ਬੱਲਾ
ballā
The English word 'bat' (the small flying mammal) is translated into Punjabi as ਬੱਲਾ (ballā).
In Punjabi, this refers to the small flying mammal.
Meaning: small flying mammal (noun)
Which one should you use?
The word ਚਮਗਾਦਰ is also used in more formal contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
ballā
Did you know?
- The word ਬੱਲਾ is a cognate of the Sanskrit word valaka, which originally referred to a crane or a bird.
- In many Punjabi-speaking regions, if you ask for a ਬੱਲਾ, someone might hand you a cricket 'bat' instead of describing the animal.
- If you are reading a formal Punjabi newspaper, you are much more likely to encounter the term ਚਮਗਾਦਰ than the word ਬੱਲਾ when the subject is biology. The two words represent a shift from the street to the classroom.
Example conversation
Two people are looking at a cave entrance.
- ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ Manpreetਦੇਖੋ, ਉੱਥੇ ਇੱਕ ਬੱਲਾ ਹੈ!dekhō, uthē ik ballā hai!Look, there is a bat there!
- ਰਵਿੰਦਰ Ravinderਹਾਂ, ਉਹ ਬਹੁਤ ਛੋਟਾ ਹੈ।hā͠, uh bahut chōṭā hai.Yes, it is very small.
- ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ Manpreetਕੀ ਬੱਲਾ ਡਰਾਉਣਾ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ?kī ballā darāuṇā hundā hai?Are bats scary?
- ਰਵਿੰਦਰ Ravinderਨਹੀਂ, ਉਹ ਨੁਕਸਾਨ ਨਹੀਂ ਪਹੁੰਚਾਉਂਦੇ।nahī͠, uh nukisān nahī͠ pahuñcāuñdē.No, they do not cause harm.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ਬੱਲਾ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
