ਵਿਚਕਾਰ
vichkar
The English word 'middle' is translated to Punjabi as ਵਿਚਕਾਰ (vichkar).
ਵਿਚਕਾਰ is used as a noun to refer to the centre or the midpoint of something.
Meaning: centre, midpoint (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the root vich (in/inside) and the suffix -kar (indicating a state or position), literally meaning 'in the state of being inside' or 'in the midst'.
Which one should you use?
To use 'middle' as an adjective to describe something, such as 'the middle person', add the suffix '-la' to create ਵਿਚਕਾਰਲਾ.
How do you pronounce it?
vichkar
Did you know?
- When describing a 'middle-class' person, Punjabi speakers do not use ਵਿਚਕਾਰ, but instead use the word ਮੱਧ (madh), which is borrowed from Sanskrit.
- While ਵਿਚਕਾਰ refers to the physical 'middle', Punjabi uses a different concept for 'middle' in a family context, often referring to the 'middle child' as ਦਰਮਿਆਨਾ (darmiyana).
- The word ਵਿਚ comes from a root that is also found in many other Indo-Aryan languages, sharing a distant linguistic ancestor with the English word 'within'.
Examples in context
- ਦੋਵਾਂ ਦਰਵਾਜ਼ਿਆਂ ਦੇ ਵਿਚਕਾਰ ਇੱਕ ਮੇਜ਼ ਹੈ।dovāṃ darvāzēṃ dē vichakār ik mēz hai.There is a table in the middle of the two doors.
- ਉਹ ਦੋਵਾਂ ਦੇ ਵਿਚਕਾਰ ਬੈਠਾ ਹੈ।uh dovāṃ dē vichakār baiṭhā hai.He is sitting in the middle of the two.
Example conversation
Ravinder and Kiran are arranging furniture in a room.
- ਰਵਿੰਦਰ Ravinderਕਿਰਨ, ਸੋਫਾ ਕਮਰੇ ਦੇ ਵਿਚਕਾਰ ਰੱਖੋ।Kiran, sofa kamre de vichkar rakho.Kiran, put the sofa in the middle of the room.
- ਕਿਰਨ Kiranਠੀਕ ਹੈ, ਪਰ ਇੱਥੇ ਜਗ੍ਹਾ ਘੱਟ ਹੈ।Theek hai, par ithe jagah ghatt hai.Okay, but there is little space here.
- ਰਵਿੰਦਰ Ravinderਇਹ ਵਿਚਕਾਰ ਸਹੀ ਲੱਗੇਗਾ।Eh vichkar sahi laggega.It will look right in the middle.
- ਕਿਰਨ Kiranਠੀਕ ਹੈ, ਮੈਂ ਇਸਨੂੰ ਹਿਲਾ ਦਿੰਦੀ ਹਾਂ।Theek hai, main isnu hila dindi han.Okay, I will move it.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ਵਿਚਕਾਰ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
