Learn to Count in Punjabi

Numbers 1–10

Pronunciation Tips

• Ikk — The double “kk” is a short, crisp sound. Think of “ick” with a hard stop.
• Tinn — Rhymes with “tin.” The nasal “nn” sound comes from the tip of the tongue.
• Panj — This is where “Punjab” gets its name! Panj (five) + aab (waters) = Land of Five Rivers.
• Satt — A short vowel with a doubled “tt” sound at the end.
• Atth — The “tth” is an aspirated sound, like saying “at” with a puff of air.
• Nauṅ — The nasal ending is similar to the French “on” sound.

Fun Facts

• Gurmukhi has its own set of numerals (੧, ੨, ੩…) that look different from Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3…).
• The word ਪੰਜਾਬ (Punjab) literally means “Land of Five Rivers” — Panj (ਪੰਜ) means five!
• In Gurbani (Sikh scripture), numbers are written using Gurmukhi numerals.

Practice Activity

Try counting everyday objects in Punjabi with your child:

• “How many fingers on one hand?” — Panj (ਪੰਜ)
• “How many eyes do you have?” — Do (ਦੋ)
• “How many toes on both feet?” — Das (ਦਸ)

Next Steps

Once your child is comfortable with 1–10, try the Interactive Flashcard Game to practice Gurmukhi letter recognition!

More Punjabi Vocabulary

• Gurmukhi Picture Dictionary — Browse 570+ Punjabi words with pictures, Gurmukhi script, and pronunciation
• Common Punjabi Phrases for Kids — Essential greetings, polite words, and everyday phrases
• The Colors of Punjabi — Learn the names of common colors in Punjabi
• My Family in Punjabi — Punjabi words for family members
• Punjabi Animal Names for Kids — Learn common animal names in Punjabi
• The Tapestry of Relations: A Guide to Sikh Family Names — A deeper guide to Punjabi relationship titles