Ways to say it
| Punjabi | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ਸਾਲ | sāl | /säːl/ | Gurmukhi, masculine |
| ਵਰ੍ਹਾ | varhā | /ʋəɾ.ɦäː/ | Gurmukhi, masculine |
| ਬਰਸ | baras | Gurmukhi, masculine | |
| وَرھا | varhā | Shahmukhi, masculine | |
| سال | sāl | Shahmukhi, masculine | |
| بَرَس | baras | Shahmukhi, masculine |
All forms of the word refer to the time it takes for the Earth to complete one revolution around the Sun.
Which one should you use?
The form ਸਾਲ is the most common and standard way to say 'year' in everyday conversation. The form ਬਰਸ is a poetic or archaic version used primarily in literature and traditional poetry. The form ਵਰ੍ਹਾ is another way to express the concept.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ਸਾਲ is the standard form for everyday use and is also used in formal contexts. ਬਰਸ should be reserved for poetic or literary settings.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The terms are provided in two scripts: ਸਾਲ, ਵਰ੍ਹਾ and ਬਰਸ are written in Gurmukhi, while سال, وَرھا and بَرَس are written in Shahmukhi.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the word ਸਾਲ with postpositions, the plural form becomes ਸਾਲਾਂ.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of ਸਾਲ is /säːl/.
Did you know?
- The word ਵਰ੍ਹਾ shares an ancient root with the concept of 'rainy' or 'wet', tracing back to a Proto-Indo-European term for moisture.
- Punjabi uses two different scripts to write the word for 'year'. It can be written as ਸਾਲ in the Gurmukhi script used by Sikhs or as سال in the Shahmukhi script used by Muslims.
Examples in context
- ਸਾਲ ਦੇ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਛੋਟੇ ਦਿਨThe shortest day of the yearThis sentence is useful for describing the shortest day of the ਸਾਲ.
- ਸਾਲ ਨੂੰ ਅੰਗਰੇਜ਼ੀ ਵਿਚ "year" ਕਿਹਾ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ ਪਰ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਵਿਚ "ਸਾਲ" ਕਿਹਾ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।"Year" is said as "saal" in Punjabi, while it is called "year" in English.
- ਮੈਂ ਇੱਕ ਸਾਲ ਤੋਂ ਪੜ੍ਹ ਰਿਹਾ ਹਾਂ।mai ik sāla tōṁ paṛhā rihā hāṁ.I have been studying for a year.
- ਨਵਾਂ ਸਾਲ ਮੁਬਾਰਕ ਹੋਵੇ!navāṁ sāla mubāraka hōvē!Happy New Year!
Example conversation
Ravinder and Kiran are talking about a travel plan.
- ਰਵਿੰਦਰ Ravinderਕੀ ਅਸੀਂ ਅਗਲੇ ਸਾਲ ਜਾਵਾਂਗੇ?kī asīṁ agalē sāla jāvāṅgē?Will we go next year?
- ਕਿਰਨ Kiranਹਾਂ, ਅਗਲੇ ਸਾਲ ਸਾਡੇ ਕੋਲ ਸਮਾਂ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ।hāṁ, agalē sāla sādē kōla samāṁ hōvēgā.Yes, next year we will have time.
- ਰਵਿੰਦਰ Ravinderਮੈਂ ਇਸ ਸਾਲ ਬਹੁਤ ਰੁੱਝਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ ਹਾਂ।mai isa sāla bahuta rujhi'ā hō'ā hāṁ.I have been very busy this year.
- ਕਿਰਨ Kiranਕੋਈ ਗੱਲ ਨਹੀਂ, ਰਵਿੰਦਰ।kō'ī gala nahīṁ, ravindara.No problem, Ravinder.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “year” translations and entries ਸਾਲ, ਵਰ੍ਹਾ, سال, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ਵਰ੍ਹਾ, ਸਾਲ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
