ਚੂਹਾ
cūhā/ˈt͡ʃuː˩˥.äː/masculine
The word for rat in Punjabi is ਚੂਹਾ (cūhā).
The term refers to the rodent. It is a masculine noun used to identify a rat.
Meaning: rodent (noun)
Which one should you use?
While ਚੂਹਾ is the masculine singular form, you may use ਚੂਹੀ when specifically referring to a female rat.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of ਚੂਹਾ is ਚੂਹੇ. To specify a female rat, the feminine form ਚੂਹੀ is used.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is cūhā. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- In many South Asian households, a mouse or rat is a common symbol in religious iconography, often depicted as the 'vahana' or vehicle of the deity Ganesha.
- The Punjabi word ਚੂਹਾ is a direct descendant of the Ashokan Prakrit word *cūha, meaning it has been spoken in nearly the same form for over two millennia.
- While English uses 'mouse' and 'rat' for different sizes of rodents, the Punjabi ਚੂਹਾ is used broadly to refer to both animals.
Examples in context
- ਚੂਹਾ ਬਹੁਤ ਤੇਜ਼ ਦੌੜ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ।chūhā bahut tez dauṛ rihā hai.The rat is running very fast.
Example conversation
Aman and Kiran are in the kitchen.
- ਅਮਨ Amanਕਿਰਨ, ਕੀ ਤੂੰ ਚੂਹਾ ਦੇਖਿਆ?Kiran, kī tūñ chūhā dekhīā?Kiran, did you see the rat?
- ਕਿਰਨ Kiranਨਹੀਂ, ਮੈਂ ਕੋਈ ਚੂਹਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਦੇਖਿਆ।nahīñ, maiñ koī chūhā nahīñ dekhīā.No, I didn't see any rat.
- ਅਮਨ Amanਉਹ ਚੂਹਾ ਰਸੋਈ ਵਿੱਚ ਹੈ।oh chūhā rasoī vich hai.That rat is in the kitchen.
- ਕਿਰਨ Kiranਫਿਰ ਮੈਂ ਉਸਨੂੰ ਬਾਹਰ ਕੱਢਦੀ ਹਾਂ।phir maiñ usnū bāhar kaḍhdī hāñ.Then I will put it out.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rat” translations and entries ਚੂਹਾ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ਚੂਹਾ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
