Positions in Punjabi (like prepositions in English) are important connecting words that indicate relation, location, and direction (for example: of, at, in, on, for, with etc. in English).
nū(n) (to): The word nū(n) indicates the word right before it is receiving the action.
ਆਪਣੇ ਬੇਟੇ ਨੂੰ ਦੱਸ ਦਿਓ
āpaṇē bēṭē nū(n) dass dio
Tell (to) your son
āpaṇē bēṭē nū(n) dass dio
Tell (to) your son
ਬੂਟਿਆ ਨੂੰ ਪਾਣੀ ਦੇਣਾ ਜਰੂਰੀ ਹੈ
būṭiā nū(n) pāṇī dēṇā jarūrī hae
It’s essential to water plants
būṭiā nū(n) pāṇī dēṇā jarūrī hae
It’s essential to water plants
ਮਾੜੀਆਂ ਆਦਤਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਛੱਡੋ
māṛīā(n) ādatā(n) nū(n) chhaḍḍo
Drop bad habits
māṛīā(n) ādatā(n) nū(n) chhaḍḍo
Drop bad habits
to(n) (from): The word to(n) indicates the word right before it is the source of the action. to(n) can also mean since, compared to
ਦੁਕਾਨ ਤੋਂ ਲੈ ਆ
dukān to(n) lae ā
Bring it from the store
dukān to(n) lae ā
Bring it from the store
ਅੱਗ ਤੋਂ ਦੂਰ ਰਹਿ
agg to(n) dūr rahi
Stay away from the fire
agg to(n) dūr rahi
Stay away from the fire
ਬਚਪਨ ਤੋਂ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਚਿੱਤਰਕਾਰੀ ਪਸੰਦ ਸੀ
bachapan to(n) maenū(n) chittarakārī pasandd sī
I like drawing/painting since childhood
bachapan to(n) maenū(n) chittarakārī pasandd sī
I like drawing/painting since childhood
nē (by): The word nē indicates the word right before it is doing the action. It roughly translates to “by”, but has no exact equivalent in English.
ਦਾਦਾ ਜੀ ਨੇ ਸਵਾਲ ਪੁੱਛਿਆ
dādā jī nē savāl pucchhiā
(Paternal) grandfather asked a question
dādā jī nē savāl pucchhiā
(Paternal) grandfather asked a question
ਜਵਾਕ ਨੇ ਬੜਾ ਚਿਰ ਸੋਚਿਆ
javāk nē baṛā chir sochiā
The kid thought for a long time
javāk nē baṛā chir sochiā
The kid thought for a long time
ਮੇਰੇ ਭਰਾ ਨੇ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਸੀ
mērē bharā nē maenū(n) dittā sī
My brother gave (it) to me
mērē bharā nē maenū(n) dittā sī
My brother gave (it) to me