ਬੋਲਣਾ
bolṇā/boːlᵊ.ɳäː/
To say speak in Punjabi, use ਬੋਲਣਾ (bolṇā).
ਬੋਲਣਾ means to speak, including being able to communicate in a language. To speak openly or frankly is Khul ke bolna.
Meaning: to be able to communicate in a language (verb)
Which one should you use?
Gallan karna is an informal way to say to talk with someone, and Gapp karana means to chit chat or have a friendly conversation.
How does it change in a sentence?
ਬੋਲਣਾ is the infinitive. In the present tense it agrees with the subject: ਬੋਲਦਾ (boldā) for a man, ਬੋਲਦੀ (boldī) for a woman, ਬੋਲਦੇ (boldē) for men or a mixed group and ਬੋਲਦੀਆਂ for women.
How do you pronounce it?
It is romanized as bolṇā and pronounced /boːlᵊ.ɳäː/, two syllables with a long o.
Did you know?
- In Punjabi, the word ਬੋਲ (bol) refers not just to speaking, but specifically to the rhythmic and poetic lyrics of a folk song, treating the 'words' as a musical element.
- The word ਗੱਲ (gall) in the phrase ਗੱਲਾਂ ਕਰਨ (gallan karan) literally means 'a matter' or 'a thing'. When you use this to mean 'to talk', you are essentially saying you are 'doing things' with someone.
- The word ਬੋਲਣਾ traces its ancestry back to the Prakrit word bŏllaï, linking it to a deep historical lineage of Indo-Aryan languages.
Examples in context
- ਮੈਂ ਅੰਗਰੇਜ਼ੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਬੋਲਦਾ ਹਾਂ।I don't speak English.Here ਬੋਲਦਾ is the masculine present form, so a man is saying he doesn't speak English.
- ਕੀ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਬੋਲਣਾ ਜਾਣਦੇ ਹੋ?kī tusīṃ pajābī bōlnā jāndē hō?Do you know how to speak Punjabi?
- ਉਹ ਥੋੜ੍ਹੀ ਬਹੁਤ ਫ਼ਰੰਸੀਸੀ ਬੋਲਣਾ ਜਾਣਦਾ ਹੈ।ōh ṭōṛhī bahut pharansī bōlnā jāndā hai.He knows how to speak a little bit of French.
Example conversation
Herman is asking Simran about her language skills.
- ਹਰਮਨ Hermanਕੀ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਹਿੰਦੀ ਬੋਲਣਾ ਜਾਣਦੇ ਹੋ?kī tusīṃ hindī bōlnā jāndē hō?Do you know how to speak Hindi?
- ਸਿਮਰਨ Simranਹਾਂ, ਮੈਂ ਹਿੰਦੀ ਬੋਲਣਾ ਜਾਣਦੀ ਹਾਂ।hāṃ, maiṃ hindī bōlnā jāndī hāṃ.Yes, I know how to speak Hindi.
- ਹਰਮਨ Hermanਬਹੁਤ ਵਧੀਆ, ਸਿਮਰਨ!bahut vadhīā, simran!Very good, Simran!
- ਸਿਮਰਨ Simranਧੰਨਵਾਦ, ਹਰਮਨ।dhanvād, harman.Thank you, Herman.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ਬੋਲਣਾ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ਬੋਲਣਾ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
