ਸ਼ਾਬਾਸ਼
śābāś/ʃäː.bäːʃᵊ/
ਸ਼ਾਬਾਸ਼ (śābāś) is the Punjabi way to say well done.
ਸ਼ਾਬਾਸ਼ is used as an exclamation of praise.
Meaning: exclamation of praise (intj)
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced as śābāś (/ʃäː.bäːʃᵊ/). It consists of two syllables.
Did you know?
- While it means 'well done', ਸ਼ਾਬਾਸ਼ can be used sarcastically in Punjabi to mock someone who has made a clumsy or obvious mistake.
- The phrase ਸ਼ਾਬਾਸ਼ is actually an imperative command meaning 'be happy'.
- In many South Asian contexts, saying ਸ਼ਾਬਾਸ਼ can feel like a teacher or elder is validating a student or junior.
Examples in context
- ਸ਼ਾਬਾਸ਼, ਤੂੰ ਬਹੁਤ ਵਧੀਆ ਕੀਤਾ।shā bāsh, tū bahūat vadhīā kītā.Well done, you did very well.
- ਸ਼ਾਬਾਸ਼! ਤੂੰ ਮੈਚ ਜਿੱਤ ਲਿਆ।shā bāsh! tū maich jitt liā.Well done! You won the match.
Example conversation
Simran is praising Aman for finishing his homework.
- ਸਿਮਰਨ Simranਅਮਨ, ਕੀ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਆਪਣਾ ਕੰਮ ਖਤਮ ਕਰ ਲਿਆ?aman, kī tusī̃ āpṇā kamm khatam kar liā?Aman, have you finished your work?
- ਅਮਨ Amanਹਾਂ ਸਿਮਰਨ, ਮੈਂ ਸਭ ਕੁਝ ਲਿਖ ਲਿਆ ਹੈ।hā̃ simran, maĩ sab kujh likh liā hai.Yes Simran, I have written everything.
- ਸਿਮਰਨ Simranਸ਼ਾਬਾਸ਼! ਮੈਨੂੰ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ 'ਤੇ ਮਾਣ ਹੈ।shābāsh! mainū tuhāḍē tē māṇ hai.Well done! I am proud of you.
- ਅਮਨ Amanਧੰਨਵਾਦ ਸਿਮਰਨ!dhann-vād simran!Thank you, Simran!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “well done” translations and entries ਸ਼ਾਬਾਸ਼, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ਸ਼ਾਬਾਸ਼, CC BY-SA 4.0.
