ਹਾਥੀ
hāthī/ɦäː.t̪ʰiː/masculine
The Punjabi word for elephant is ਹਾਥੀ (hāthī).
The word ਹਾਥੀ is used to refer to the mammal known as an elephant.
Meaning: mammal (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word ਹਾਥੀ is derived from the Sanskrit word hasti, which also refers to an elephant.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word ਹਾਥੀ is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
hāthī (/ɦäː.t̪ʰiː/). It has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- The Sanskrit ancestor of ਹਾਥੀ, hastin, literally means 'one who possesses hands' because of the elephant's trunk.
- In the context of traditional Sikh and Punjabi weddings, the image of the ਹਾਥੀ is sometimes used in art to symbolize royal status and prosperity.
- While ਹਾਥੀ is the standard term, you may hear the word ਗਜ (gaj) used in more formal or poetic Punjabi contexts.
Examples in context
- ਹਾਥੀ ਬਹੁਤ ਵੱਡਾ ਜਾਨਵਰ ਹੈ।hathī bahuta baṛā jānavara hai.The elephant is a very large animal.
- ਬੱਚੇ ਨੂੰ ਹਾਥੀ ਬਹੁਤ ਪਸੰਦ ਹੈ।bacē nū hathī bahuta pasanda hai.The child likes the elephant very much.
- ਚਿੜੀਆਘਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਇੱਕ ਹਾਥੀ ਹੈ।ciṛiāghara vica ikka hathī hai.There is an elephant in the zoo.
Example conversation
Aman and Simran are looking at a picture book.
- ਅਮਨ Amanਸਿਮਰਨ, ਇਸ ਤਸਵੀਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਕੀ ਹੈ?Simran, is tasvir vich ki hai?Simran, what is in this picture?
- ਸਿਮਰਨ Simranਇਹ ਇੱਕ ਪਿਆਰਾ ਜਿਹਾ ਹਾਥੀ ਹੈ।eh ik piaara jiha hathi hai.This is a cute little elephant.
- ਅਮਨ Amanਹਾਥੀ ਦੀ ਸੁੰਡ ਬਹੁਤ ਲੰਬੀ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ।hathi di sund bahut lambi hundi hai.An elephant's trunk is very long.
- ਸਿਮਰਨ Simranਹਾਂ, ਇਹ ਬਹੁਤ ਮਜ਼ੇਦਾਰ ਹੈ!han, eh bahut mazedar hai!Yes, it is very interesting!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “elephant” translations and entries ਹਾਥੀ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ਹਾਥੀ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
