ਇਕੱਲਾ
ikalla
The Punjabi word for alone is ਇਕੱਲਾ (ikalla).
ਇਕੱਲਾ is an adjective used to describe being by oneself.
Meaning: by oneself (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective changes its ending to match the gender of the subject: ਇਕੱਲਾ (ikalla) is masculine and ਇਕੱਲੀ (ikallī) is feminine. The adjective changes to ਇਕੱਲੇ (ikallē) when referring to a group of people. To express the action of being or staying alone, the adjective is often paired with the verb ਰਹਿਣਾ (rahinā), meaning 'to stay' or 'to live'.
How do you pronounce it?
ikalla
Did you know?
- The word ਇਕੱਲਾ is a direct relative of the English word 'one'. Both descend from the Proto-Indo-European root for 'one' or 'single'.
- In Punjabi culture, saying someone is ਇਕੱਲਾ can sometimes imply a lack of social support or family, rather than just physical solitude.
- The phrase ਇਕੱਲਾ is often used in Punjabi folk songs to express the pain of longing or 'birha', representing the spiritual solitude of the soul.
Examples in context
- ਮੈਂ ਅਕੈਲਾ ਹਾਂ।I am alone.
- ਉਹ ਘਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਇਕੱਲਾ ਹੈ।uh ghar vich ikalla hai.He is alone in the house.
- ਮੈਂ ਇਕੱਲਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਜਾਣਾ ਚਾਹੁੰਦਾ।mai ikalla nahī̃ jāṇā cāhaundā.I don't want to go alone.
- ਕੀ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਇਕੱਲਾ ਖਾ ਰਹੇ ਹੋ?kī tusī̃ ikalla khā rahe ho?Are you eating alone?
Example conversation
Two friends talking about a movie.
- ਹਰਮਨ Hermanਕੀ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਫਿਲਮ ਦੇਖਣ ਇਕੱਲਾ ਗਏ ਸੀ?Ki tusi film dekhan ikalla gaye si?Did you go to see the movie alone?
- ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ Manpreetਹਾਂ, ਮੈਂ ਇਕੱਲਾ ਹੀ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ।Haan, main ikalla hi gaya si.Yes, I went alone.
- ਹਰਮਨ Hermanਕੀ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਡਰ ਨਹੀਂ ਲੱਗਿਆ?Ki tuhanu darr nahi laggia?Weren't you scared?
- ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ Manpreetਨਹੀਂ, ਮੈਨੂੰ ਇਕੱਲਾ ਹੋਣ ਦਾ ਮਜ਼ਾ ਆਇਆ।Nahi, mainu ikalla hon da maza aaya.No, I enjoyed being alone.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ਇਕੱਲਾ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
