ਸ਼ੇਰ
śer/ʃeːɾ/Gurmukhi, masculine
The English word lion is translated into Punjabi as ਸ਼ੇਰ (śer). Wiktionary also lists ਸਿੰਘ (siṅgh) and سنگھ (pnb).
Meaning: big cat Panthera leo (noun)
Ways to say it
| Punjabi | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ਸ਼ੇਰ | śer | /ʃeːɾ/ | Gurmukhi, masculine |
| ਸਿੰਘ | siṅgh | /ˈsɪ˩˥ŋ.ɡ/ | Gurmukhi, masculine |
| سنگھ | pnb | /sɪŋɡ˩˥/ | Western Punjabi, masculine |
In Punjabi, the term used depends on whether you are talking about the biological animal or the symbolic qualities of a lion.
Which one should you use?
Use ਸ਼ੇਰ (śer) when you are referring to the actual biological animal. In contrast, use ਸਿੰਘ (siṅgh) when referring to the symbolic meaning of a lion, such as in a name or title.
How does it change in a sentence?
All forms provided are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
śer (/ʃeːɾ/)
When do people say it?
The word ਸਿੰਘ (siṅgh) is a common surname and title among Sikh men, where it represents the qualities of a lion.
Did you know?
- In 1699, Guru Gobind Singh mandated that all initiated Sikh men adopt ਸਿੰਘ as their last name to signify courage and equality.
- The spelling سنگھ shows the Perso-Arabic script influence, used primarily by Punjabi speakers who follow the Shahmukhi writing system.
- The term ਸਿੰਘ is specifically used in the context of the Khalsa Panth to strip away caste distinctions by giving everyone the same 'lion' title.
Examples in context
- ਸ਼ੇਰ ਵੱਡਾ ਜਾਨਵਰ ਹੈ।The lion is a big animal.This sentence shows how to use ਸ਼ੇਰ to identify a lion as a big animal.
- ਜੰਗਲ ਵਿੱਚ ਇੱਕ ਸ਼ੇਰ ਹੈ।jangal vich ik sher hai.There is a lion in the jungle.
- ਸ਼ੇਰ ਬਹੁਤ ਸ਼ਕਤੀਸ਼ਾਲੀ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ।sher bahut shaktishali hunda hai.A lion is very powerful.
Example conversation
Two people are looking at a picture book about animals.
- ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ Gurpreetਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ, ਇਹ ਸ਼ੇਰ ਹੈ?Manprīt, ih shēr hai?Manpreet, is this a lion?
- ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ Manpreetਹਾਂ, ਇਹ ਇੱਕ ਵੱਡਾ ਸ਼ੇਰ ਹੈ।hān, ih ik vaḍḍā shēr hai.Yes, this is a big lion.
- ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ Gurpreetਇਹ ਬਹੁਤ ਡਰਾਉਣਾ ਲੱਗਦਾ ਹੈ।ih bahut ḍarāuṇā lagdā hai.It looks very scary.
- ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ Manpreetਪਰ ਇਹ ਬਹੁਤ ਤਾਕਤਵਰ ਹੈ।par ih bahut tākatvar hai.But it is very powerful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lion” translations and entries ਸ਼ੇਰ, ਸਿੰਘ, سنگھ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
