ਸ਼ਹਿਰ
śahir/ʃɛː˦ɾə̆/
The Punjabi word for city is ਸ਼ਹਿਰ (śahir).
ਸ਼ਹਿਰ is used to refer to a large settlement or a city.
Meaning: large settlement (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is śahir. The IPA is /ʃɛː˦ɾə̆/.
Did you know?
- In Punjabi poetry and Sufi literature, the ਸ਼ਹਿਰ is often used as a metaphor for the external, materialistic world, contrasted with the internal spiritual world.
- While ਸ਼ਹਿਰ means city, Punjabi speakers often use the word ਬਾਜ਼ਾਰ (market) as a shorthand to describe the central, bustling heart of a city.
- The word ਸ਼ਹਿਰ is actually a guest in the Punjabi language, having traveled from Classical Persian to become a standard part of the vocabulary.
Examples in context
- ਮੈਂ ਇਸ ਸ਼ਹਿਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਰਹਿਂਦਾ ਹਾਂ।I live in this city.This sentence is useful for stating where you live using ਸ਼ਹਿਰ.
- ਇਹ ਸ਼ਹਿਰ ਬਹੁਤ ਵੱਡਾ ਹੈ।ih śahar bahuta vāḍā hai.This city is very large.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing their travel plans near a train station.
- ਕਿਰਨ Kiranਕੀ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਕਦੇ ਇਸ ਸ਼ਹਿਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਰਹੇ ਹੋ?kī tusī̃n kade is śahar vica rahē hō?Have you ever lived in this city?
- ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ Gurpreetਨਹੀਂ, ਮੈਂ ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ ਇੱਕ ਛੋਟੇ ਪਿੰਡ ਵਿੱਚ ਰਿਹਾ ਹਾਂ।nahī̃, maiñ hamēśā ikk śōṭē piṅda vica rihā hā̃.No, I have always lived in a small village.
- ਕਿਰਨ Kiranਇਸ ਸ਼ਹਿਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਬਹੁਤ ਰੌਣਕ ਹੈ।is śahar vica bahuta raunaika hai.There is a lot of bustle in this city.
- ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ Gurpreetਹਾਂ, ਕਿਰਨ, ਇਹ ਬਹੁਤ ਵਧੀਆ ਜਗ੍ਹਾ ਹੈ।hā̃, kirana, ih bahuta vadhīā jaghā hai.Yes, Kiran, it is a very great place.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “city” translations and entries ਸ਼ਹਿਰ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ਸ਼ਹਿਰ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
