Gurbani Core Vocabulary
This vocabulary list consisting of 340 of the most frequently used words in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib was developed for the Gurbani classes at the Chardi Kalaa Sikh Community Center.
Most of these words occur hundreds of times (including variants with different endings). Familiarity with this core Gurbani vocabulary enables one to start understanding portions of most shabads and baanis.
The words are listed in order of frequency of usage in Sri Guru Granth Sahib (beginning with the words used most often)
(Abbreviations: GL – Gurbani Language; MP – Modern Punjabi; var-variant;
PP- preposition; v-verb; n-noun.)
| Gurbani Word | Romans | Meaning in English |
| ਹਰ, ਹਰਿ | Har | God |
| ਨਾਮ | Naam | Name, God Consciousness, Divine Presence |
| ਗੁਰ, ਗੁਰੂ | Gur, Guru | Divine Master, Teacher, Divine Wisdom |
| ਰਹਾੳੁ | Rahaau | Pause, (marks chorus, or main theme line) |
| ਮਹਲਾ | Mahalaa | Identifies which Guru is author, neighborhood |
| ਰਾਮ | Raam | God, All pervading Divine Spirit |
| ਗੁਰਮੁਖ | Gurmukh | In tune with the Guru |
| ਪ੍ਰਭ | Prabh | Beloved, Master |
| ਸਦਾ | Sadaa | Always |
| ਮਨ, ਮਨੁ | man | mind, self, mortal |
| ਸਤਿਗੁਰ | satgur | True or Perfect Guru, God |
| ਜੀੳੁ | jeeo | soul or life; respectful and affectionate apelation (Jee in MP) |
| ਬਿਨੁ | bin | without |
| ਜਨ | jan | (devoted) servant, slave |
| ਸਭ | sabh | all |
| ਗੁਣ, ਗੁਨ | gun | quality, merit, virtue |
| ਮਹਿ | meh | in (preposition), within |
| ਸਚੁ | sach | true, eternal |
| ਕੋ | ko | to (pp - noo in MP), any or which (koee in MP) |
| ਸਬਦਿ | sabad (or shabad) | Word, Naam |
| ਸੁਖ | sukh | happiness, peace |
| ਮਾਿੲਅਾ | maayaa | worldly entanglements, illusionary & transient |
| ਸੰਗ | sang | with, close |
| ਹੳੁ | hau | I or me (pronoun) |
| ਪਰਸਾਦ | prasaad (or parsaad) | grace, kindness, mercy |
| ਸੋੲੀ | soee | that one |
| ਕਿਰਪਾ | kirpaa | kindness, mercy |
| ਸੰਤ | sant | saintly person in tune with God, often used for Guru |
| ਅੰਤਰ | antar | within, in (MP - vich) |
| ਭਗਤ | bhagat | devotee of God, saintly person |
| ਸਿੳੁ | siu | (pp) to, with (MP - noo) |
| ਕਿਅਾ | kiaa | what (MP - kee) |
| ਸਗਲ | sagal | all |
| ਹਉਮੈ | haumai | ego, pride, sense of I (separate from God & creation or from others) |
| ਪਾੲੀਅੈ | paaeeay | obtain |
| ਹੇ | hay | O (form of address) |
| ਘਰ | ghar | home |
| ਸ਼ਬਦ | shabad | Word, Gurbani, Naam |
| ਮਿਲ | mil | meet |
| ਹਮ | hum | We, I |
| ਕਹੁ | kahu | says, say (kehna - to say) |
| ਦੁਖ | dukh | sorrow, suffering |
| ਆਵੈ | aavai | comes (aanaa, aavnaa - to come) |
| ਭਾੲੀ | bhaaee | brother, friend (used as address) |
| ਸੁਆਮੀ | suaamee | Master, Lord, Husband; (syn - thakur) (MP- maalik) |
| ਆਸਾ | aasaa | hope, desire |
| ਸਰਬ | sarab | all |
| ਤਨ | tan | body |
| nit | nit | daily - (MP - roz) (syn andin) |
| ਭਾਵੈ | bhaavai | to ge pleasing, appeal to |
| ਪਾੲੀਅੈ | paaeeay | obtain |
| ਭੲੇ | bhae | become |
| ਪੂਰਨ | pooran | complete, perfect |
| ਰਸ | ras | delicious taste, enjoyment, spiritual rapture |
| ਲਿਵ | liv | deep continuous love and absorption |
| ਫਿਰ | phir | again |
| ਸੇਵਾ | sevaa | service |
| ਜਨਮ | janam | birth |
| ਜੀਅ | jeea | living being, tongue, soul |
| ਬਾਣੀ | baanee | speech, Word |
| ਸਹਜਿ | sehaj | state of peace and balance, tranquility, spontaneous, naturally - with the flow, in tune with the Infinite |
| ਨਾਉ | naau | Naam, name |
| ਏਕ | ek | one (MP - ik) |
| ਕਰਹਿ | kareh | karnaa - to do |
| ਆਇਆ | aaiaa | aanaa - to come |
| ਕਰਮ | karam | grace, action |
| ਰੰਗ | rang | dye, love |
| ਅਨਦਿਨੁ | andin | daily |
| ਚਰਨ | charan | feet - symbolizes devotion, humility |
| ਅਮਰਿਤ | amrit | nectar, immortality |
| ਦੁਖ | dukh | suffering, unhappiness |
| ਸਾਧ | sadh | saintly person, |
| ਕੀਆ | keeaa | action, (MP - keeta) |
| ਕਰਤਾ | kartaa | creator |
| ਪੑੀਤ | preet | love |
| ਅਵਰੁ | avar | other |
| ਭਾਇ | bhaai | pleases; will; love (doojaa bhaai - duality) |
| ਵਸੈ | vasai | live, abide |
| ਵਿਚ | vich | in, within |
| ਮਤ | mat | wisdom, not |
| ਪਿਅਾਰੇ | piaaray | beloved |
| ਪੁਰਖ | purakh | person, being, God |
| ਜਮ | jam | death, messenger of death |
| ਵਡਿਆਈ | vadiaaee | greatness, glory |
| ਕੋਁਟ | kot | millions (lit. 10 million) |
| ਮਹਾ | mahaa | great |
| ਜੋਤ | jot | light |
| ਹਿਰਦੈ | hirdai | (in the) heart, mind (MP - dil) abbrev: ridai |
| ਨਿਰਮਲ | nirmal | pure (mal=impurity) |
| ਭੈ | bhai | fear ; syn - bhau |
| ਨਦਰ | nadar | grace |
| ਦੂਜਾ | doojaa | second, other, duality |
| ਪਤ | pat | honor |
| ਸੁਨ, ਸੁਣ | sun | listen |
| ਗੁਰਮਤ | gurmat | the Guru's teaching, wisdom |
| ਮੁਖ | mukh | mouth, face, word |
| ਬਲ | bal | strenght, power; sacrifice (balihaaree) |
| ਭਉ | bhau | fear (bhaao - love) |
| ਅਨਿਕ, ਅਨੇਕ | anik | (var. anek) many |
| ਭਗਤ | bhagat | devotee of God, saintly person |
| ਦਾਤਾ | daataa | giver, |
| ਗਤ | gat | state, emancipation |
| ਦਾਸ | daas | (devoted) servant, slave |
| ਦਇਆਲ | daiaal | kind, generous |
| ਮੁਕਤ, ਮੁਕਤੀ | mukat, mukti | liberated (muktee = liberation) |
| ਮਨਮੁਖ | manmukh | self-willed, (opp. of Gurmukh) |
| ਸਤ | sat | truth |
| ਬਿਧ | bidh | Method, way |
| ਸਮਾਇ | samaai | absorbed in |
| ਜਗ | jag | world |
| ਦਰ | dar | door, portal |
| ਅਗਮ | agam | incomprehensible (attribute of God); unapproachable |
| ਹੁਕਮ | hukam | command, will |
| ਕਮਲ | kamal | lotus |
| ਠਾਕੁਰ | thakur | Master |
| ਜਬ | jab | when |
| ਚਿਤ | chit | mind, heart |
| ਇਹ | eh | this |
| ਦਾਨ | daan | charity, gift |
| ਬਿਖ | bikh | poison, sin |
| ਧਨ | dhan | wealth; blessed; wife or woman |
| ਮੇਲ | mel | union; melnaa - to unite |
| ਦਰਗਿਹ | dargeh | court |
| ਗਿਆਨ | giaan | knowledge, realization |
| ਮਰੈ | marai | dies (marnaa - to die) |
| ਰਤੇ | ratay | steeped, absorbed |
| ਦਿਨ | din | day |
| ਅਤ | at | very |
| ਸਿਮਰ | simar | remember with love, hold in your heart, meditate |
| ਅਦਰ | andar | in, within |
| ਮੋਹ | moh | attachment, excessive unhealthy love; mohnaa - to attract or fascinate |
| ਨਿਧ | nidh | treasure |
| ਸਾਧਸਗਤ | saadhsangat | holy company |
| ਲਿਖਿਆ | likhiaa | written, destined (likhna- to write) |
| ਮਰ | mar | marnaa - to die; janam maran = birth & death |
| ਦੀਨ | deen | poor, humble; religion, spiritual world |
| ਜਸ | jas | glory |
| ਧਿਆਇਆ | dhiaaiaa | meditate on, remember, repeat name |
| ਘਟ | ghat | vessel, heart, being |
| ਜਉ | jau | if |
| ਪੰਚ | panch | five, select |
| ਗੋਬਿਦ | gobind | God (var - Govind, Govinda) |
| ਪਾਪ | paap | sin |
| ਪਾਰ | paar | beyond, other shore |
| ਸਾਹਿਬ | saahib | Master, lord, term of respect |
| ਦਇਆ | daiaa | mercy |
| ਕਹਾ | kahaa | where |
| ਮਾਰ | maar | kill |
| ਰਸਨਾ | rasnaa | tongue, speech |
| ਵਿਨ, ਬਿਨ | vin | (syn. bin) without |
| ਧੁਰ | dhur | destined, primal |
| ਭੀ | bhee | also (MP: vee) |
| ਭਉ | bhaau | love |
| ਤਬ | tab | then |
| ਪਾਰਬੵਹਮ | paarbrahm | God, Transcendental Reality |
| ਪਿਰ | pir | Divine Spouse |
| ਨਿਧਾਨ | nidhaan | treasure |
| ਛੋਡ | chhoD | abandon, leave |
| ਸਗਤ | sangat | association, company |
| ਵਡਭਾਗੀ | vadhbaagee | fortunate |
| ਤਤ | tat | sublime essence |
| ਪਰਮ | param | supreme |
| ਕੀਮਤ | keemat | price, value |
| ਬਾਹਰ | baahar | outside, besides |
| ਤਿਸਨਾ | trisnaa | thirst, desire |
| ਕਾਮ | kaam | lust, physical pleasures |
| ਦਰਸਨ | darsan | vision, experience of being in Presence |
| ਜਲ | jal | water (mp - paanee) |
| ਪਾਵਿਹ | paaveh | paavna - to obtain |
| ਮਸਤਕ | mastak | Forehead (MP mathaa) |
| ਭਰਮ | bharam | doubt, confusion |
| ਕਾਇਆ | kaaiaa | body, self |
| ਪਰੀਤਮ | preetam | beloved |
| ਮੈਲ | mael | impurity |
| ਵਸਿਆ | vasiaa | dwells |
| ਪਰੇਮ | prem | love |
| ਅਗਨ | agan | fire |
| ਧਰਮ | dharam | righteous actions, duty, religion |
| ਬੵਰਮ | brahm | Absolute Lord |
| ਦੀਆ | deeaa | gave |
| ਬਹੁਤ | bahut | much, lots, very |
| ਫਲ | phal | fruit |
| ਊਪਰ | oopar | on, above |
| ਨਿਰਭਉ | nirbhau | free from fear |
| ਗਿਆਨੀ | giaanee | wise, knowledgable |
| ਅਰ | ar | and |
| ਜਤ | jant | being, creature |
| ਕਾਰ | kaar | task, affair |
| ਨਰ | nar | Man, mortal |
| ਸੋਭਾ | sobhaa | glory |
| ਮਾਨ | maan | pride, honor |
| ਬੇਦ | bed | Vedas (hindu scripture) |
| ਖਿਨ | khin | moment, instant |
| ਪਰਾਨ | praan | life, breath |
| ਜਲ | jal | water |
| ਪਿਤਾ | pitaa | father |
| ਜਗਤ | jagat | world |
| ਬਧਨ | bandhan | bonds, fetters |
| ਜੋਗੀ | jogee | yogi, one seeking union with God |
| ਮੀਤ | meet | dear friend |
| ਰਵ | rav | permeating |
| ਅਤ | ant | end, limit |
| ਕਾਲ | kaal | death, time |
| ਕਵਨ | kavan | which |
| ਰਤਨ | ratan | gem |
| ਕੂੜ | kooR | false |
| ਜਗ | jag | world |
| ਸਸਾਰ | sansaar | world |
| ਅੰਤਰਜਾਮੀ | antarjaami | Knower of deepest thoughts (God), Inner Guide |
| ਦੁਰਮਤ | durmat | evil mindedness |
| ਬੁਧ, ਬੁਧੀ | budh | intellect, wisdom |
| ਮਿਲਾਏ | milaa-e | help to meet, unite |
| ਸਾਗਰ | saagar | ocean |
| ਪਰਾਪਤ | paraapat | possess, obtain |
| ਜਾਤ | jaat | caste, social status, species |
| ਕਰੋਧ | krodh | anger, wrath |
| ਆਠ | aath | eight |
| ਗੋਪਾਲ | gopaal | God, cherisher of the world |
| ਭਾਨਾ, ਭਾਣਾ | bhaana | Will |
| ਓਟ | ot | support |
| ਪੂਜਾ | poojaa | worship |
| ਅਰਦਾਸ | ardaas | prayer |
| ਧੂੜ | dhoor | dust |
| ਪਛਾਣੈ | pachaaNai | (pachhananaa) to recognize |
| ਤਿਆਗ | tiaag | abandon, give up, renounce |
| ਪਿੰਡੁ | pind | body |
| ਜੋਨ, ਜੂਨ | jon | (var- joon)incarnation, life (in birth/life cycle), species |
| ਮੀਠਾ | meethaa | sweet (MP - mitha) |
| ਭਲਾ | bhalaa | good |
| ਮੂਰਖ | moorakh | fool |
| ਨਿਰੰਜਨ | niranjan | God, The One unsullied by Maya or pollution |
| ਪੇਖ | pekh | pekhna - to see (syn. dekhna) |
| ਕੁਲ | kul | clan, ancestory |
| ਮਾਤਾ | maataa | mother |
| ਸਰਿਸਟ | srist | creation, universe |
| ਸੁਤ | sut | son, child |
| ਨਿਕਟ | nikat | near, close |
| ਹਮਾਰਾ | hamaaraa | Our, my |
| ਊਚਾ | oochaa | high |
| ਭਾਗ | bhaag | bhaagna - to run away; bhaag - fortune, destiny |
| ਤਰੈ | tarai | tarnaa -swim, be saved; taraana - to save, help to swim |
| ਚਿੰਤਾ | chintaa | worry (MP - fikar) (achintaa - free from worry) |
| ਨਾਰੀ | naaree | woman, wife |
| ਕਲਾ | kalaa | art, technique |
| ਲੋਭ | lobh | greed |
| ਸਮਰਥ | samrath | potent, capable |
| ਖਸਮ | khasam | master, God |
| ਮਿਤ | mit | measure (n) |
| ਸੇਜ | sej | bed; divine bed representing union between God and the soul bride |
| ਨਾਲੈ, ਨਾਲ | naalay | (pp) with |
| ਪਗ | pag | foot |
| ਬਾਾਤ | baat | story, issue, conversation (syn. Gal) |
| ਭੰਡਾਰੁ | bhanDaar | warehouse, treasure |
| ਕਾਰਜ | kaaraj | affair, task |
| ਭਰਪੂਰ | bharpoor | completely full |
| ਉਪਦੇਸ | updes | teachings, preaching |
| ਗਰਭ | garabh | womb |
| ਸਰੀਰ | sareer | body, self |
| ਬਿਅੰਤੁ | be-ant | infinite; without an end |
| ਪੁਨ, ਪੁਣ | pun | virtue, good deed |
| ਬਿਧਾਤਾ | bidhaataa | architect of destiny, God |
| ਮਨੋਰਥ | manorath | hope, desire |
| ਅਵਗੁਨ | avgan | sin, weakness |
| ਸਿ | sifat | praise, glory |
| ਭੰਜਨੁ | bhanjan | destroyer |
| ਬੇਨਤੀ | bentee | prayer, request |
| ਬਾਰਿਕ, ਬਾਲਕ | baarik | child |
| ਜੋਰ | jor | power, to join (jorna) |
| ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰੁ | nirankaar | The Formless One, God |
| ਪਰਗਾਸ | pargaas | Light, enlightenment |
| ਵਿਕਾਰ | vikaar | sins, evil |
| ਉਧਾਰੇ | udharay | udharnaa - to be liberated |
| ਵਸਿਆ | vasaaiaa | vasnaa - to live, abide, be enshrined |
| ਪਦਾਰਥ | padaarath | substance, essence, treasure |
| ਭਾਰ | bhar | full, overflowing |
| ਉਪਾਵ | upaav | effort, way or solution |
| ਵਾਜੈ | vaajay | rings, play as of music |
| ਠਉਰ | thaur | Sanctuary, place of rest, support |
| ਸੰਗੀ | sangee | companion |
| ਆਗਿਆ | aagiaa | command, direction |
| ਊਜਲ | oojal | bright, pure |
| ਸਮਾਲੈ | samaalay | cherish, take care of, remember |
| ਜਪ | jap | repeat Name, medidate |
| ਸਾਸ | saas | breath |
| ਮੋਹਿਆ | mohiaa | mohanaa- to fascinate, attract |
| ਵਿਸਾਰ | visaar | forget; MP - bhulnaa |
| ਨਿਰਗੁਣ | nirguN | without any merit; absolute and unmanifested (God) |
| ਪਰਾਈ | paraaee | stranger, not one of us, belonging to someone else |
| ਸਿਆਨਪ | siaanap | cleverness, wisdom |
| ਕੁਰਬਾਨ | kurbaan | sacrifice |
| ਚਾਨਨ | chaanan | light |
| ਧਾਵਤ | dhaavat | running (dhaavnaa - to run) |
| ਪ੍ਰਤਿਪਾਲ | pratipaal | cherish, take care of (pratipalak - cherisher) |
| ਸਵਾਰ | savaar | to set right, decorate, |
| ਅਧਾਰ | adhaar | support |
| ਬੂਝੈ | boojhai | (v) understands |
| ਬਿਗਸੈ | bigsai | blooms forth, joyous, radiant |
| ਜਾਨੌ | jaanau | jananaa - to know |
| ਰਾਖਾ | raakhaa | Protector (rakhshaa - protection), caretaker |
| ਸਰਨ | saran | shelter, protection (var. sharan, sarnaaee) |
| ਰਹੋ | raho | stay, remain |
| ਚਤੁਰ | chatur | clever, intelligent |
| ਘਨੇਰੇ | ghanere | lots, great |
| ਸਾਜੇ | saaje | fashions, creates |
| ਦਰਦ | darad | Pain, suffering |
| ਊਠਤ | oothat | while rising, standing; MP - uthnaa |
| ਬ੍ਰਹਮੰਡ | brahmand | universe |
| ਅਪਰਾਧੀ | apraadhee | sinner, guilty |
| ਗਲ | gal | thing, talk |
| ਸੋਵਤ | sovat | sleeping; sovana - to sleep |
| ਕੀਰਤਨ | keertan | singing praises, spiritual music |
| ਗਰੀਬ | gareeb | poor, humble |
| ਆਟਲ | aTal | eternal |
| ਸਿਆਨਾ | siaaNaa | wise |
| ਸੁਮਤ | sumat | sublime wisdom |
| ਮਾਗੈ | maangai | asks |
| ਵਰਨ | varan | n. color or caste; v. to desribe |
| ਭਰਵਾਸਾ | bharvaasaa | trust, confidence. Var - bharosaa |
| ਦੇਸ | des | abode, country, land |
| ਨਮਸਕਾਰ | namaskaar | salutation, bow in humility |
| ਨੀਕਾ | neekaa | good, sublime |
| ਅਹਕਾਰ | ahankaar | pride, ego |
| ਮੇਹਰਵਾਨ | meharvaan | generous, compassionate |
| ਸਾਥੀ | saathee | companion |
| ਵੈਰ | vair | enmity (var. bair); vairee or bairee - enemy |
| ਆਗਿਆਕਾਰੀ | aagiaa-kaari | obedient |
| ਲਾਗ | laag | (laagna) -to be attached |
| ਪਰਵਾਰ | parvaar | family |
| ਸਵਾਰੇ | savaray | improve |
| ਦਲਾਲ | daiaal | kind, generous |
| mantr | Word, secret (also mant) | |
| ਸਲਾਹ | salaah | to praise |
| khanDan | destroy | |
| ਜਾਗਨਾ | jaagna | to be awake, spiritually aware |
| ਸਮਰਥ | samrath | potent, capable |
|
ਆਠ ਪਹਰ
|
aath pehar | 24 hours, day and night |
| ਧਰਮ ਰਾਇ | dharam raai | righteous judge (hindu mythology) who judges all beings |
| ਹਲਤ ਪਲਤ | halat palat | this world and the next |
| ਬ਼੍ਹਮ ਗਿਆਨੀ | brahm giaanee | God-conscious person, in tune with God |
can you please post the proper english translation? Like with the horizontal line on top of the a to show a long a?
Please review bottom 10 words. Thank you.