ਸੋਨਾ
sonā/soː.nɑː/
The English word "gold" is translated into Punjabi as ਸੋਨਾ (sonā).
To use the word as an adjective meaning "made of gold" or "golden," you must use a specific grammatical construction involving the oblique form and a particle.
Meaning: made of gold, golden (adj)
Which one should you use?
While ਸੋਨਾ (sonā) is the noun for "gold," it is a homograph that also means "to sleep" when it is used as a verb.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the meaning "made of gold" or "golden," use the oblique form ਸੋਨੇ (sonē) followed by the particle ਦਾ (dā), resulting in the phrase ਸੋਨੇ ਦਾ (sonē dā).
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /soː.nɑː/. It has two syllables: sonā.
Did you know?
- The term ਸੋਨਾ (sonā) is frequently used as a term of endearment for children or loved ones, effectively calling them 'my gold'.
- In Punjabi poetry and folk songs, gold is often used as a metaphor for the ripening wheat fields of Punjab during the harvest season.
- The Punjabi word for 'gold' is closely related to the word ਸਵਰਨ (savarn), which also refers to golden hues or a specific social class in historical contexts.
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at jewelry in a store.
- ਸਿਮਰਨ Simranਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ, ਦੇਖੋ ਇਹ ਸੋਨਾ ਦੀ ਚੈਨ ਕਿੰਨੀ ਸੋਹਣੀ ਹੈ!Gurpreet, dekho ih sona di chain kinni sohni hai!Gurpreet, look how beautiful this gold chain is!
- ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ Gurpreetਹਾਂ ਸਿਮਰਨ, ਇਹ ਸੱਚਮੁੱਚ ਬਹੁਤ ਚਮਕਦਾਰ ਹੈ।Han Simran, ih sachmuch bahut chamakdar hai.Yes Simran, it really is very shiny.
- ਸਿਮਰਨ Simranਕੀ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਇਹ ਸੋਨਾ ਦਾ ਸੈੱਟ ਲੈਣਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ?Ki mainu ih sona da set laina chahida hai?Should I buy this gold set?
- ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ Gurpreetਹਾਂ, ਇਹ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਉੱਤੇ ਬਹੁਤ ਜਚੇਗਾ।Han, ih tuhade utte bahut jachega.Yes, it will look great on you.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ਸੋਨਾ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
