Each question word has a corresponding relative word that can be used to refer to things within a sentence without naming it directly. There are no exact translations of these words as they can be expressed several ways in English.
| Punjabi | English |
|---|---|
| jo | that thing which / that person who |
| jihaṛā | that option which |
| jis karakē | that reason which |
| jis tarhā(n) | that manner how |
| jado(n) | that time when |
| jitthē | that place where |
| jiddhar | that direction where |
jo (that thing which / that person who): jo is used to refer to a person or thing depending on the context
jo pahilā(n) āvēgā, uhanū(n) milēgā
The person who will come first, they will get it
jo vī chāhīdā hovē, lae laī(n)
Whatever you may need, get it
jihaṛā (that option which): jihaṛā is used to reference a particular person or thing out of an assumed set of fixed options. The plural form is jihaṛē (those options which).
jihaṛā vī pasandd āvē, uh lae lao
Whichever one you (respectful / plural) like, get that one
jihaṛē chhē to(n) bāad āuṇagē, uhanā(n) nū(n) bāhar baṭhā dē
Those who come after six, make them sit outside
jis karakē (because of / that reason which): jis karakē is used to refer to a particular reason for something.
itthē ṭhanḍḍh bahut hunddī hae, jis karakē har ghar ‘ch anggīṭhī hunddī hae
It’s very cold here, because of which each house has a fireplace
ih rēl-gaḍḍī bahut lambbī hae, jis karakē is nū(n) do injjaṇ khicchadē han
This train is very long, because of which it has two engines
jis tarhā(n) (that way in which): jis tarhā(n) is used to refer to the manner or way in which something happens. This word has several dialectic variations including jivē(n) and jiddā(n)
jis tarhā(n) vī karanā pavē, kar lao
Do it, however you may have to do it
mae(n) jivē(n) ḍūngghē khūh vicho(n) nikaliā hovā(n)
As if I came out of a deep well
jad (that time when): jad is used to refer to some time without specifying it directly. It can often be used interchangeably with the word jado(n)
jado(n) vī jāṇā hae, tērī marajī hae
Whenever you want to go, it’s up to you
jado(n) jīa karūgā us dā, uh ā jāūgī
When she will feel like it, she will come
jitthē (that place where): jitthē is used to reference a particular place
jitthē mae(n) kallh giā sī, othē ajj phēr jāṇā hae
The place I went yesterday, (I, masculine) have to go there again today
jitthē tū(n) jāṇā chāhēngī, asī(n) othē jāvāngē
The place you (feminine) want to go, we’ll go there
jiddhar (that direction which): jiddhar is used to refer to a direction. Though this is different from jitthē, in some contexts, they can be used interchangeably
jiddhar kharagosh bhajjiā, odhar billī vī bhajjī hoṇī
The direction the rabbit ran is also the direction the cat must have ran
jiddhar vī jāṇā hae, maenū(n) huṇē dass dē
Whichever direction you want to go, tell me now
There are other less frequently used relative words that are described in other sections.