ਨੂੰਹ
nū̃hGurmukhi, feminine
The Punjabi word for daughter-in-law is ਨੂੰਹ (nū̃h). Wiktionary also lists نُون٘ہہ (nūṉh).
Meaning: wife of one's child (noun)
Ways to say it
| Punjabi | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ਨੂੰਹ | nū̃h | Gurmukhi, feminine |
| نُون٘ہہ | nūṉh | Shahmukhi, feminine |
The term is used to refer to the wife of one's child.
Which one should you use?
The Gurmukhi script form is ਨੂੰਹ, while the Shahmukhi script form is نُون٘ہہ.
How does it change in a sentence?
This is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
nū̃h
Did you know?
- There is a linguistic connection between ਨੂੰਹ and the Belarusian word сныха́, which is used in certain dialects to mean 'a lively girl'.
- The term ਨੂੰਹ is often used in Punjabi folk songs to describe the bittersweet transition of a woman leaving her paternal home for her husband's house.
- In many Punjabi households, the ਨੂੰਹ traditionally occupies a specific hierarchical position where she is expected to address her mother-in-law as ਸੱਸ with high formality.
Examples in context
- ਉਹ ਮੇਰੀ ਨੂੰਹ ਹੈ।oh merī nūh hai.She is my daughter-in-law.
- ਸਾਡੀ ਨੂੰਹ ਬਹੁਤ ਸਮਝਦਾਰ ਹੈ।sāḍī nūh bahut samajhdār hai.Our daughter-in-law is very sensible.
- ਉਹ ਆਪਣੀ ਨੂੰਹ ਨੂੰ ਬਹੁਤ ਪਿਆਰ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ।oh apṇī nūh nū bahut piār kardā hai.He loves his daughter-in-law very much.
Example conversation
Ravinder and Preet are talking about family arrivals.
- ਰਵਿੰਦਰ Ravinderਕੀ ਤੁਹਾਡੀ ਨੂੰਹ ਆ ਗਈ ਹੈ?kī tuhāḍī nūha ā ga'ī hai?Has your daughter-in-law arrived?
- ਪ੍ਰੀਤ Preetਹਾਂ, ਉਹ ਹੁਣੇ ਹੀ ਪਹੁੰਚੀ ਹੈ।hāṁ, uha hunē hī pahuñcī hai.Yes, she has just arrived.
- ਰਵਿੰਦਰ Ravinderਉਹ ਕਿੱਦਾਂ ਹੈ?uha kiddāṁ hai?How is she?
- ਪ੍ਰੀਤ Preetਉਹ ਬਿਲਕੁਲ ਠੀਕ ਹੈ, ਰਵਿੰਦਰ।uha bilkul ṭhīka hai, ravindar.She is perfectly fine, Ravinder.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “daughter-in-law” translations and entries ਨੂੰਹ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ਨੂੰਹ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
