How to Say Merry Christmas in Punjabi

Asia

Nov 3

Written by Kelsey Cecil

Merry Christmas in Punjabi

ਕ੍ਰਿਸਮਸ ਦੀਆਂ ਸ਼ੁਭਕਾਮਨਾਵਾਂ

Krismas diaan shubhkaamnaavaan

Say it like this: KRIS-mus dee-AAN shoob-kaam-naa-VAAN

Big letters show the part to say louder.

Quick answer

In Punjabi, Merry Christmas is ਕ੍ਰਿਸਮਸ ਦੀਆਂ ਸ਼ੁਭਕਾਮਨਾਵਾਂ (Krismas diaan shubhkaamnaavaan), said like KRIS-mus dee-AAN shoob-kaam-naa-VAAN.
Happy New Year is ਨਵਾਂ ਸਾਲ ਮੁਬਾਰਕ (Navaan saal mubaarak).
People say it in India (Punjab), Pakistan (Punjab), Canada, United Kingdom.

What Krismas diaan shubhkaamnaavaan means

'Krismas' (Christmas, borrowed from English) + 'diaan' (of) + 'shubhkaamnaavaan' (good wishes). Together it means good wishes of Christmas.

In India Punjabi is written in the Gurmukhi script, and in Pakistan it is usually written in the Shahmukhi script, which looks like Urdu.

Other ways to say it in Punjabi

ਕ੍ਰਿਸਮਸ ਮੁਬਾਰਕ

Krismas mubaarak

Say it like this: KRIS-mus moo-BAA-rak

A short, friendly form. Mubaarak means congratulations and is borrowed from Persian and Arabic.

Happy New Year

ਨਵਾਂ ਸਾਲ ਮੁਬਾਰਕ

Navaan saal mubaarak

Say it like this: NUH-vaan SAAL moo-BAA-rak

congratulations on the new year

Where people speak Punjabi

India (Punjab)Pakistan (Punjab)CanadaUnited Kingdom

Punjabi (ਪੰਜਾਬੀ) belongs to the Indo-Aryan (Indo-European) language family.

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Christmas traditions where people speak Punjabi

Bara Din, the Big Day: In Pakistan, where many Punjabi speakers live, Christmas is called Bara Din, which means Big Day. December 25 is a public holiday there, and the date is also kept in memory of the country's founder, Jinnah.^[3]
Stars on the roof and carol groups: Christian homes often put a star on the roof. In the last week before Christmas, carol groups visit houses, and the money they collect goes to charity or the church. Many families also set up a crib and a tree.^[3]
Cakes and church services: Churches hold special prayer services and sing hymns. Bakeries in cities such as Rawalpindi and Islamabad sell many more Christmas cakes around Christmas Eve, in flavours like chocolate, mango and pineapple.^[4]

🎄 Quick game: Merry Christmas in Punjabi

Three quick questions for kids. Tap an answer to play.

Say Merry Christmas in more languages

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Questions parents ask

How do you say Merry Christmas in Punjabi?

You can say "ਕ੍ਰਿਸਮਸ ਦੀਆਂ ਸ਼ੁਭਕਾਮਨਾਵਾਂ" (Krismas diaan shubhkaamnaavaan). In India it is written in the Gurmukhi script, as ਕ੍ਰਿਸਮਸ ਦੀਆਂ ਸ਼ੁਭਕਾਮਨਾਵਾਂ. This is the most common way to wish someone a happy Christmas in Punjabi.^[1]

How do you pronounce "Krismas diaan shubhkaamnaavaan"?

Say it like this: KRIS-mus dee-AAN shoob-kaam-naa-VAAN. The capital letters show the part to stress. Say the long aa sounds clearly. The first word, Krismas, sounds almost like the English word Christmas, so children already know it.

What does "Krismas diaan shubhkaamnaavaan" mean?

It means good wishes of Christmas. Krismas is the English word, and shubhkaamnaavaan means good wishes. People use shubhkaamnaavaan for many happy times, such as weddings, birthdays and festivals, so this greeting fits easily into everyday Punjabi.^[1]

How do you write Merry Christmas in Punjabi?

In India, write it in Gurmukhi: ਕ੍ਰਿਸਮਸ ਦੀਆਂ ਸ਼ੁਭਕਾਮਨਾਵਾਂ. In Pakistan, Punjabi is usually written in Shahmukhi, which runs right to left like Urdu. In English letters, you can write Krismas diaan shubhkaamnaavaan. Spellings in English letters vary a little.^[1]

How do you say Happy New Year in Punjabi?

Happy New Year is "ਨਵਾਂ ਸਾਲ ਮੁਬਾਰਕ" (Navaan saal mubaarak), said like NUH-vaan SAAL moo-BAA-rak. It means congratulations on the new year. The same greeting is used on January 1. Punjabi also has its own spring new year, Vaisakhi, in mid April.^[2]

Is there a formal and a casual way to say Merry Christmas in Punjabi?

Krismas diaan shubhkaamnaavaan is warm and a little formal, so it suits teachers, elders and cards. Krismas mubaarak is shorter and friendly, so it suits friends and classmates. Both are polite, so a child cannot go wrong with either one.^[1][3]

When do people say Merry Christmas in Punjabi?

People say it at midnight services on Christmas Eve, on Christmas morning, and when they visit family or neighbours with a plate of cake. It is also written on cards and sent in messages in the days before December 25.^[3]

Is the main Christmas celebration on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day for Punjabi speakers?

Christmas Day, December 25, is the main day, and in Pakistan it is a public holiday. Churches also hold midnight or evening services on Christmas Eve, so people use the greeting on both days and visit relatives and neighbours with plates of cake.^[3]

What is a Christmas tradition for Punjabi speaking families?

In Pakistan, carol groups visit homes in the last week before Christmas, and the money they collect goes to charity or the church. Many Christian homes also put a star on the roof and set up a crib, and families trade Christmas cakes.^[3]

How can I teach Punjabi Christmas words to kids?

Try Krismas first, since it sounds like English. Then clap the four beats of shubh-kaam-naa-vaan. Children can cut out a paper star to put on a roof, as many Christian families do in Pakistan, and write the greeting on it. Ask a Punjabi speaker to record the phrase so children can copy the real sound.

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