used to describe the 'high' from alcohol, caffeine, or even a powerful emotional experience like love.
- The word ਸ਼ਰਾਬ is a linguistic traveler that originated in Arabic before moving through Persian into Punjabi.
Examples in context
- ਸ਼ਰਾਬ ਸਿਹਤ ਲਈ ਮਾੜੀ ਹੈ।sharāb sehat laī māṛī hai.Alcohol is bad for health.
- ਕੀ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਸ਼ਰਾਬ ਪੀਂਦੇ ਹੋ?kī tusī̃ sharāb pīndē hō?Do you drink alcohol?
- ਉਸ ਨੇ ਸ਼ਰਾਬ ਨਹੀਂ ਪੀ।us nē sharāb nahī̃ pī.He did not drink alcohol.
Example conversation
Preet and Ravinder are talking at a party.
- ਪ੍ਰੀਤ Preetਕੀ ਇਹ ਸ਼ਰਾਬ ਵਧੀਆ ਹੈ?kī ih sharāb vadhīā hai?Is this alcohol good?
- ਰਵਿੰਦਰ Ravinderਹਾਂ, ਇਹ ਬਹੁਤ ਵਧੀਆ ਹੈ।hā̃, ih bahut vadhīā hai.Yes, it is very good.
- ਪ੍ਰੀਤ Preetਮੈਨੂੰ ਸ਼ਰਾਬ ਪਸੰਦ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ।mainū sharāb pasand nahī̃ hai.I do not like alcohol.
- ਰਵਿੰਦਰ Ravinderਕੋਈ ਗੱਲ ਨਹੀਂ, ਪ੍ਰੀਤ।kōī gall nahī̃, Prīt.No problem, Preet.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ਸ਼ਰਾਬ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ਸ਼ਰਾਬ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
