ਬਰਫ਼
baraf/bəɾf/
The English word "snow" is ਬਰਫ਼ (baraf) in Punjabi. Wiktionary also lists برف (pnb).
Meaning: partly frozen, crystalline state of water that falls from the atmosphere as precipitation in flakes, falling of such flakes, accumulation of them as a white layer (noun)
Ways to say it
| Punjabi | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ਬਰਫ਼ | baraf | /bəɾf/ | |
| برف | pnb | /bə.ɾəf/ | Western Punjabi |
This term refers to the crystalline state of water falling from the atmosphere or the white layer of accumulation on the ground. Note that the Punjabi word for snow is the same as the word used for ice.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is baraf and the IPA is /bəɾf/.
Did you know?
- The word ਬਰਫ਼ is written in two different scripts: the Gurmukhi script ਬਰਫ਼ used in India and the Shahmukhi script برف used in Pakistan.
- The word ਬਰਫ਼ was borrowed into Punjabi from Classical Persian.
- While 'snow' is a common weather phenomenon in the Himalayan regions of Punjab, in the flat plains of Indian Punjab, the word ਬਰਫ਼ is much more frequently used to describe ice cubes in a drink.
Examples in context
- ਅੱਜ ਬਹੁਤ ਬਰਫ਼ ਪੈ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ।ajj bahut baraf pai rahi hai.It is snowing a lot today.
- ਪਹਾੜਾਂ ਉੱਤੇ ਚਿੱਟੀ ਬਰਫ਼ ਹੈ।pahāṛāṁ uttē ciṭī baraf hai.There is white snow on the mountains.
- ਬੱਚੇ ਬਰਫ਼ ਨਾਲ ਖੇਡ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ।bacē baraf nāl khēḍ ra hē han.The children are playing with the snow.
Example conversation
Manpreet and Aman are looking out the window at the weather.
- ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ Manpreetਅਮਨ, ਦੇਖੋ ਕਿੰਨੀ ਬਰਫ਼ ਪਈ ਹੈ!Aman, dekho kinni barf pai hai!Aman, look how much it has snowed!
- ਅਮਨ Amanਹਾਂ, ਹਰ ਪਾਸੇ ਸਫ਼ੇਦ ਬਰਫ਼ ਹੈ।han, har paase safed barf hai.Yes, there is white snow everywhere.
- ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ Manpreetਕੀ ਅਸੀਂ ਬਾਹਰ ਖੇਡਣ ਜਾ ਸਕਦੇ ਹਾਂ?ki asin baahar khedan ja sakde han?Can we go outside to play?
- ਅਮਨ Amanਹਾਂ, ਪਰ ਗਰਮ ਕੱਪੜੇ ਪਾ ਲਓ।han, par garam kapde pa lao.Yes, but put on warm clothes.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “snow” translations and entries ਬਰਫ਼, برف, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ਬਰਫ਼, CC BY-SA 4.0.
