ਹਰਾ ਪਿਆਜ਼
harā piāz
The English phrase "spring onion" is translated into Punjabi as ਹਰਾ ਪਿਆਜ਼ (harā piāz).
ਹਰਾ ਪਿਆਜ਼ refers to the edible plant Allium fistulosum, commonly known in English as a spring onion or green onion.
Meaning: Allium fistulosum (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a compound of ਹਰਾ (harā), meaning "green" and ਪਿਆਜ਼ (piāz), meaning "onion".
How do you pronounce it?
harā piāz
Did you know?
- In some Punjabi households, the amount of ਹਰਾ ਪਿਆਜ਼ eaten depends on the season because Ayurvedic traditions classify onions as 'heating' foods.
- If you were to ask for 'spring' onions using the literal translation of the season, 'basant' (ਬਸੰਤ), a shopkeeper would be very confused.
- The word ਪਿਆਜ਼ is not native to Punjabi but is a loanword from Persian that arrived via historical trade.
Examples in context
- ਮੈਨੂੰ ਹਰਾ ਪਿਆਜ਼ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ।mainū harā pi'āz cāhīdā hai.I want spring onion.
- ਸਲਾਦ ਵਿੱਚ ਹਰਾ ਪਿਆਜ਼ ਪਾਓ।salād vica harā pi'āz pā'ō.Put spring onion in the salad.
- ਕੀ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਕੋਲ ਹਰਾ ਪਿਆਜ਼ ਹੈ?kī tuhāḍē kōla harā pi'āz hai?Do you have spring onion?
Example conversation
Manpreet is at the market and asks Ravinder for help finding vegetables.
- ਰਵਿੰਦਰ Ravinderਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ, ਕੀ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਹਰਾ ਪਿਆਜ਼ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ?manaprīta, kī tuhānū harā pi'āz cāhīdā hai?Manpreet, do you want spring onion?
- ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ Manpreetਹਾਂ, ਮੈਨੂੰ ਥੋੜ੍ਹਾ ਜਿਹਾ ਹਰਾ ਪਿਆਜ਼ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ।hā̃, mainū thoṛhā jihā harā pi'āz cāhīdā hai.Yes, I need a little spring onion.
- ਰਵਿੰਦਰ Ravinderਠੀਕ ਹੈ, ਮੈਂ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਆਵਾਂਗਾ।ṭhīka hai, maĩ lai kē āvāṅgā.Okay, I will go get it.
- ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ Manpreetਧੰਨਵਾਦ, ਰਵਿੰਦਰ।dhanavāda, ravindar.Thank you, Ravinder.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ਹਰਾ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
