ਸ਼ਾਮ
śām/ʃäːm/Gurmukhi
The English phrase 'evening' is translated into Punjabi as ਸ਼ਾਮ (śām). Wiktionary also lists ਤਰਕਾਲਾਂ (tarkālā̃) and ਸੰਝ (sañjh).
Meaning: time of day between dusk and night (noun)
Ways to say it
| Punjabi | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ਸ਼ਾਮ | śām | /ʃäːm/ | Gurmukhi |
| ਤਰਕਾਲਾਂ | tarkālā̃ | Gurmukhi | |
| ਸੰਝ | sañjh | /sə˥ɲd͡ʒə̆/ | Gurmukhi |
| ਆਥਣ | āthaṇ | /äː.t̪ʰəɳ/ | Gurmukhi |
The word refers to the time of day between dusk and night.
Which one should you use?
While ਸ਼ਾਮ is the general term for evening, ਸੰਝ specifically emphasizes the transitional period of twilight.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ਸ਼ਾਮ is the most common and standard way to say 'evening' in everyday Punjabi conversation. In contrast, ਸੰਝ is a more poetic or literary term for evening, often used in songs or literature to evoke a sense of twilight or the meeting of day and night.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is śām. The IPA is /ʃäːm/.
Did you know?
- The common word for evening, ਸ਼ਾਮ, is actually a linguistic traveler from Classical Persian.
- Because ਸ਼ਾਮ is a Persian loanword, it connects Punjabi to a wider network of languages including Urdu and Farsi.
Examples in context
- ਹੈਲੋ! ਸ਼ਾਮ ਹੋ ਗਈ ਹੈ।Hello! It's evening now.
- ਅੱਜ ਸ਼ਾਮ ਬਹੁਤ ਠੰਢੀ ਹੈ।ajj shaam bahut thandhi hai.This evening is very cold today.
- ਮੈਂ ਸ਼ਾਮ ਨੂੰ ਬਾਜ਼ਾਰ ਜਾਵਾਂਗਾ।mai shaam nu baazaar javanga.I will go to the market in the evening.
- ਸ਼ਾਮ ਨੂੰ ਚਾਹ ਦਾ ਸਮਾਂ ਹੈ।shaam nu chaah da samaa hai.It is tea time in the evening.
Example conversation
Two friends are planning a time to meet.
- ਹਰਮਨ Hermanਹਰਮਨ, ਕੀ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਸ਼ਾਮ ਨੂੰ ਵਿਹਲੇ ਹੋ?Harman, ki tusi shaam nu vihle ho?Harman, are you free in the evening?
- ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ Manpreetਹਾਂ, ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ, ਮੈਂ ਵਿਹਲਾ ਹਾਂ।Haan, Manpreet, main vihla haan.Yes, Manpreet, I am free.
- ਹਰਮਨ Hermanਫਿਰ ਅਸੀਂ ਪਾਰਕ ਚੱਲੀਏ?Phir asi park challiye?Then shall we go to the park?
- ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ Manpreetਠੀਕ ਹੈ, ਮੈਂ ਉੱਥੇ ਮਿਲਾਂਗਾ।Thik hai, main uthe milanga.Okay, I will meet you there.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “evening” translations and entries ਸ਼ਾਮ, ਸੰਝ, ਆਥਣ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ਆਥਣ, ਸ਼ਾਮ, ਸੰਝ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
