ਕੀ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਖਾਧਾ?
kī tusīṁ khādhā?
The English phrase "did you eat?" is translated into Punjabi as ਕੀ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਖਾਧਾ? (kī tusīṁ khādhā?)
This phrase is a question used to ask if someone has had a meal.
Which one should you use?
ਕੀ ਤੂੰ ਖਾ ਲਿਆ? is an informal way to ask 'Did you eat?', while ਕੀ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਖਾ ਲਿਆ ਹੋ? and ਤੁਸੀਂ ਖਾਣਾ ਖਾ ਲਿਆ ਹੈ? are formal ways to ask 'Have you eaten?' or 'Have you had your meal?'
How do you pronounce it?
kī tusīṁ khādhā?
When do people say it?
When asking if someone has eaten, a person might respond with ਹਾਂ, ਖਾ ਲਿਆ। to say "Yes, I ate" or ਨਹੀਂ, ਅਜੇ ਨਹੀਂ। to say "No, not yet".
Did you know?
- In Punjabi culture, asking ਕੀ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਖਾਧਾ? is often used more as a warm greeting than a literal inquiry into hunger. It functions similarly to 'How are you?' to show care for the other person's well-being.
- The question word ਕੀ is a direct descendant of the Sanskrit word किम्, which also means 'what' or 'whether'.
- In some rural Punjabi contexts, asking someone if they have eaten is a prerequisite before starting a business negotiation or a serious conversation.
Example conversation
Gurpreet and Preet meet at home in the evening.
- ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ Gurpreetਪ੍ਰੀਤ, ਕੀ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਖਾਧਾ?Preet, ki tusi khadha?Preet, did you eat?
- ਪ੍ਰੀਤ Preetਨਹੀਂ, ਮੈਂ ਅਜੇ ਨਹੀਂ ਖਾਧਾ।Nahi, main aje nahi khadha.No, I haven't eaten yet.
- ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ Gurpreetਠੀਕ ਹੈ, ਫਿਰ ਚਲੋ ਖਾਣ ਦਾ ਹੈ।Thik hai, phir chalo khan da hai.Okay, then let's go eat.
- ਪ੍ਰੀਤ Preetਹਾਂ, ਚਲੋ ਚੱਲੀਏ।Han, chalo chaliye.Yes, let's go.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ਕੀ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
