ਕੰਮ
kamm/kəmːə̆/masculine
The English word "work" is translated into Punjabi as ਕੰਮ (kamm).
ਕੰਮ is a masculine noun used to refer to labour, employment, occupation or a job.
Meaning: labour, employment, occupation, job (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the verb "to work", use the noun ਕੰਮ followed by the auxiliary verb ਕਰਨਾ (to do).
How do you pronounce it?
kamm (/kəmːə̆/)
Did you know?
- The Punjabi word ਕੰਮ shares the same ancient roots as the Sanskrit word 'karma', which refers to the concept of 'action' or 'deed' in spiritual contexts.
- In many Punjabi-speaking households, if someone asks ਕੀ ਕੰਮ ਹੈ? (What work is there?), they might actually be asking 'What is the matter?' or 'What is wrong?' during a conflict.
- The phrase ਕੰਮ ਚਲਾਉਣਾ (kamm chalauna) literally means 'to make the work walk' and is used to describe making do with a makeshift or temporary solution.
Examples in context
- ਤੁਸੀਂ ਕੌਣਸਾ ਕੰਮ ਕਰਦੇ ਹੋ?What kind of work do you do?
- ਮੈਂ ਬੰਕ ਵਿਚ ਕੰਮ ਕਰਦਾ ਹਾਂ।I work in a bank.
- ਤੇਰਾ ਨਵਾਂ ਜੋਬ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਚੱਲ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ?How is your new job going?
- ਮੇਰੀ ਜੋਬ ਬਹੁਤ ਵਧੀਆ ਚੱਲ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ।My job is going really well.
- ਮੇਰਾ ਕੰਮ ਬਹੁਤ ਮੁਸ਼ਕਲ ਹੈ।merā kam bahut muśkal hai.My work is very difficult.
- ਕੀ ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਕੰਮ ਖ਼ਤਮ ਹੋ ਗਿਆ?kī tuhāḍā kam khatam ho giā?Is your work finished?
- ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਨਵਾਂ ਕੰਮ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ।us nū navā kam cāhidā hai.He needs a new job.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their professional lives.
- ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ Manpreetਹਰਮਨ, ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਕੰਮ ਕਿਹੜਾ ਹੈ?Harman, tuhada kamm kehda hai?Harman, what is your job?
- ਹਰਮਨ Hermanਮੈਂ ਇੱਕ ਸਕੂਲ ਵਿੱਚ ਪੜ੍ਹਾਉਂਦਾ ਹਾਂ।Main ik school vich padhaunda han.I teach in a school.
- ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ Manpreetਕੀ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਆਪਣਾ ਕੰਮ ਪਸੰਦ ਹੈ?Ki tuhanu apna kamm pasand hai?Do you like your work?
- ਹਰਮਨ Hermanਹਾਂ, ਮੈਨੂੰ ਇਹ ਬਹੁਤ ਪਸੰਦ ਹੈ।Han, mainu eh bahut pasand hai.Yes, I like it very much.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “work” translations and entries ਕੰਮ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ਕੰਮ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
