ਦੇਸ਼
deś
The Punjabi word for 'country' is ਦੇਸ਼ (deś).
The term ਦੇਸ਼ is used to refer to a distinct territory with its own government and borders.
Which one should you use?
While ਦੇਸ਼ refers to a country or nation, it is more commonly used in a political or geographical sense than the more poetic ਵਤਨ. The word ਵਤਨ is a common alternative used to refer to one's homeland or native country.
How do you pronounce it?
deś
Did you know?
- The word ਦੇਸ਼ is borrowed from the Sanskrit word देश, which originally referred to a 'region' or 'direction' rather than a sovereign nation.
- While ਦੇਸ਼ describes the political entity, the related concept of 'motherland' is often expressed as ਮਾਤ ਭੂਮੀ, using ਭੂਮੀ for 'soil' or 'land'.
- Punjabi speakers may use the term ਦੇਸ਼ to refer to a specific region within a country, such as a province, depending on the historical context of the conversation.
Examples in context
- ਮੇਰਾ ਦੇਸ਼ ਬਹੁਤ ਵੱਡਾ ਹੈ।merā deś bahut vaḍḍā hai.My country is very large.
- ਉਹ ਆਪਣਾ ਦੇਸ਼ ਵੇਖਣਾ ਚਾਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ।oh āpaṇā deś vekhṇā cāhundā hai.He wants to see his country.
- ਹਰ ਦੇਸ਼ ਦੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਨਿਯਮ ਹੁੰਦੇ ਹਨ।har deś dē āpaṇē niyam hundē han.Every country has its own rules.
Example conversation
Kiran and Gurpreet are discussing travel plans.
- ਕਿਰਨ Kiranਕੀ ਤੂੰ ਕਿਸੇ ਨਵੇਂ ਦੇਸ਼ ਜਾਣਾ ਚਾਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈਂ?kī tūṃ kisē navēṃ deś jāṇā cāhundā haiṃ?Do you want to go to a new country?
- ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ Gurpreetਹਾਂ, ਮੈਂ ਇੱਕ ਨਵਾਂ ਦੇਸ਼ ਦੇਖਣਾ ਚਾਹੁੰਦਾ ਹਾਂ।hāṃ, maiṃ ik navāṃ deś dekhṇā cāhundā hāṃ.Yes, I want to see a new country.
- ਕਿਰਨ Kiranਤੈਨੂੰ ਕਿਹੜਾ ਦੇਸ਼ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਵਧੀਆ ਲੱਗਦਾ ਹੈ?tainū kihṛā deś sab tōṃ vadhīā lagdā hai?Which country do you like the most?
- ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ Gurpreetਮੈਨੂੰ ਮੇਰਾ ਦੇਸ਼ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਪਸੰਦ ਹੈ।mainū merā deś sab tōṃ pasand hai.I like my country the most.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ਦੇਸ਼, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ਦੇਸ਼, CC BY-SA 4.0.
