ਚਿੱਟਾ
ciṭṭā/t͡ʃɪʈ̚.ʈäː/masculine
The English word "white" is ਚਿੱਟਾ (ciṭṭā) in Punjabi.
The primary term for the color white is ਚਿੱਟਾ. It is also used as an adjective meaning bright and colourless. When specifically referring to Caucasian people or describing someone with a fair skin tone, the term ਗੋਰਾ is used.
Meaning: color (noun)
Which one should you use?
ਚਿੱਟਾ is used for the general color white, whereas ਗੋਰਾ is used specifically when discussing skin tone or referring to someone as fair-skinned or Caucasian.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the word changes depending on the noun it describes. The masculine form ਚਿੱਟਾ changes to ਚਿੱਟੀ when describing a feminine noun. It also changes to ਚਿੱਟੇ when describing plural masculine nouns or when used in oblique cases. Additionally, the term ਗੋਰੇ is used when discussing skin color or referring to something pale or whitish.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /tʃɪʈ̚.ʈäː/ (ciṭṭā) and has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- While ਚਿੱਟਾ means the color 'white', in certain slang contexts it is used as a code word for heroin.
- The word ਚਿੱਟਾ shares an ancient root with the Sanskrit word श्वित्र, showing a lineage that stretches back to Proto-Indo-European languages.
- While ਚਿੱਟਾ means 'white', the word ਗੋਰਾ is specifically used for Caucasian people, reflecting a distinct cultural categorization of skin tone versus pigment.
Examples in context
- Chitta rang (ਚਿੱਟਾ ਰੰਗ)White color.
- ਮੈਨੂੰ ਚਿੱਟਾ ਰੰਗ ਬਹੁਤ ਪਸੰਦ ਹੈ।mauṅ n ciṭṭā raṅg bahuta pasanda hai.I like the color white very much.
- ਉਸ ਕੋਲ ਇੱਕ ਚਿੱਟਾ ਕੁੱਤਾ ਹੈ।usa kōla ik ciṭṭā kuṭā hai.He has a white dog.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a new shirt.
- ਹਰਮਨ Hermanਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ, ਕੀ ਇਹ ਕਮੀਜ਼ ਚਿੱਟਾ ਹੈ?Manprīt, kī iha kamīza chiṭṭā hai?Manpreet, is this shirt white?
- ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ Manpreetਹਾਂ, ਇਹ ਬਿਲਕੁਲ ਚਿੱਟਾ ਹੈ।Hā̃, iha bilakula chiṭṭā hai.Yes, it is completely white.
- ਹਰਮਨ Hermanਮੈਨੂੰ ਚਿੱਟਾ ਰੰਗ ਬਹੁਤ ਜਚਦਾ ਹੈ।Mainū̃ chiṭṭā raṅga bahuta jacadā hai.White color suits me very well.
- ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ Manpreetਤੁਸੀਂ ਇਸਨੂੰ ਜ਼ਰੂਰ ਖਰੀਦੋ।Tusī̃ isanū̃ zarūra kharīdō.You should definitely buy it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “white” translations and entries ਚਿੱਟਾ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ਚਿੱਟਾ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
