Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
In Punjabi, possession is shown by adding a marker (da/de/di/diyan) that must match the gender and number of the object possessed.
- Use 'da' for masculine singular objects (e.g., 'mera da ghar').
- Use 'di' for feminine singular objects (e.g., 'meri di kitab').
- Use 'de' for masculine plural or oblique objects (e.g., 'mere de dost').
Overview
How This Grammar Works
Formation Pattern
When To Use It
Common Mistakes
Contrast With Similar Patterns
Quick FAQ
Genitive Marker Agreement
| Object Gender | Object Number | Marker |
|---|---|---|
|
Masculine
|
Singular
|
da
|
|
Feminine
|
Singular
|
di
|
|
Masculine
|
Plural
|
de
|
|
Feminine
|
Plural
|
diyan
|
Meanings
These markers indicate possession or relationship, functioning similarly to the English apostrophe-s ('s) or 'of'.
Direct Possession
Ownership of an object or person.
“Mera da bhai (My brother)”
“Ohna di gaddi (Their car)”
Relational Association
Describing a part of a whole or a relationship.
“Pind da sarpanch (The village head)”
“School di chutti (School holiday)”
Material Composition
What something is made of.
“Sone di angoothi (Gold ring)”
“Lakdi da meez (Wooden table)”
Reference Table
| Marker Form | Item Gender/Number | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
|
da
|
Masculine Singular
|
Munde da phone
|
The boy's phone
|
|
de
|
Masculine Plural
|
Munde de phone
|
The boy's phones
|
|
de
|
Respect (Singular)
|
Papa de dost
|
Dad's friend
|
|
di
|
Feminine Singular
|
Kuri di gaddi
|
The girl's car
|
|
dian
|
Feminine Plural
|
Kuri dian gaddian
|
The girl's cars
|
|
da
|
Origin/Identity
|
Delhi da munda
|
A boy from Delhi
|
フォーマル度スペクトル
Mera ghar (General)
Mera da ghar (General)
Mera ghar (General)
Mera ghar (General)
The Genitive Glue
Relationships
- Mummy di bhen Mom's sister
- Dost da veer Friend's brother
Origin
- Punjab da munda Boy from Punjab
- Canada di kuri Girl from Canada
Marker vs. Item Agreement
Choosing Your Marker
Is the owned item masculine?
Is it plural or for respect?
Is the feminine item plural?
Usage Scenarios
Ownership
- • Aman da phone
- • Deep di gaddi
Origin
- • Delhi da munda
- • Pind di kheti
Material
- • Sone di mundri
- • Lakar da mez
レベル別の例文
Ram da ghar
Ram's house
Sita di kitab
Sita's book
Mere de dost
My friends
Meri diyan kitaban
My books
Eh mere da pen hai.
This is my pen.
Ohna di gaddi lal hai.
Their car is red.
Tuhada da ghar kithe hai?
Where is your house?
Munde de kapde saaf han.
The boy's clothes are clean.
Mainu mere de pita ji da phone aaya.
I received a call from my father.
Eh sone di angoothi bahut mehngi hai.
This gold ring is very expensive.
Pind de sarpanch ne meeting rakhi hai.
The village head has organized a meeting.
Ohdi diyan gallan sachiyan han.
His words are true.
University di library vich bahut saariyan kitaban han.
There are many books in the university library.
Mere de saare dost videsh vich rehnde han.
All my friends live abroad.
Eh project mere de career layi zaroori hai.
This project is important for my career.
Ohdi diyan koshishan rang liyaiyan.
His efforts bore fruit.
Sadi di sanskriti bahut purani hai.
Our culture is very old.
Ohne apne de pita de sapne pure kite.
He fulfilled his father's dreams.
Eh kach da glass tut gaya.
This glass cup broke.
Ohdi diyan yadan aj vi mere naal han.
Her memories are still with me.
Majha ilake di boli bahut mithi hai.
The dialect of the Majha region is very sweet.
Ohde de vichar samaj nu badal sakde han.
His thoughts can change society.
Eh purani imarat di shaan vekhan wali hai.
The glory of this old building is worth seeing.
Ohdi diyan likhitan vich dard jhalakda hai.
Pain reflects in her writings.
間違えやすい
Learners confuse genitive markers with adjective endings.
Learners forget to use the marker entirely.
Learners don't change the pronoun.
よくある間違い
Mera di ghar
Mera da ghar
Ram de kitab
Ram di kitab
Mera dostan
Mere dost
Ohna da kitaban
Ohna diyan kitaban
Main da ghar
Mera da ghar
Tu da pen
Tera da pen
Sita di dost
Sita de dost
Mere da pita
Mere pita
Ohde diyan gallan
Ohdiyan gallan
Sone da angoothi
Sone di angoothi
Pind da sarpanch
Pind da sarpanch
Ohdi diyan koshishan
Ohdiyan koshishan
Sadi di sanskriti
Sadi sanskriti
文型パターン
___ da ghar hai.
___ di kitab hai.
___ de dost han.
___ diyan kitaban han.
Real World Usage
Mera da ghar.
Sadi di photo.
Mera da experience.
Pizza da slice.
Station da rasta.
Mere de pita.
The 'Item First' Rule
Respect Matters
Mera/Tuhada
Smart Tips
Identify its gender first.
Use the oblique form.
Check if it's masculine or feminine.
Consider dropping the marker.
発音
Da/De/Di
The 'd' is soft, like in 'the'.
Statement
Ram da ghar hai. ↘
Falling intonation for facts.
暗記しよう
記憶術
Da is for Dads (Masculine), Di is for Didi (Feminine).
視覚的連想
Imagine a giant 'da' stamp on a house and a 'di' stamp on a book.
Rhyme
Masculine singular is da, feminine singular is di, plural masculine is de, feminine plural diyan, see!
Story
Ram has a house (da). He has a book (di). He has friends (de). He has many books (diyan). He is very happy.
Word Web
チャレンジ
Label 5 items in your room using the correct genitive marker in 5 minutes.
文化メモ
Standard Punjabi uses these markers consistently.
Often uses slightly different vowel lengths.
Very similar to Majhi.
Derived from Sanskrit genitive markers.
会話のきっかけ
Tuhada da ghar kithe hai?
Tuhadi di kitab kaunsi hai?
Tuhade de dost ki karde han?
Tuhadi diyan pasandida kitaban kaunsi han?
日記のテーマ
よくある間違い
Test Yourself
Sandeep ____ (brother) veerji dukan te han.
Choose the correct sentence for 'The girl's books':
Find and fix the mistake:
Rohan da bhen school jandi hai.
Score: /3
練習問題
8 exercisesRam ___ ghar.
Sita ___ kitab.
Find and fix the mistake:
Mera di ghar.
ghar / da / Ram
My friends.
Match: Masculine Plural
Ram ___ kitaban.
A: Eh kis da pen hai? B: Eh ___ pen hai.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesMere dost ____ (friends) ghar bahut door hai.
My sister's phone
color / car / the / of
Match the pairs:
Choose the respectful form for 'Grandfather's house':
Mera mobile di screen tut gayi.
London ____ (from) munde bahut ameer han.
The price (mull) of apples (seb):
This is my mother's car.
Pani ____ (of water) glass lao.
Score: /10
よくある質問 (8)
It agrees with the object's gender and number.
The marker still agrees with the object.
Yes, for possession.
Sometimes the marker is dropped.
It takes practice.
No, that's incorrect.
Check the noun's ending.
Very few.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
de
Punjabi markers change with gender/number.
de
Punjabi markers change with gender/number.
genitive case
Punjabi is postpositional.
no
Punjabi is gendered.
idafa
Punjabi uses explicit markers.
de
Punjabi is gendered.
