ਕਿਰਲੀ
kirlīfeminine
The Punjabi word for "lizard" is ਕਿਰਲੀ (kirlī). Wiktionary also lists کِرلی (kirlī).
Meaning: reptile (noun)
Ways to say it
| Punjabi | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ਕਿਰਲੀ | kirlī | feminine |
| کِرلی | kirlī | feminine |
The word refers to the reptile commonly known as a lizard.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
kirlī
Did you know?
- If someone describes a person as being like a ਚਿਪਕਲੀ, they are not calling them a reptile, but are instead suggesting that the person is overly clingy or difficult to shake off in a social way.
- Because Punjabi uses two scripts, the word ਕਿਰਲੀ in Gurmukhi and کِرلی in Shahmukhi are pronounced identically despite looking entirely different to the reader.
- The term ਚਿਪਕਲੀ is derived from the verb meaning 'to stick' or 'to cling', which describes exactly how the gecko behaves on surfaces.
Examples in context
- ਦੀਵਾਰ 'ਤੇ ਇੱਕ ਕਿਰਲੀ ਹੈ।deewar 'te ik kirli hai.There is a lizard on the wall.
- ਮੈਨੂੰ ਕਿਰਲੀ ਤੋਂ ਡਰ ਲੱਗਦਾ ਹੈ।mainu kirli ton darr lagda hai.I am afraid of lizards.
- ਕਿਰਲੀ ਬਹੁਤ ਤੇਜ਼ ਦੌੜਦੀ ਹੈ।kirli bahut tez daurdi hai.The lizard runs very fast.
Example conversation
A man and a woman are in the living room.
- ਪ੍ਰੀਤ Preetਅਮਨ, ਦੇਖੋ, ਕੰਧ 'ਤੇ ਕਿਰਲੀ ਹੈ!Aman, dekho, kandh 'te kirli hai!Aman, look, there is a lizard on the wall!
- ਅਮਨ Amanਕਿੱਥੇ ਹੈ ਕਿਰਲੀ?Kithe hai kirli?Where is the lizard?
- ਪ੍ਰੀਤ Preetਉਸ ਫਰੇਮ ਦੇ ਕੋਲ।Us frame de kol.Near that frame.
- ਅਮਨ Amanਠੀਕ ਹੈ, ਮੈਂ ਇਸ ਨੂੰ ਬਾਹਰ ਕੱਢ ਦਿੰਦਾ ਹਾਂ।Theek hai, main is nu bahar kadd dinda han.Okay, I will put it outside.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lizard” translations and entries ਕਿਰਲੀ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
