ਰੱਬ ਦੀ ਸਹੁੰ
rabb dī sauṅh
The English phrase 'swear to God' is expressed in Punjabi as ਰੱਬ ਦੀ ਸਹੁੰ (rabb dī sauṅh).
ਰੱਬ ਦੀ ਸਹੁੰ is used as an interjection to emphasize that one is telling the truth or to express shock and disbelief.
Meaning: interjection (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally means 'God's oath' or 'oath of God', where ਰੱਬ (rabb) is 'God', ਦੀ (dī) is the possessive particle 'of' and ਸਹੁੰ (sauṅh) is 'oath'.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say the verb form 'to swear by God', you add the verb ਖਾਣਾ (khāṇā, meaning 'to eat') after the phrase: ਰੱਬ ਦੀ ਸਹੁੰ ਖਾਣਾ.
How do you pronounce it?
rabb dī sauṅh
Did you know?
- In deeply traditional or religious Punjabi contexts, people may avoid ਰੱਬ ਦੀ ਸਹੁੰ and instead swear by the 'head' of a respected elder or a child, which is considered a more binding and emotional oath.
- The word ਰੱਬ is a loanword that traveled from Arabic into Persian and then into Punjabi, reflecting the historical influence of Central Asian trade and empire in the Punjab region.
- In some Punjabi families, using the verb ਖਾਣਾ 'to eat' as part of an oath is considered a linguistic taboo if used in a casual or trivial context.
Examples in context
- ਰੱਬ ਦੀ ਸਹੁੰ, ਮੈਂ ਸੱਚ ਬੋਲ ਰਿਹਾ ਹਾਂ।rabb di saunh, main sach bol riha haan.Swear to god, I am telling the truth.
- ਉਸਨੇ ਰੱਬ ਦੀ ਸਹੁੰ ਖਾ ਕੇ ਕਿਹਾ।usne rabb di saunh kha ke kiha.He said it while swearing to god.
- ਰੱਬ ਦੀ ਸਹੁੰ, ਇਹ ਬਹੁਤ ਮਹਿੰਗਾ ਹੈ!rabb di saunh, eh bahut mahinga hai!Swear to god, this is very expensive!
Example conversation
Manpreet is questioning Harman about a broken vase.
- ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ Manpreetਕੀ ਤੂੰ ਇਹ ਗੁਲਦਸਤਾ ਤੋੜਿਆ ਹੈ?ki tu eh guldasta toṛiyā hai?Did you break this vase?
- ਹਰਮਨ Hermanਨਹੀਂ, ਰੱਬ ਦੀ ਸਹੁੰ, ਮੈਂ ਨਹੀਂ ਤੋੜਿਆ।nahī̃, rabb di saunh, main nahī̃ toṛiyā.No, swear to god, I didn't break it.
- ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ Manpreetਫਿਰ ਇਹ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਟੁੱਟਿਆ?phira eh kivā̃ ṭuṭiyā?Then how did it break?
- ਹਰਮਨ Hermanਮੈਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਪਤਾ।mainū vī nahī̃ patā.I don't even know.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ਰੱਬ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
