ਖਾਣਾ
khāṇā[ˈkʰäː.ɳäː]
In Punjabi, eating is expressed as ਖਾਣਾ (khāṇā).
The word ਖਾਣਾ is used to describe the act of consuming food. It is also the standard word used to mean "food" itself.
Meaning: the act of consuming food (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
ਖਾਣਾ functions as both a noun meaning "food" or "the act of eating" and as a verb meaning "to eat".
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the concept of eating as a continuous verb, the form changes based on the gender of the subject. For a masculine subject, use ਖਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ (is eating). For a feminine subject, use ਖਾ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ (is eating).
How do you pronounce it?
khāṇā
Did you know?
- In Punjabi culture, offering ਖਾਣਾ is a primary way of showing hospitality, and it is often considered impolite to refuse food offered by a host.
- In some Punjabi idioms, ਖਾਣਾ is used metaphorically to describe 'consuming' time or resources, rather than actual food.
- If you want to say you are 'feeding' someone rather than just eating, you would use the related word ਖੁਆਉਣਾ instead of ਖਾਣਾ.
Examples in context
- ਮੈਂ ਖਾਣਾ ਖਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹਾਂ (Main khana kha raha haan)I am eating.
- ਸਾਰਾ ਪਰਿਵਾਰ ਖਾਣੇ ਲਈ ਤਿਆਰ ਹੈ (Sara parivar khane layi tyaar hai)The entire family is ready to eat.
- ਖਾਣਾ ਬਹੁਤ ਲਾਜ਼ਮੀ ਹੈ।khāṇā bahut lāzamī hai.Eating is very essential.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing their habits during a break.
- ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ Gurpreetਪ੍ਰੀਤ, ਕੀ ਤੈਨੂੰ ਖਾਣਾ ਪਸੰਦ ਹੈ?Preet, kī tainū khāṇā pasand hai?Preet, do you like eating?
- ਪ੍ਰੀਤ Preetਹਾਂ, ਮੈਨੂੰ ਖਾਣਾ ਬਹੁਤ ਪਸੰਦ ਹੈ।Hā̃, mainū khāṇā bahut pasand hai.Yes, I love eating.
- ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ Gurpreetਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਕੀ ਖਾਣਾ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਵਧੀਆ ਲੱਗਦਾ ਹੈ?Tuhānū kī khāṇā sabh tō̃ vadhīā lagdā hai?What eating do you like the most?
- ਪ੍ਰੀਤ Preetਮੈਨੂੰ ਮਿੱਠਾ ਖਾਣਾ ਪਸੰਦ ਹੈ।Mainū miṭṭhā khāṇā pasand hai.I like eating sweets.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ਖਾਣਾ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
