ਦੇਰ
der
The Punjabi word for late is ਦੇਰ (der).
While ਦੇਰ is technically a noun meaning 'delay' or 'lateness', it is used in many contexts to express the adjective 'late'.
Meaning: not arriving until after an expected time (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the phrase 'to be late' or 'to happen late', you combine the noun ਦੇਰ with the verb ਹੋਣਾ (to be).
How do you pronounce it?
der
Did you know?
- When talking about a 'late' person in a respectful context, such as someone who has passed away, Punjabi speakers rarely use ਦੇਰ and instead use specific honorific terms to avoid any suggestion of a delay.
- To say someone is 'running late', Punjabi speakers often use the concept of 'time being eaten' or 'time being spent' through different verbal constructions than the English 'running'.
- In many Punjabi social contexts, arriving late is treated as a potential sign of trouble or an accident, prompting a check-in on one's welfare rather than a reprimand for the delay.
Examples in context
- ਮੈਨੂੰ ਦੇਰ ਹੋ ਗਈ।I am late.
- ਕੀ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਦੇਰ ਹੋ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ?Are you being late?
- ਮੈਨੂੰ ਦੇਰ ਹੋ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ।mainū dēr hō ra hī hai.I am getting late.
- ਬੱਸ ਦੇਰ ਨਾਲ ਆ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ।bass dēr nāl ā rahī hai.The bus is arriving late.
Example conversation
Gurpreet calls Simran to check on her arrival time.
- ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ Gurpreetਸਿਮਰਨ, ਕੀ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਦੇਰ ਹੋ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ?simran, kī tuhānū dēr hō rahī hai?Simran, are you running late?
- ਸਿਮਰਨ Simranਹਾਂ, ਮੈਂ ਥੋੜ੍ਹੀ ਦੇਰ ਨਾਲ ਪਹੁੰਚਾਂਗੀ।hā̃, maĩ thoṛī dēr nāl pahun̄cāṅgī.Yes, I will arrive a little late.
- ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ Gurpreetਕੋਈ ਗੱਲ ਨਹੀਂ, ਮੈਂ ਇੱਥੇ ਹੀ ਹਾਂ।kōī gall nahī̃, maĩ itthē hī hā̃.No problem, I am right here.
- ਸਿਮਰਨ Simranਧੰਨਵਾਦ, ਮੈਂ ਜਲਦੀ ਆਉਣ ਦੀ ਕੋਸ਼ਿਸ਼ ਕਰਾਂਗੀ।dhannavād, maĩ jaladī āuṇ dī kōśiś karaṅgī.Thank you, I will try to come quickly.
