ਨੱਕ
nakkaGurmukhi, masculine
The word for "nose" in Punjabi is ਨੱਕ (nakka) (Gurmukhi) or نَکّ (Shahmukhi).
Meaning: protuberance on the face (noun)
Ways to say it
| Punjabi | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ਨੱਕ | nakka | Gurmukhi, masculine |
| نَکّ | nakk | Shahmukhi, masculine |
The term refers to the protuberance on the face.
Which one should you use?
ਨੱਕ is written in the Gurmukhi script, while نَکّ is written in the Shahmukhi script. Both forms are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
nakka
Did you know?
- The word ਨੱਕ is used in the expression ਨੱਕ ਵਿੱਚ ਦਮ ਕਰਨਾ, which literally means 'to put breath in the nose' but actually means to annoy someone intensely.
- The term for 'nose' shares a common ancestor with the English word 'nose' and the Latin 'nasus', tracing back to the same Proto-Indo-European root *néh₂s.
- In Punjabi, the word ਨੱਕ is used metaphorically to describe one's 'reputation' or 'honor'. If someone says they have 'lost their nose' (ਨੱਕ ਕੱਟਣਾ, nakka katta), it means someone has caused them great public shame.
Examples in context
- ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੀ ਨਾਕ ਗੰਦੀ ਹੈ।Their nose is dirty.
- ਮੈਨੂੰ ਤੁਹਾਡੀ ਨਾਕ ਵੱਡੀ ਲੱਗਦੀ ਹੈ।Your nose looks big to me.
- ਉਸ ਦਾ ਨੱਕ ਲਾਲ ਹੈ।us dā nakk lāl hai.His nose is red.
- ਮੇਰੇ ਨੱਕ ਵਿੱਚੋਂ ਖੂਨ ਆ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ।merē nakk vichōṅ khūn ā rihā hai.My nose is bleeding.
- ਬੱਚੇ ਦਾ ਨੱਕ ਬਹੁਤ ਪਿਆਰਾ ਹੈ।baccē dā nakk bahut piārā hai.The baby's nose is very cute.
Example conversation
Harman and Preet are talking about a cold.
- ਹਰਮਨ Hermanਪ੍ਰੀਤ, ਕੀ ਤੇਰਾ ਨੱਕ ਬੰਦ ਹੈ?Preet, ki tera nakk band hai?Preet, is your nose blocked?
- ਪ੍ਰੀਤ Preetਹਾਂ, ਮੇਰਾ ਨੱਕ ਬਹੁਤ ਪਰੇਸ਼ਾਨ ਕਰ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ।Haan, mera nakk bahut pareshan kar riha hai.Yes, my nose is bothering me a lot.
- ਹਰਮਨ Hermanਕੋਈ ਦਵਾਈ ਲੈ ਲਓ।Koi davai lai lao.Take some medicine.
- ਪ੍ਰੀਤ Preetਠੀਕ ਹੈ, ਹਰਮਨ, ਮੈਂ ਲਵਾਂਗੀ।Theek hai, Harman, main lavangi.Okay, Harman, I will.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “nose” translations and entries ਨੱਕ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ਨੱਕ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
