ਮੱਖਣ
makkhaṇ[məkːʰəɳə̆]masculine
The Punjabi word for butter is ਮੱਖਣ (makkhaṇ).
ਮੱਖਣ is a noun used to refer to the soft foodstuff made from milk.
Meaning: soft foodstuff made from milk (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun ਮੱਖਣ is masculine and is used with masculine adjectives and verbs.
How do you pronounce it?
makkhaṇ
Did you know?
- In Punjabi culture, the child Krishna is affectionately called ਮੱਖਣ ਚੋਰ (makkhaṇ chor), which means 'butter thief', because of his legendary love for stealing butter from pots.
- The word ਮੱਖਣ originates from the Sanskrit word म्रक्षण (mrakṣaṇa).
- In Punjabi culture, the phrase ਮੱਖਣ ਵਰਗਾ (like butter) is a common idiom used to describe someone with an exceptionally smooth or pleasant personality.
Examples in context
- ਮੱਖਣ ਨੂੰ ਟੋਸਟ 'ਤੇ ਲਗਾਓSpread butter on the toast.
- ਮੈਨੂੰ ਰੋਟੀ ਉੱਤੇ ਮੱਖਣ ਪਸੰਦ ਹੈ।mainū rōṭī uttē makhaṇ pasand hai.I like butter on bread.
- ਇਹ ਮੱਖਣ ਬਹੁਤ ਤਾਜ਼ਾ ਹੈ।ih makhaṇ bahuta tāzā hai.This butter is very fresh.
Example conversation
Gurpreet and Preet are having breakfast together.
- ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ Gurpreetਪ੍ਰੀਤ, ਕੀ ਮੱਖਣ ਇੱਥੇ ਹੈ?Prīt, kī makhaṇ ithē hai?Preet, is the butter here?
- ਪ੍ਰੀਤ Preetਹਾਂ, ਇਹ ਫਰਿੱਜ ਵਿੱਚ ਹੈ।Hā̃, ih frijj vich hai.Yes, it is in the fridge.
- ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ Gurpreetਮੈਂ ਮੱਖਣ ਲੈ ਆਉਂਦਾ ਹਾਂ।Main makhaṇ lē āundā hā̃.I will bring the butter.
- ਪ੍ਰੀਤ Preetਧੰਨਵਾਦ, ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ।Dhannvād, Gurprīt.Thank you, Gurpreet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “butter” translations and entries ਮੱਖਣ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ਮੱਖਣ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
