ਨਿੰਬੂ
nimbū[nɪmbuː]
The Punjabi word for lime is ਨਿੰਬੂ (nimbū).
ਨਿੰਬੂ is used to refer to the green citrus fruit known as a lime.
Meaning: green citrus fruit (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
nimbū
Did you know?
- In many Punjabi households, a ਨਿੰਬੂ is hung from a string across the doorway or on a vehicle to ward off the 'evil eye' and bring good luck.
- The word ਨਿੰਬੂ is used in the common Punjabi idiom ਨਿੰਬੂ ਨਿਚੋੜਨਾ, which literally means 'squeezing a lime' but refers to extracting every last bit of value or money from someone.
- The word ਨਿੰਬੂ shares a common ancestor with the Sanskrit word 'nimbū', which also refers to the Neem tree in some contexts. This connects the fruit to a widely used medicinal plant in the Indian subcontinent.
Examples in context
- ਮੈਨੂੰ ਇੱਕ ਨਿੰਬੂ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ।mainū ik nīmbū cāhidā hai.I need a lime.
- ਨਿੰਬੂ ਬਹੁਤ ਖੱਟਾ ਹੈ।nīmbū bahut khaṭṭā hai.The lime is very sour.
- ਕੀ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਕੋਲ ਨਿੰਬੂ ਹੈ?kī tuhāḍē kōla nīmbū hai?Do you have a lime?
Example conversation
Kiran and Gurpreet are in the kitchen preparing a drink.
- ਕਿਰਨ Kiranਕੀ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਕੋਲ ਇੱਕ ਨਿੰਬੂ ਹੈ?kī tuhāḍē kōla ik nīmbū hai?Do you have a lime?
- ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ Gurpreetਹਾਂ, ਮੇਰੇ ਕੋਲ ਇੱਕ ਨਿੰਬੂ ਹੈ।hāṅ, mērē kōla ik nīmbū hai.Yes, I have a lime.
- ਕਿਰਨ Kiranਇਸ ਨੂੰ ਪਾਣੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਪਾ ਦਿਓ।is nū pāṇī vica pā di'ō.Please put it in the water.
- ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ Gurpreetਠੀਕ ਹੈ, ਕਿਰਨ।ṭhīka hai, kiran.Okay, Kiran.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ਨਿੰਬੂ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ਨਿੰਬੂ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
