Time vocabulary is essential for everyday Punjabi — making plans, talking about the past, and understanding family conversations. Punjabi uses both the Gregorian calendar and the traditional Nanakshahi calendar observed in Sikh tradition.
Days of the Week — ਹਫ਼ਤੇ ਦੇ ਦਿਨ
Each day is named after a celestial body, similar to English and many Indo-European languages.
| Gurmukhi | Romanised | English | Named after |
|---|
| ਐਤਵਾਰ | Aitvaar | Sunday | Adit — the Sun |
| ਸੋਮਵਾਰ | Somvaar | Monday | Som — the Moon |
| ਮੰਗਲਵਾਰ | Mangalvaar | Tuesday | Mangal — Mars |
| ਬੁੱਧਵਾਰ | Budhvaar | Wednesday | Budh — Mercury |
| ਵੀਰਵਾਰ | Veervaar | Thursday | Veer — Jupiter (also called Guruvaar) |
| ਸ਼ੁੱਕਰਵਾਰ | Shukkarvaar | Friday | Shukkar — Venus |
| ਸ਼ਨੀਵਾਰ | Shaneevaar | Saturday | Shani — Saturn |
💡 Useful phrases:
- ਅੱਜ ਕਿਹੜਾ ਦਿਨ ਹੈ? (Ajj kihra din hai?) — What day is today?
- ਅੱਜ ਸੋਮਵਾਰ ਹੈ (Ajj Somvaar hai) — Today is Monday.
- ਕੱਲ੍ਹ ਕੀ ਦਿਨ ਹੈ? (Kallh ki din hai?) — What day is tomorrow?
Gregorian Months — ਮਹੀਨੇ
Modern Punjabi uses Punjabi adaptations of the English month names for the Gregorian calendar.
| Gurmukhi | Romanised | English |
|---|
| ਜਨਵਰੀ | Janvari | January |
| ਫ਼ਰਵਰੀ | Farvari | February |
| ਮਾਰਚ | March | March |
| ਅਪ੍ਰੈਲ | Aprail | April |
| ਮਈ | Mai | May |
| ਜੂਨ | June | June |
| ਜੁਲਾਈ | Julaaee | July |
| ਅਗਸਤ | Agast | August |
| ਸਤੰਬਰ | Satambar | September |
| ਅਕਤੂਬਰ | Aktoober | October |
| ਨਵੰਬਰ | Navambar | November |
| ਦਸੰਬਰ | Dasambar | December |
Nanakshahi Calendar Months — ਨਾਨਕਸ਼ਾਹੀ ਕੈਲੰਡਰ
The Nanakshahi calendar was standardised in 2003 and is used by the Sikh community for religious observances. Its months align with traditional Punjabi and Vedic month names. The calendar begins on 14 March each year.
| Gurmukhi | Romanised | Gregorian dates (approx.) |
|---|
| ਚੇਤ | Chet | 14 March – 13 April |
| ਵਿਸਾਖ | Visaakh | 14 April – 14 May |
| ਜੇਠ | Jeth | 15 May – 14 June |
| ਹਾੜ | Haar | 15 June – 15 July |
| ਸਾਵਣ | Saavan | 16 July – 15 August |
| ਭਾਦੋਂ | Bhadon | 16 August – 14 September |
| ਅੱਸੂ | Assu | 15 September – 14 October |
| ਕੱਤਕ | Kattak | 15 October – 13 November |
| ਮੱਘਰ | Maghar | 14 November – 13 December |
| ਪੋਹ | Poh | 14 December – 12 January |
| ਮਾਘ | Maagh | 13 January – 11 February |
| ਫੱਗਣ | Phagghan | 12 February – 13 March |
ਵਿਸਾਖੀ (Vaisakhi) falls on 14 Visaakh (14 April) and is one of the most important dates in the Sikh calendar, marking the creation of the Khalsa in 1699. It is celebrated widely across Australia.
Seasons — ਰੁੱਤਾਂ
Punjab has six traditional seasons (ਛੇ ਰੁੱਤਾਂ), each lasting approximately two months. Australian Punjabi speakers are familiar with both the traditional six and the standard four.
Traditional six seasons of Punjab
| Gurmukhi | Romanised | English | Approx. months |
|---|
| ਬਸੰਤ | Basant | Spring | March – April |
| ਗਰਮੀ | Garmi | Summer / Hot season | May – June |
| ਵਰਖਾ | Varkha | Monsoon / Rainy season | July – August |
| ਸ਼ਰਦ | Sharad | Autumn | September – October |
| ਹੇਮੰਤ | Hemant | Pre-winter / Cool season | November – December |
| ਸਿਆਲ / ਠੰਢ | Siaal / Thandh | Winter | January – February |
Four standard seasons
| Gurmukhi | Romanised | English |
|---|
| ਬਸੰਤ ਰੁੱਤ | Basant rutt | Spring |
| ਗਰਮੀਆਂ | Garmiaan | Summer |
| ਪਤਝੜ | Patjharh | Autumn / Fall |
| ਸਰਦੀਆਂ | Sardiyaan | Winter |
Useful Time Expressions — ਸਮੇਂ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਬਦ
| Gurmukhi | Romanised | English |
|---|
| ਅੱਜ | Ajj | Today |
| ਕੱਲ੍ਹ | Kallh | Yesterday / Tomorrow (context determines which) |
| ਪਰਸੋਂ | Parson | Day before yesterday / Day after tomorrow |
| ਇਸ ਹਫ਼ਤੇ | Is haphhte | This week |
| ਅਗਲੇ ਹਫ਼ਤੇ | Agle haphhte | Next week |
| ਪਿਛਲੇ ਹਫ਼ਤੇ | Pichhle haphhte | Last week |
| ਇਸ ਮਹੀਨੇ | Is maheene | This month |
| ਇਸ ਸਾਲ | Is saal | This year |
| ਅਗਲੇ ਸਾਲ | Agle saal | Next year |
| ਪਿਛਲੇ ਸਾਲ | Pichhle saal | Last year |
💡 ਕੱਲ੍ਹ (Kallh) means both yesterday AND tomorrow — context tells you which. If talking about the past, it's yesterday. If talking about the future, it's tomorrow. Similarly ਪਰਸੋਂ covers both two days ago and two days from now.