ਵ੍ਹੇਲ
vhēla
The Punjabi word for whale is ਵ੍ਹੇਲ (vhēla).
ਵ੍ਹੇਲ is used to refer to a large sea mammal.
Meaning: large sea mammal (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
vhēla
Did you know?
- In some rural dialects, the concept of a 'whale' is explained by calling it a ਪਾਣੀ ਦਾ ਹਾਥੀ meaning 'elephant of the water'.
- There is no native Punjabi word for 'whale' that predates modern contact with English, as the animal is not indigenous to the Punjab region.
- In scientific Punjabi contexts, ਵ੍ਹੇਲ is the standard term, but in older folk literature, large sea creatures were often referred to as 'makara' or giant fish.
Examples in context
- ਉਹ ਇੱਕ ਬਹੁਤ ਵੱਡੀ ਵ੍ਹੇਲ ਹੈ।oh ik bahut vaddi whale hai.That is a very large whale.
- ਸਮੁੰਦਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਵ੍ਹੇਲ ਤੈਰ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ।samundar vich whale tair rahi hai.A whale is swimming in the ocean.
- ਮੈਂ ਪਹਿਲੀ ਵਾਰ ਵ੍ਹੇਲ ਦੇਖੀ।main pehli vaar whale dekhī.I saw a whale for the first time.
Example conversation
Manpreet and Ravinder are watching a nature documentary together.
- ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ Manpreetਦੇਖੋ, ਉਹ ਵ੍ਹੇਲ ਕਿੰਨੀ ਸ਼ਾਨਦਾਰ ਹੈ!dekho, oh whale kinni shandaar hai!Look, how magnificent that whale is!
- ਰਵਿੰਦਰ Ravinderਹਾਂ, ਇਹ ਬਹੁਤ ਵੱਡੀ ਲੱਗ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ।han, ih bahut vaddi lagg rahi hai.Yes, it looks very large.
- ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ Manpreetਕੀ ਵ੍ਹੇਲ ਪਾਣੀ ਦੇ ਉੱਪਰ ਆਉਂਦੀ ਹੈ?ki whale paani de uppar aundi hai?Does the whale come above the water?
- ਰਵਿੰਦਰ Ravinderਹਾਂ, ਉਹ ਅਕਸਰ ਉੱਪਰ ਆਉਂਦੀ ਹੈ।han, oh aksar uppar aundi hai.Yes, it often comes up.
