Phrase pack: Manners

How to Say Thank You in Punjabi (with Audio)

ਧੰਨਵਾਦ

dhannvaad — thank you

Word for word: "thanks, gratitude"

Your child can read this by themselves after Level 3 · Vaak ਵਾਕ (Sentences). Until then, learn it by ear together.

Other ways to say it

  • ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਬਹੁਤ ਧੰਨਵਾਦ

    tuhaadaa bahut dhannvaad — thank you very much

    warmer, respectful — to an elder or a guest

  • ਸ਼ੁਕਰੀਆ

    shukreeaa — thanks

    also common in everyday speech

  • ਮਿਹਰਬਾਨੀ

    miharbaanee — that's kind of you

    more formal — you'll hear elders say it when someone has done them a kindness

  • ਬਹੁਤ ਬਹੁਤ ਧੰਨਵਾਦ

    bahut bahut dhannvaad — thank you so much

    when you're really grateful

Word by word

  • ਤੁਹਾਡਾ

    tuhaadaa

    your (respectful)

  • ਬਹੁਤ

    bahut

    very, a lot

  • ਧੰਨਵਾਦ

    dhannvaad

    thanks

How to reply

  • ਕੋਈ ਗੱਲ ਨਹੀਂ

    koee gall naheen — you're welcome / no problem

Practise it together

Read it as parent and child, then swap parts. Tap any line to hear it.

  1. Child

    ਪਾਪਾ ਜੀ, ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਲਈ ਪਾਣੀ।

    paapaa jee, tuhaade laee paanee.

    Papa Ji, some water for you.

  2. Parent

    ਧੰਨਵਾਦ ਪੁੱਤ, ਬਹੁਤ ਚੰਗਾ ਕੀਤਾ!

    dhannvaad putt, bahut changaa keetaa!

    Thank you, my child — that was kind of you.

  3. Parent

    ਆਜੋ, ਖਾਣਾ ਤਿਆਰ ਹੈ!

    aajo, khaanaa tiaar hai!

    Come, dinner's ready!

  4. Child

    ਧੰਨਵਾਦ, ਮੰਮੀ ਜੀ!

    dhannvaad, mummy jee!

    Thank you, Mummy Ji!

  5. Child

    ਮੈਂ ਦਾਦੀ ਜੀ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਬੁਲਾ ਲਿਆਵਾਂ?

    main daadee jee noon vee bulaa liaavaan?

    Shall I go and bring Dadi Ji too?

  6. Parent

    ਹਾਂ ਪੁੱਤ, ਸ਼ਾਬਾਸ਼!

    haan putt, shaabaash!

    Yes, my child — well done!

Try it tonight

Tonight, let your child bring a glass of water to an elder — a grandparent, or you — before anyone asks, and answer with a warm ਧੰਨਵਾਦ, ਪੁੱਤ. When dinner is ready, they say ਧੰਨਵਾਦ, ਮੰਮੀ ਜੀ (or ਪਾਪਾ ਜੀ) — and go and call Dadi or Nani Ji to the table first.

Why it matters

Gratitude runs deep in Sikh life — we thank Waheguru in Ardas and thank the sangat after langar seva. At home, a child who says ਧੰਨਵਾਦ to a grandparent is giving them something small that means a lot.

Questions parents ask

How do you say thank you in Punjabi?
Say ਧੰਨਵਾਦ (dhannvaad). For 'thank you very much', say ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਬਹੁਤ ਧੰਨਵਾਦ (tuhaadaa bahut dhannvaad).
What is the reply to thank you in Punjabi?
Say ਕੋਈ ਗੱਲ ਨਹੀਂ (koee gall naheen) — you're welcome, no problem.
What is the difference between dhannvaad and shukriya?
Both mean thank you. ਧੰਨਵਾਦ is the standard Punjabi word; ਸ਼ੁਕਰੀਆ is also used in everyday speech.

More everyday phrases

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