ਹਰਾਮੀ
harāmī
The Punjabi word for 'bastard' is ਹਰਾਮੀ (harāmī).
ਹਰਾਮੀ is used to describe a contemptible person. While it is primarily a harsh insult, it can occasionally be used as slang among close male friends to mean 'rascal' or 'scoundrel'.
Meaning: contemptible etc. person (noun)
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ਹਰਾਮੀ is an informal word. It is considered highly offensive in polite society, though it may be used colloquially among close male friends.
How do you pronounce it?
harāmī
When do people say it?
In specific colloquial settings among close male friends, it may be used as a slang term for a 'rascal', but it remains highly offensive in polite society.
Did you know?
- The word ਹਰਾਮੀ is actually borrowed from Arabic, where it originally refers to someone who has transgressed religious or moral laws.
- Despite being an insult, calling a child ਹਰਾਮੀ in a very specific, indulgent tone by an elder can sometimes imply the child is precociously clever.
- The term is almost exclusively used in male-dominated social circles when used colloquially, and a woman using it toward a man in the same 'playful' way might be perceived very differently.
Examples in context
- ਉਸ ਆਦਮੀ ਨੂੰ ਮੈਂ ਹਰਾਮੀ ਕਹਿ ਸਕਦਾ ਹਾਂ।I can call that man a bastard.
- ਉਹ ਬਹੁਤ ਹਰਾਮੀ ਹੈ।oh bahut harami hai.He is a real bastard.
- ਉਸ ਹਰਾਮੀ ਨੇ ਮੇਰਾ ਨੁਕਸਾਨ ਕੀਤਾ।us harami ne mera nuksan kita.That bastard caused me harm.
Example conversation
Aman is complaining to Preet about a person who cheated him.
- ਪ੍ਰੀਤ Preetਕੀ ਹੋਇਆ ਅਮਨ?kī hōīā aman?What happened, Aman?
- ਅਮਨ Amanਉਹ ਹਰਾਮੀ ਮੇਰੇ ਪੈਸੇ ਲੈ ਗਿਆ।oh harami mērē paisē lai giā.That bastard took my money.
- ਪ੍ਰੀਤ Preetਬਹੁਤ ਹੀ ਹਰਾਮੀ ਇਨਸਾਨ ਹੈ ਉਹ।bahut hī harami insān hai oh.He is a very contemptible person.
- ਅਮਨ Amanਹਾਂ, ਮੈਂ ਉਸਨੂੰ ਕਦੇ ਮੁਆਫ਼ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਰਾਂਗਾ।hā̃, maĩ usnū kadē muāf nahī̃ karāṅgā.Yes, I will never forgive him.
