ਸਾਫ਼
sāf/sɑːf/
The English word 'clean' can be translated into Punjabi as ਸਾਫ਼ (sāf).
In some contexts, the word changa (which generally means 'good') can also be used to describe something as clean or neat.
Meaning: (transitive) to remove dirt from a place or object (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
While ਸਾਫ਼ is the adjective meaning 'clean', if you want to express the transitive verb 'to clean', you form it by adding ਕਰਨਾ (karnā, to do) to create ਸਾਫ਼ ਕਰਨਾ. To express the past tense 'cleaned', use the form ਸਾਫ਼ ਕੀਤਾ (sāf kītā). For describing something that is both clean and well-maintained, the compound adjective ਸਾਫ਼-ਸੁਥਰਾ (sāf-suthrā), meaning 'neat and tidy', is commonly used.
How do you pronounce it?
/sɑːf/
Did you know?
- The word ਸਾਫ਼ is not native to Punjabi but is a loanword that traveled from Arabic to Persian before entering Punjabi.
- When describing a person's character as 'clean' or 'pure', Punjabi speakers often use ਸਾਫ਼ just as English speakers use 'clean' to mean someone is honest or sinless.
- Because ਸਾਫ਼ is a loanword from Persian, it is also instantly recognizable to speakers of Hindi and Urdu.
Examples in context
- ਪਾਣੀ ਸਾਫ਼ ਹੈ।The water is clean.This sentence shows how to use ਸਾਫ਼ to describe the state of water.
- ਮੇਰੇ ਕੱਪੜੇ ਸਾਫ਼ ਕਰ ਦਿਓ।merē kappade sāf kar diō.Please clean my clothes.
Example conversation
Gurpreet and Preet are talking about housework.
- ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ Gurpreetਪ੍ਰੀਤ, ਕੀ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਮੇਜ਼ ਸਾਫ਼ ਕਰ ਸਕਦੇ ਹੋ?Prīt, kī tusī̃ mēz sāf kar sakdē hō?Preet, can you clean the table?
- ਪ੍ਰੀਤ Preetਹਾਂ, ਮੈਂ ਹੁਣੇ ਕਰ ਦਿੰਦੀ ਹਾਂ।Hā̃, main hunē kar dindī hā̃.Yes, I will do it right now.
- ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ Gurpreetਧੰਨਵਾਦ, ਇਹ ਬਹੁਤ ਗੰਦਾ ਹੈ।Dhanvād, ēh bahut gandā hai.Thanks, it is very dirty.
- ਪ੍ਰੀਤ Preetਕੋਈ ਗੱਲ ਨਹੀਂ, ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ।Kōī gall nahī̃, Gurprīt.No problem, Gurpreet.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ਸਾਫ਼, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ਸਾਫ਼, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
