The ending of a noun can also change if that thing is being called to. This is called the vocative form. The ending of a noun in the vocative form changes based on the following patterns
- The ending of masculine nouns ending in ā changes to iā
ਓਏ ਮੁੰਡਿਆ, ਇੱਧਰ ਆ!
oē munḍḍiā, iddhar ā!
Hey boy, come here!
oē munḍḍiā, iddhar ā!
Hey boy, come here!
munḍḍā (boy) becomes munḍḍiā because it is being called to
- The ending of masculine nouns not ending in ā changes to ā
ਓਏ ਯਾਰਾ, ਕੀ ਕਰ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈਂ?
oē yārā, kī kar rihā hae(n)?
Hey friend, what are you doing?
oē yārā, kī kar rihā hae(n)?
Hey friend, what are you doing?
yār (friend) becomes yārā because it is being called to
- Some masculine nouns don’t follow these rules
ਓਏ ਭਰਾਵਾ, ਕਿੱਥੇ ਜਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈਂ?
oē bharāvā, kitthē jā rihā hae(n)?
Hey brother, where are you going?
oē bharāvā, kitthē jā rihā hae(n)?
Hey brother, where are you going?
bharā (brother) becomes bharāvā because it is being called to
ਓਏ ਵੀਰੇ, ਇਹ ਕਿਉਂ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ?
oē vīrē, ih kiu(n) kītā hae?
Hey brother, why did you do this?
oē vīrē, ih kiu(n) kītā hae?
Hey brother, why did you do this?
vīr (brother) becomes vīrē because it is being called to
- The ending of feminine nouns changes to īē
ਓਏ ਕੁੜੀਏ, ਘਰੇ ਆ ਹੁਣ!
oē kuṛīē, gharē ā huṇ!
Hey girl, come home now!
oē kuṛīē, gharē ā huṇ!
Hey girl, come home now!
kuṛī (girl) becomes kuṛīē because it is being called to
- The ending of both plural masculine and plural feminine nouns, changes to o
ਓਏ ਮੁੰਡਿਓ, ਕੀ ਖੇਡਦੇ ਹੋ?
oē munḍḍio, kī khēḍadē ho?
Hey boys, what are you playing?
oē munḍḍio, kī khēḍadē ho?
Hey boys, what are you playing?
munḍḍē (boys) becomes munḍḍio since it is plural and because it is being called to
ਓਏ ਕੁੜੀਓ, ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਦਾਦਾ ਜੀ ਆ ਗਏ!
oē kuṛīo, tuhāḍē dādā jī ā gaē!
Hey girls, your (paternal) grandfather is here!
oē kuṛīo, tuhāḍē dādā jī ā gaē!
Hey girls, your (paternal) grandfather is here!
kuṛīā(n) (girls) becomes kuṛīo since it is plural and because it is being called to