ਗੋਰਾ
gorā/ɡoː.ɾäː/
The Punjabi phrase for "white person" is ਗੋਰਾ (gorā).
ਗੋਰਾ is used to refer to a white person, typically of European descent. In South Asia, it is often used colloquially to describe anyone with very light or fair skin.
What does it mean word for word?
The word literally means fair-skinned or light-skinned.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine plural or oblique form is ਗੋਰੇ, while the feminine form is ਗੋਰੀ.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is gorā (/ɡoː.ɾäː/).
Did you know?
- In colloquial Punjabi, the phrase ਗੋਰੇ is sometimes used to refer to the colonial British administration of the past.
- The word ਗੋਰਾ descends from the Sanskrit word gaura, which can also refer to a bright or golden hue.
- The term can be used as a nickname or a friendly descriptor in social circles to identify the 'fair-skinned' person in a group, even if that person is not European.
Examples in context
- ਉਹ ਇੱਕ ਗੋਰਾ ਬੰਦਾ ਹੈ।oh ik gora banda hai.He is a white person.
- ਕੀ ਉਹ ਗੋਰਾ ਹੈ?ki oh gora hai?Is he a white person?
Example conversation
Kiran and Gurpreet are talking about a new neighbor.
- ਕਿਰਨ Kiranਨਵਾਂ ਗੁਆਂਢੀ ਗੋਰਾ ਹੈ?navan guandhi gora hai?Is the new neighbor a white person?
- ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ Gurpreetਹਾਂ, ਉਹ ਗੋਰਾ ਹੈ।han, oh gora hai.Yes, he is a white person.
- ਕਿਰਨ Kiranਕੀ ਉਹ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਤੋਂ ਹੈ?ki oh amrika ton hai?Is he from America?
- ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ Gurpreetਹਾਂ, ਉਹ ਉੱਥੋਂ ਦਾ ਹੈ।han, oh utthon da hai.Yes, he is from there.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ਗੋਰਾ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ਗੋਰਾ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
