ਕਹਾਣੀ
kahāṇī/kə.ɦäː.ɳiː/Gurmukhi, feminine
The English word "story" is translated into Punjabi as ਕਹਾਣੀ (kahāṇī). Wiktionary also lists کَہانی (kahānī).
Meaning: account of events (noun)
Ways to say it
| Punjabi | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ਕਹਾਣੀ | kahāṇī | /kə.ɦäː.ɳiː/ (formal) /käː˨.ɳiː/ (colloquial) |
Gurmukhi, feminine |
| کَہانی | kahānī | Shahmukhi, feminine |
The word is used to describe an account of events.
Which one should you use?
While ਕਹਾਣੀ is the standard term, you may encounter ਕਥਾ or ਦਾਸਤਾਨ in more formal contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word is a feminine noun. To express the plural form, use ਕਹਾਣੀਆਂ (kahāṇīā̃).
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is kahāṇī. It consists of three syllables: /kə.ɦäː.ɳiː/.
Did you know?
- Because Punjabi is written in two different scripts, you will see ਕਹਾਣੀ in the Gurmukhi script used by Sikhs and کَہانی in the Shahmukhi script used by Punjabi speakers in Pakistan.
- In Punjabi culture, telling a ਕਹਾਣੀ is often a communal activity. It is common for elders to gather children around to share oral histories, blending factual family lineage with moral fables.
- The formal alternative ਦਾਸਤਾਨ is a loanword from Persian and is often used to describe long, epic tales or legends rather than simple stories.
Examples in context
- ਮੈਂ ਇੱਕ ਕਵਿਤਾ ਦੀ ਕਹਾਣੀ ਸੁਣਾਉਣਾ ਚਾਹੁੰਦਾ ਹਾਂ।I want to narrate the story of a poem.
- ਮੇਰੇ ਦੋਸਤ ਨੇ ਮੱਛੀ ਦੀ ਕਹਾਣੀ ਸਾਨੂੰ ਦੱਸੀ।My friend told us a story about a fish.
- ਇਹ ਬਹੁਤ ਦਿਲਚਸਪ ਕਹਾਣੀ ਹੈ।ih bahut dilcasp kahāṇī hai.This is a very interesting story.
- ਮੈਨੂੰ ਇੱਕ ਕਹਾਣੀ ਸੁਣਾਓ।manū ik kahāṇī sunā'ō.Tell me a story.
- ਉਸਨੇ ਆਪਣੀ ਪੂਰੀ ਕਹਾਣੀ ਦੱਸੀ।usa-nē āpaṇī pūrī kahāṇī dassī.He told his whole story.
Example conversation
Manpreet and Aman are discussing a book Manpreet just read.
- ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ Manpreetਕੀ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਇਹ ਕਹਾਣੀ ਪਸੰਦ ਆਈ?kī tuhānu ih kahāṇī pasand ā'ī?Did you like this story?
- ਅਮਨ Amanਹਾਂ, ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ, ਇਹ ਬਹੁਤ ਵਧੀਆ ਸੀ।hāṅ, manaprīt, ih bahut vadhī'ā sī.Yes, Manpreet, it was very good.
- ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ Manpreetਕਹਾਣੀ ਦਾ ਅੰਤ ਬਹੁਤ ਹੈਰਾਨੀਜਨਕ ਸੀ।kahāṇī dā ant bahut hairānījanak sī.The end of the story was very surprising.
- ਅਮਨ Amanਮੈਂ ਵੀ ਇਹੀ ਸੋਚ ਰਿਹਾ ਸੀ।mai vī ihī sōca rihā sī.I was thinking the same thing.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “story” translations and entries ਕਹਾਣੀ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
