Pahari-Pothwari

Pahari-Pothwari
پوٹھواری, پہاڑی Poṭhwārī, Pahāṛī
Native to	Pakistan
Region	northern parts of Pothohar region of Punjab, Azad Kashmir and western parts of Jammu and Kashmir, other parts of India including Punjab and Haryana (by partition refugees and descendants)
Native speakers	several million
Language family	Indo-European Indo-Iranian Indo-Aryan Northwestern Punjabic Lahnda Pahari-Pothwari
Writing system	Shahmukhi
Language codes
ISO 639-3	phr
Glottolog	paha1251  Pahari Potwari

Pahari-Pothwari is an Indo-Aryan language variety of Lahnda group, spoken in parts of the Pothohar Plateau in the far north of Punjab, Pakistan, as well as in most of Pakistan-administered Azad Kashmir and in western areas of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. It is known by a variety of names, the most common of which are Pahari (English: /pəˈhɑːri/; an ambiguous name also applied to other unrelated languages of India), and Pothwari (or Pothohari).

The language is transitional between Hindko and Standard Punjabi and is mutually intelligible with both. There have been efforts at cultivation as a literary language, although a local standard has not been established yet. The Shahmukhi script is used to write the language, such as in the works of Punjabi poet Mian Muhammad Bakhsh.

Grierson in his early 20th-century Linguistic Survey of India assigned it to a so-called "Northern cluster" of Lahnda (Western Punjabi), but this classification, as well as the validity of the Lahnda grouping in this case, have been called into question. In a sense both Pothwari, as well as other Lahnda varieties, and Standard Punjabi are "dialects" of a "Greater Punjabi" macrolanguage.

Geographic distribution and dialects

75km
50miles

Baramulla

Srinagar

Bagh

Rajouri

Poonch

Jhelum

Murree

Mirpur

Gujarkhan

Bharakao

Abbottabad

Muzaffarabad

  

Azad Kashmir and surrounding areas with some of the locations mentioned in this section. Places where Pahari–Pothwari is spoken are in dark red.

There are at least three major dialects: Pothwari, Mirpuri and Pahari.

The dialects are mutually intelligible, but the difference between the northernmost and the southernmost dialects (from Muzaffarabad and Mirpur respectively) is enough to cause difficulties in understanding.

Pothohar Plateau

Pothwari (پوٹھواری), also spelt Potwari, Potohari and Pothohari (پوٹھوہاری), is spoken in the north-eastern portion of Pothohar Plateau of northern Punjab, an area administratively within Rawalpindi division. Pothwari is its most common name, and some call it Pindiwal Punjabi to differentiate it from the Punjabi spoken elsewhere in Punjab.

Pothwari extends southwards up to the Salt Range, with the city of Jhelum marking the border with Majha Punjabi. To the north, Pothwari transitions into the Pahari-speaking area, with Bharakao, near Islamabad, generally regarded as the point where Pothwari ends and Pahari begins. In Attock and Chakwal districts of Pothohar, Pothohari comes in contact with other Lahnda varieties, namely Chacchi, Awankari and Dhanni. In Pindi Gheb, yet another dialect is spoken, Ghebi.

Pothwari has been represented as a dialect of Punjabi by the Punjabi language movement, and in census reports the Pothwari areas of Punjab have been shown as Punjabi-majority.

Mirpur

East of the Pothwari areas, across the Jhelum River into Mirpur District in Azad Kashmir, the language is more similar to Pothwari than to the Pahari spoken in the rest of Azad Kashmir. Locally it is known by a variety of names: Pahari, Mirpur Pahari, Mirpuri, and Pothwari, while some of its speakers call it Punjabi. Mirpuris possess a strong sense of Kashmiri identity that overrides linguistic identification with closely related groups outside Azad Kashmir, such as the Pothwari Punjabis. The Mirpur region has been the source of the greater part of Pakistani immigration to the UK, a process that started when thousands were displaced by the construction of the Mangla Dam in the 1960s and emigrated to fill labour shortages in England. The British Mirpuri diaspora now numbers several hundred thousand, and Pahari has been argued to be the second most common mother tongue in the UK, yet the language is little known in the wider society there and its status has remained surrounded by confusion.

Kashmir, Murree and the Galyat

Pahari (پہاڑی) is spoken to the north of Pothwari. The central cluster of Pahari dialects is found around Murree. This area is in the Galyat: the hill country of Murree Tehsil in the northeast of Rawalpindi District (just north of the capital Islamabad) and the adjoining areas in southeastern Abbottabad District. One name occasionally found in the literature for this language is Dhundi-Kairali (Ḍhūṇḍī-Kaiṛālī), a term first used by Grierson who based it on the names of the two major tribes of the area – the Kairal and the Dhund. Its speakers call it Pahari in Murree tehsil, while in Abbottabad district it is known as either Hindko or Ḍhūṇḍī. Nevertheless, Hindko – properly the language of the rest of Abbottabad District and the neighbouring areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – is generally regarded as a different language. It forms a dialect continuum with Pahari, and the transition between the two is in northern Azad Kashmir and in the Galyat region. For example, on the road from Murree northwest towards the city of Abbottabad, Pahari gradually changes into Hindko between Ayubia and Nathiagali.

A closely related dialect is spoken across the Jhelum River in Azad Kashmir, north of the Mirpuri areas. Names associated in the literature with this dialect are Pahari (itself the term most commonly used by the speakers themselves), Chibhālī, named after the Chibhal region or the Chibh ethnic group, and Pahari (Poonchi) (پونچھی, also spelt Punchhi). The latter name has been variously applied to either the Chibhali variety specific to the district of Poonch, or to the dialect of the whole northern half of Azad Kashmir. This dialect (or dialects) has been seen either as a separate dialect from the one in Murree, or as belonging to the same central group of Pahari dialects. The dialect of the district of Bagh, for example, has more shared vocabulary with the core dialects from Murree (86–88%) than with the varieties of either Muzaffarabad (84%) or Mirpur (78%).

In Muzaffarabad the dialect shows lexical similarity of 83–88% with the central group of Pahari dialects, which is high enough for the authors of the sociolinguistic survey to classify it is a central dialect itself, but low enough to warrant noting its borderline status. The speakers however tend to call their language Hindko and to identify more with the Hindko spoken to the west, despite the lower lexical similarity (73–79%) with the core Hindko dialects of Abbottabad and Mansehra. Further north into the Neelam Valley the dialect, now known locally as Parmi, becomes closer to Hindko.

Pahari is also spoken further east across the Line of Control into the Pir Panjal mountains in Indian Jammu and Kashmir. The population, estimated at 1 million, is found in the region between the Jhelum and Chenab rivers: most significantly in the districts of Poonch and Rajouri, to a lesser extent in neighbouring Baramulla and Kupwara, and also – as a result of the influx of refugees during the Partition of 1947 – scattered throughout the rest of Jammu and Kashmir. Pahari is among the regional languages listed in the sixth schedule of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir. This Pahari is sometimes conflated with the Western Pahari languages spoken in the mountainous region in the south-east of Indian Jammu and Kashmir. These languages, which include Bhadarwahi and its neighbours, are often called "Pahari", although not same they are closely related to Pahari–Pothwari.

Diaspora

Pahari-Pothwari is also very widely spoken in the United Kingdom. Labour shortages after World War II, and the displacement of peoples caused by the construction of the Mangla Dam, facilitated extensive migration of Pahari-Pothwari speakers to the UK during the 1950s and 1960s, especially from the Mirpur District. Academics estimate that between two thirds and 80% of people officially classified as British Pakistanis originate as part of this diaspora, with some suggesting that it is the second most spoken language of the United Kingdom, ahead of even Welsh, with hundreds of thousands of speakers. However, since there is little awareness of the identity of the language among speakers, census results do not reflect this. The highest proportions of Pahari-Pothwari speakers are found in urban centres, especially the West Midlands conurbation and the West Yorkshire Built-up Area.

Phonology

Vowels

Vowels of Pahari

	Front		Central		Back
	oral	nasal	oral	nasal	oral	nasal
Close	iː	ĩː			uː	ũː
Near-close	ɪ				ʊ
Mid	e eː	ẽː	ə		o oː
Open	æ æː		aː	ãː

Vowels of Pothwari

	Front		Central		Back
	oral	nasal	oral	nasal	oral	nasal
Close	i iː	ĩ ĩː			u uː	ũ ũː
Mid	e	ẽ	ɐ	ɐ̃	o	õ
Open					ɑ	ɑ̃

A long diphthong /ɑi/ can be realized as [äː].

Consonants

Consonants of Pahari

		Labial	Dental	Alveolar	Post-alv./ Palatal	Velar	Glottal
Stop/ Affricate	voiceless	p	t̪	t	t͡ʃ	k
	aspirated	pʰ	t̪ʰ	tʰ	t͡ʃʰ	kʰ
	voiced	b	d̪	d	d͡ʒ	ɡ
Fricative	voiceless	f		s	ʃ	x
	voiced	v		z		ɣ	ɦ
Nasal		m		n		ŋ
Approximant				l	j
Tap/Trill				r	ɽ

Consonants of Pothwari

		Labial	Alveolar	Retroflex	Post-alv./ Palatal	Velar/ Uvular	Glottal
Stop	voiceless	p	t	ʈ		k
	aspirated	pʰ	tʰ	ʈʰ		kʰ
	voiced	b	d	ɖ		ɡ
	breathy	bʱ	dʱ	ɖʱ		ɡʱ
Affricate	voiceless		t͡s
	aspirated		t͡sʰ
	voiced		d͡z
Fricative	voiceless	(f)	s		ʃ	(χ)	h
	voiced	v	z		(ʒ)	(ʁ)
Nasal		m	n	ɳ
Approximant			l	ɭ	j
Tap/Trill			r	ɽ

• Sounds [f, ʒ, χ, ʁ, q] are heard from Persian and Arabic loanwords.
• /h/ is realized as voiced [ɦ] in word-initial position.
• /n/ before a velar consonant can be heard as [ŋ].

Grammar and notable features

Future Tense

The future tense in Pothwari is formed by adding -s as opposed to the Eastern Punjabi gā.

This tense is also used in other Western Punjabi dialects such as the Jatki dialects, Shahpuri, Jhangochi and Dhanni, as well as in and Hindko and Saraiki.

English	Pahari-Pothwari		Eastern Punjabi
	Transliteration	Shahmukhi	Transliteration	Shahmukhi
I will do	Mãi karsā̃	مَیں کرساں	Mãi karāngā	مَیں کرانگا
We will do	Asā̃ karsā̃	اَساں کرساں	Asī̃ karānge	اَسِیں کرانگے
You will do (s)	Tū̃ karsãi	تُوں کرسَیں	Tū̃ karãigā	تُوں کریں گا
You will do (p)	Tusā̃ karso	تُساں کرسو	Tusī̃ karoge	تُسِیں کروگے
He/She will do	Ó karsi	اوه کَرسی	Ó karega	اوه کرے گا
They will do	Ó karsan	اوہ کرسن	Ó karaṇge	اوه کرݨ گے

This type of future tense was also used by classical Punjabi poets. Punjabi poet Bulleh Shah sometimes uses a similar form of future tense in his poetry

Shahmukhi: جو کُجھ کرسَیں, سو کُجھ پاسَیں

Transliteration: Jo kujh karsãĩ, so kujh pāsãĩ

Translation: Whatsoever you do, is what you shall gain

- From one of Bulleh Shah's poems

Continuous Tense

Similar to other Punjabi varieties, Pothwari uses peyā (past tense form of pēṇā) to signify the continuous tense.

Present Continuous

English	Pahari-Pothwari
	Transliteration	Shahmukhi
I am doing (m.)	Mē̃ karnā peyā ā̃̀	میں کرنا پیا ہاں
We are doing (m./mixed)	Asā̃ karne pa'e ā̃̀	اساں کرنے پئے ہاں
You are doing (sing., m.)	Tū̃ karna peya aĩ̀	تُوں کرنا پیا ہیں
You are doing (sing., f.)	Tū̃ karnī paī aĩ̀	تُوں کرنی پئی ہیں
You are doing (plural, m./mixed)	Tusā̃ karne pa'e ò	تُساں کرنے پئے ہو
He is doing	Ó karna peya aì	اوہ کرنا پیا ہے
She is doing	Ó karnī paī aì	اوہ کرنی پئی ہے
They are doing (m.)	Ó karne pa'e ìn	اوہ کرنے پئے ہِن
They are doing (f.)	Ó karniyā̃ paiyā̃ ìn	اوہ کرنیاں پئیاں ہِن

Past Continuous

The past tense in Pothwari resembles that of Eastern Punjabi, however depending on the dialect, there may be slight variations.

English	Pahari-Pothwari	Standard Punjabi
I was doing (m.)	میں کرنا پیا ساں maĩ karna pya sã	میں کردا پیا ساں maĩ karda pya sã
We were doing (m./mixed)	اساں کرنے پئے سیاں/ساں	اسِیں کردے پئے ساں
You were doing (sing., m.)	تُوں کرنا پیا سیں	تُوں کردا پیا سیں
You were doing (pl., m./mixed or sing. formal)	تُساں کرنے پئے سیو/سو	تُسِیں کردے پئے سو
He was doing	اوہ کرنا پیا سا/سی	اوہ کردا پیا سی
She was doing	اوہ کرنی پئی سی	اوہ کردی پئی سی
They were doing (m./mixed)	اوہ کرنے پئے سے/سن	اوہ کردے پئے سن
They were doing (f.)	اوہ کرنِیاں پئیاں سِیاں/سن	اوہ کردِیاں پئیاں سن

The place of "pyā" may sometimes be switched with respect to the verb. This is common in Majhi (e.g: Noor Jehan's "Chann Māhi Teri Rāh Pyi Takkni Aā̃) and as well as in Jhangochi, Shahpuri, etc

"Tusā̃ báhū̃ changā kamm karne ò pa'e", meaning "You (plural/sing. formal) are doing a very good thing"

"Mē̃ vī tā̃ éhe gall ākhnā sā̃ peyā", meaning "I was also saying the same thing"

"Mē̃ vī tā̃ ehe gall peyā ākhnā ā̃̀", meaning "I am also saying the same thing"

Common prepositions, adjectives and adverbs

These are typically the same in Pothohari and Standard Punjabi, but some differences can be noted.

Prepositions and adverbs

English	Pothohari	Standard Punjabi
Which (relative)	جہڑا	جہڑا
Which (interogative)	کہڑا	کہڑا
If	جے	جے
And	تے	تے
Near	نیڑے	نیڑے
Distant	پرھاں	پرھاں
Before / Previously	اگّے	اگّے
Hence / Thus	تاں مارے	تاں کرکے
Exactly why	تاں ای	تاں ای
First	پہلوں	پہلوں / پہلاں
Once	اِکّ واری	اِکّ واری
Now	ہُن	ہُن
Just now	ہُنے / میسں	ہُنے
Right at that time	اوسے ویلے	اوسے ویلے
Sometimes	کدے	کدے / کدی
Somewhere	کِرے / کُرے	کِتّے / کِدھرے
When	کدوں	کدوں
Like this (adv.)	ایوں / اِنج / اِسراں	ایوں / اِنج / اِس طرحاں
Like this (adj.)	ایہے جیہا	ایہو جیہا
Exactly this / Only this	ایہے	ایہو
Above	اَپّر	اُتّے / اُپّر
Below	تھلّے / بُن	تھلّے
From below	تھلّوں	تھلّوں
Right	سجّے	سجّے
Left	کھبّے	کھبّے
Within	وِچّ	وِچّ
From within	وِچّّوں	وِچّوں
Between	وِشکار	وِچکار
From	توں / سوں / کولں	توں / کولوں
From the front	اگّوں	اگّوں
From behind	پِچھوں، مگروں	پِچھوں، مگروں
In comparision	کولوں / نالوں	کولوں / نالوں
With (utility)	نال	نال
Furthermore	نالے	نالے
Yet / Still	حالے / اجے	حالے / اجے
With (possession)	کول	کول
Along / Including	سݨے	سݨے
ٰEverywhere	چوہاں پاسے	چوہاں پاسے
Properly	چنگی طرحاں	چنگی طرحاں
Harshly	ڈاہڈا	ڈاہڈا
With ease	سوکھا	سوکھا
With difficulty	اوکھا	اوکھا
Lest	متے	متاں / کِتے ایہہ نہ ہووے
Who knows	خورے	خورے
Very	بہُوں	(بہوں is used in most Western Punjabi dialects)
Enough	بتیرا	بتھیرا / بتیرا
Less	گھٹّ	گھٹّ
Alone	کلھیوں	کلھیاں
Together	کٹھّیوں	کٹھّیاں
Again	مُڑی تے	مُڑکے
Repeatedly	مُڑی مُڑی	مُڑ مُڑ
Eventually	ہَولے ہَولے	ہَولی ہَولی
Quickly	بہلی	چھیتی
This much (quality.)	ایڈا	ایڈا
This much (quantity.)	ہیتݨاں	اِنّا
Alright / Okay / Oh	ہلا	اچّھا

Note:

• Some Majhi subdielcts do use کٹھّیوں for کٹھّیاں
• Standard Punjabi makes use of اُپّر
• In Pothohari مسیں means now, while in other dialects مسیں / مساں means "barely/hardly"
• The pronunciation وِشکار is not unique to Pothohari alone
• The word and expression ہلا / Hala is common throughout Western Punjab, also used in Majhi

Adjectives

English	Pothohari	Majhi
Difficult	اوکھا	اوکھا
Easy	سَوکھا	سَوکھا
Small	نِکّا	نِکّا
Large	بڑا / بڈّا	وڈّا
Unfamiliar	اوپرا	اوپرا
New	نوَاں	نوَاں
Old	پراݨاں	پراݨاں
Straight	سِدھّا	سِدھّا
Inverted	پُٹھّا	پُٹھّا
Crooked	ڈِنگّا	ڈِنگّا
High	اُچّا	اُچّا
Low	نِیواں	نِیواں
Good	چنگا	چنگا
Bad	ماڑا / مندا	ماڑا / مندا
Very bad	بھَیڑا	بھَیڑا
Heavy	بھارا	بھارا
Light	ہَولا	ہَولا
Narrow	سَوڑا	سَوڑا
Open	کھُلھّا	کھُلھّا
Firm	پِیڈا	پِیڈا
Loose	ڈھِلّا	ڈھِلّا
Late	چِرکا	چِرکا
On time	ویلے نال	ویلے نال
Red	رتّا لال	رتّا لال
Crimson	سُوہا کھٹّ	سُوہا کھٹّ
White	چِٹّا دُدھّ	چِٹّا دُدھّ
Black	کالا شاہ	کالا شاہ
Yellow	پِلّا زرد	پِلّا زرد
Sweet	مِٹھّا	مِٹھّا
Bitter	کَوڑا	کَوڑا
Slow	مٹھّا	مٹھّا
Well	بلّ	ولّ
Empty	سکھّݨاں	سکھّݨاں
Filled	بھریا	بھریا
Dry	سُکّا / آٹھریا	سُکّا / آٹھریا
Wet	گِلّا / بھِجّا	گِلّا / بھِجّا
Hot	تتّا	تتّا
Cold	ٹھڈّا	ٹھنڈا
Hungry	بھُکھّا	بھُکھّا
Fed	رجّیا پُجّیا	رجّیا پُجّیا
Smart	سیاݨا	سیاݨا
Fool	جھلّا	جھلّا
Deep	ڈُونگھا	ڈُونگھا
Beautiful	سوہݨاں	سوہݨاں
Ugly	کوجھا	کوجھا
Evil	لُچّا	لُچّا
Faux naïf	مِیسݨا	مِیسݨا

Tribal groupings

Pahari-Pothwari speakers belong to the same tribes found in Punjab. While the names of the tribes remain the same, the Punjabi word for tribe Birādrī/Barādarī (برادری) becomes Bilādrī/Balādarī (بل ادری) in Pahari-Pothwari and several other Punjabi dialects such as Jatki/Shahpuri.

Numbering system

Pahari-Pothwari follows the numbering traditions of Standard Punjabi. A point of departure from Eastern Punjabi dialects occurs in the use of Trai (ترَے) instead of Tinn (تِنّ) for the number 3. Other Western Punjabi dialects also tend to use trai over tinn.

Similarly, Pothwari, Majhi and other Western Punjabi dialects use "Yārā̃" (یاراں) for "Gyarā̃" (گیاراں), "Trei" (ترئی) for "Tei" (تئی) "Panji" (پنجِی) for "Pachchi" (پچّی) and "Trih" (ترِیہہ) for "Tih" (تِیہہ), for the numbers 11, 23, 25, and 30.

Unlike Jhangochi, Shahpuri and Dhanni Punjabi dialects, Pothohari does not use "Dāh" for 10, and instead uses "Das" as in Eastern Punjabi and Urdu/Hindi.

English		Pahari-Pothwari
Numbers	Numerals	Transliteration	Shahmukhi	Numerals
One	1	ikk	اِکّ	۱
Two	2	do	دو	۲
Three	3	trai	ترَے	۳
Four	4	chār	چار	۴
Five	5	panj	پَنج	۵
Six	6	che	چھے	۶
Seven	7	satt	سَتّ	۷
Eight	8	aṭṭh	اَٹّھ	۸
Nine	9	nau	نَو	۹
Ten	10	das	دَس	۱۰

Oblique form

The numbers in their oblique form function the same throughout Punjabi dialects.

English	Pothohari	Jhangochi	Majhi
I got it for forty-four	میں ایہہ چُرتالیاں نا آندا آ	میں ایہہ چُرتالیاں دا آندا اے	میں ایہہ چوتالیاں دا آندا آ
Above twenty-five or thirty	پنجِیاں ترِیہاں توں اپّر	پنجِیاں ترِیہاں توں اُتّے	پنجِیاں ترِیہاں توں اُتّے
After two or four days	دوَنہہ چَونہہ دیہاڑیاں بعد	دَونہہ چَونہہ دیہاڑیاں پِچھّوں	دَونہہ چَونہہ دیہاڑیاں پِچھّوں
At 8:46	اٹھّ چھتالیاں اپّر	اٹھّ چھتالیاں تے	اٹھّ چھتالیاں تے
For almost five lac	پنجاں اِک لکھّاں نا	پنجاں اِک لکھّاں دا	پنجاں اِک لکھّاں دا
Nearing twenty	وِیہاں نے نیڑے	وِیہاں دے نیڑے	وِیہاں دے نیڑے

Ordinals

The ordinal numbers are largely the same. The only difference occurs in the words for Second and Third. Second is Doowa (دووا) in Pothwari, whilst it is Dooja (دوجا) in Punjabi. Likewise Third is Treeya (تریا) in Pothwari whilst it is Teeja (تیجا) in Punjabi. Western Punjabi in general tends to follow this trend.

English	Pahari-Pothwari		Standard Punjabi		Jatki
Ordinals	Shahmukhi	Transliteration	Shahmukhi	Transliteration	Shahmukhi	Transliteration
First	پہلا	Pehla	پہلا	Pehla	پہلا	Pehla
Second	دووا	Dūwā	دوجا	Dūjjā	دووا / دُوجا	Dūwā / Dūjjā
Third	تریا	Trīyā	تیجا	Tījjā	ترِجیا	Trījjā
Fourth	چوتھا	Chauttha	چَوتھا	Chauttha	چَوتھا	Chauttha

Pronouns

Direct case

Person		Romanisation		Shahmukhi
		Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
1st Person		Mē̃	As	میں	اس
2nd Person		Tū̃	Tus	توں	تُس
3rd Person	Near	É		ایہ
	Remote	Ó		اوہ

Oblique Case

Person		Romanisation		Shahmukhi
		Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
1st Person		Mē̃	Asā̃	میں	اساں
2nd Person		Tū̃	Tusā̃	توں	تُساں
3rd Person	Near	Is	Innā̃	اِس	اِنّاں
	Remote	Us	Unnā̃	اُس	اُنّاں

Pronominal suffixes

Pothohari makes use of the general Punjabi suffixes.

	romanisation
	singular	plural
2nd person	-ī	-ne
3rd person	-s	-ne

English	Pothohari	Jhangochi / Shahpuri	Majhi
Alright what did he say next? (3rd person sing.)	ہلا فیر کے آخیاس؟	ہلا مُڑکی آکھیُس؟ ہلا مُڑ کی آکھیا سُو؟	اچھا فیر کی اکھیا سُو؟
Are you hands and feet broken? (2nd person plural.)	ہتھّ پَیر بھجّے / ترُٹّے نی؟	ہتھّ پَیر بھجّے نی؟	ہتھّ پَیر بھجّے نی؟ (یا ٹُٹّے)
I'm bringing it for you (2nd person sing.)	ایہہ میں تہاڑے واسطے آݨنا ای	ایہہ میں تیرے واسطے لیاندا ای	ایہہ میں تیرے واسطے آݨدا ای
Did you eat? (2nd person respect.)	روٹی کھادی نے؟	روٹی کھادی ہِنے؟	روٹی کھادی جے؟
He didn't even bother this much (3rd person sing.)	اتنا وی نہیس آخیا	ایتݨاں وی نِسُو آکھیا	اِنّا وی نہیں آکھیا سُو

Vocative case

These cases remain the same between Pothohari and other dialects.

As example of the vocative case:

English	Pothohari	Majhi
Oh my son!	او مہاڑیا پُتّرا	او میریا پُتّرا
You born to a blind a woman! (Derogatory)	اَنّھی نیا	اَنّھی دیا
Oh you people of God!	او ﷲ نیو بندیو	او ﷲ دیو بندیو
Listen to me girl	کُڑِیے گلّ سُݨ	کُڑِی گلّ سُݨ
Brother!	بھراوا	بھراوا
Oh elderly! (can be singular)	بُزرگو	بزرگو

Dative and definite object marker

The dative and definite object marker in Pothwari is kī (ਕੀ /کی) as opposed to nū̃ (ਨੂੰ / نوں) in Standard Punjabi.

• The phrase: lokkā̃ nū̃ (ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ / لوکاں نوں), meaning "to the people" in Standard Punjabi, would become lokkā̃ kī (ਲੋਕਾਂ ਕੀ / لوکاں کی) in Pothwari.

Hence, the objective personal pronouns would be as follows:

English	Pahari-Pothwari		Standard Punjabi
	Shahmukhi	Gurmukhi	Shahmukhi	Gurmukhi
To me	میکی	ਮਿਕੀ	مَینُوں	ਮੈਨੂੰ
To you (sing.)	تُکی	ਤੁਕੀ	تَینُوں	ਤੈਨੂੰ
To you (plural.)	تُساں کی	ਤੁਸਾਂ ਕੀ	تُہانُوں	ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ
To us	اساں کی	ਅਸਾਂ ਕੀ	سانُوں	ਸਾਨੂੰ
To him/her	اُس کی	ਉਸ ਕੀ	اوہنُوں	ਓਹਨੂੰ

Genitive marker

The genitive marker in Pahari-Pothwari is represented through the use of nā (ਨਾ / نا) as opposed to dā (ਦਾ / دا) in common Punjabi.

• The phrase: lokkā̃ dā (ਲੋਕਾਂ ਦਾ / لوکاں دا), meaning "people's" or "of the people" in Pahari-Pothwari, would become lokkā̃ nā (ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨਾ / لوکاں نا)

It should also be noted that in Pahari-Pothwari, the present form of verb does not end with the standard dā sound either, and is replaced with nā. This means that ākhdā would be ākhnā in Pahari-Pothwari meaning "to say" and similarly the word takkdā would be takknā in Pahari-Pothwari meaning "to look/to watch".

For example:

• Miki eh nih si cāhinā (میکی ایہہ نِیہ سی چاہینا), meaning "This is not what I wanted"
• Oh kai pyā ākhnā ae? (اوہ کے پیا آخنا ہے؟), meaning "What is he saying?"
• This also affects the common Punjabi passive tense: Is tarhā̃ nih ākhī nā (اِس طرحاں نہیں آخی نا), instead of "ākhee dā", meaning "That's not how it should be said"

English	Pothohari	Majhi	Jhangochi
We come	اساں اچھنے آں ਅਸਾਂ ਅਛਨੇ ਆਂ	اسِیں آؤنے آں ਅਸੀਂ ਆਉਨੇ ਆਂ	اسِیں آنے آں ਅਸੀਂ ਆਨੇ ਆਂ
What do you say?	تُوں کے آخنا ایں؟ ਤੂੰ ਕੇ ਆਖ਼ਨਾ ਐਂ?	تُوں کی آکھدا ایں؟ ਤੂੰ ਕੀ ਆਖਦਾ ਐਂ?	تُوں کی آہیندا ایں؟ ਤੂੰ ਕੀ ਆਹੇਂਦਾ ਐਂ?
The things I do	جہڑے کمّ میں کرنا آں ਜਿਹੜਾ ਕੰਮ ਮੈਂ ਕਰਨਾ ਏਆਂ	جہڑے کمّ میں کرنا آں ਜਿਹੜੇ ਕੰਮ ਮੈਂ ਕਰਨਾ ਆਂ	جہڑے کمّ میں کرنا/کریٔنا آں ਜਿਹੜੇ ਕੰਮ ਮੈਂ ਕਰਨਾ/ਕਰੇਨਾ ਆਂ

This also affects some of the genitive pronouns.

English	Pahari-Pothwari		Jatki				Hindko
			Jhangvi/Shahpuri		Dhanni
	Shahmukhi	Gurmukhi	Shahmukhi	Gurmukhi	Shahmukhi	Gurmukhi	Shahmukhi	Gurmukhi
Mine	مہارا	ਮ੍ਹਾੜਾ	میرا	ਮੇਰਾ	مَینڈھا	ਮੈਂਢਾ	مڑھا	ਮੜ੍ਹਾ
Yours (sing.)	تَہاڑا	ਤ੍ਹਾੜਾ	تیرا	ਤੇਰਾ	تَینڈھا	ਤੈਂਢਾ	تُڑھا	ਤੁੜ੍ਹਾ
Yours (plural.)	تُساں نا	ਤੁਸਾਂ ਨਾ	تُہاڈا	ਤੁਹਾਡਾ	تُساڈا / تُساں دا	ਤੁਸਾਡਾ / ਤੁਸਾਂ ਦਾ	تُساں دا	ਤੁਸਾਂ ਦਾ
Ours	اساں نا / ساہڑا	ਅਸਾਂ ਨਾ / ਸਾੜਾ	ساڈا	ਸਾਡਾ	اساڈا / اساں دا	ਅਸਾਡਾ / ਅਸਾਂ ਦਾ	اساں دا	ਅਸਾਂ ਦਾ

Oblique case of nouns

Pahari-Pothwari has unique forms for nouns in oblique cases. This is not observed in Standard Punjabi, but is seen in Hindko.

English	Pahari-Pothwari	Standard Punjabi
	Shahmukhi	Shahmukhi
Housework	گھرے نا کمّ	گھر دا کمّ
Dinner	راتی نی روٹی	رات دی روٹی
In a young age	نِکّی عُمرے وِچ	نِکّی عُمر وِچّ
On my heart	مھاڑے دِلّے اپّر	میرے دِل تے
With care	دھیاݨے نال	دھیان نال
Patiently	ارامے نال	ارام نال
To my sister	بھیݨُوں کی	بھین نُوں
For my brother	بھراُو واسطے	بھرا واسطے
Important detail	کمّے نی گلّ	کمّ دی گلّ
There's no accounting for taste	شَونقے نا کوئی مُل نہیں ہوݨا	شَونق دا کوئی مُل نہیں ہوندا
Understand the point	گلّے کی سمجھ	گلّ نُوں سمجھ

Adding "i" to root form of verb

A peculiar feature of Pahari-Pothwari is to end the basic root form of verbs with an "i" sound.

English	Pahari-Pothwari	Standard Punjabi
	Shahmukhi	Shahmukhi
It happened	ہوئی گیا	ہو گیا
It may be possible	ہوئی سکنا اے	ہو سکدا اے
Together	رلی مِلی تے	رل مِل کے
Finish it	مُکائی چھوڑ	مُکا چھڈّ/چھوڑ
Look	تکّی گھِنو	ویکھ لو
Come back after having lunch	روٹی کھائی تے مُڑی اچھِیں	روٹی کھا کے مُڑ آوِیں
Eat it	کھائی گھِن	کھا لَے
Sit quietly for once	کدے ٹِکی تے بہی وی جُلیا کر	کدے ٹِک کے بہہ وی جایا کر

Vocabulary

General verbs

A majority of the general verbs between Pothohari and most other dialects of Punjabi appears to be the same.

English	Pothohari	Majhi
Taking out	ਕੱਢਣਾ / کڈھّݨا	ਕੱਢਣਾ / کڈھّݨا
Taking off	ਲਾਹਣਾ / لاہݨا	ਲਾਹੁਣਾ / لاہُݨا
Applying	ਲਾਣਾ / لاݨا	ਲਾਉਣਾ / لاؤݨا
Decreasing	ਘੱਟਣਾ / گھٹّݨا	ਘੱਟਣਾ / گھٹّݨا
Jumping	ਛਾਲ ਮਾਰਨੀ / چھال مارنی	ਛਾਲ ਮਾਰਨੀ / چھال مارنی
Agreeing	ਮੰਨਣਾ / منّݨا	ਮੰਨਣਾ / منّݨا
Hesitating	ਝੱਕਣਾ / جھکّݨا	ਝੱਕਣਾ / جھکّݨا
Forgetting	ਭੁਲੱਣਾ / بھُلّݨا	ਭੁਲੱਣਾ / بھُلّݨا
Wearing / Pouring	ਬਾਣਾ / باݨا	ਪਾਉਣਾ / پاؤݨا
Lying / To be poured	ਪੈਣਾ / پَیݨا	ਪੈਣਾ / پَیݨا
Sitting	ਬਹਿਣਾ / بہݨا	ਬਹਿਣਾ / بہݨا
Breaking	ਭੰਨਣਾ ਯਾ ਤ੍ਰੋੜਨਾ/ بھنّݨا یا تروڑنا	ਭੰਨਣਾ / بھنّݨا
Returning	ਮੋੜਨਾ / موڑنا	ਮੋੜਨਾ / موڑنا
Flipping	ਪਰਤਾਣਾ / پرتاݨا	ਪਰਤਾਉਣਾ / پرتاؤݨا
Seeing	ਤੱਖਣਾ / تکھّݨا	ਤੱਕਣਾ ਜਾਂ ਵੇਖਣਾ تکّݨا یا ویکھݨا
To be seen	ਦਿੱਸਣਾ / دِسّݨا	ਦਿੱਸਣਾ / دِسّݨا
Telling	ਦੱਸਣਾ / دسّݨا	ਦੱਸਣਾ / دسّݨا
Saying	ਆਖ਼ਣਾ / آخݨا	ਆਖਣਾ / آکھݨا
Running	ਨੱਸਣਾ / نسّݨا	ਨੱਸਣਾ / نسّݨا
Falling	ਢੇਹਣਾ / ڈھیہݨا	ਢਹਿਣਾ ਜਾਂ ਡਿੱਗਣਾ ڈھہݨا یا ڈِگّݨا
Slipping	ਤਿਲਕਣਾ / تِلکݨا	ਤਿਲਕਣਾ / تِلکݨا
Chewing	ਚਿੱਥਣਾ / چِتھّݨا	ਚਿੱਥਣਾ / چِتھّݨا
Coughing	ਖੰਘਣਾ / کھنگھݨا	ਖੰਘਣਾ / کھنگھݨا
Raise	ਚਾੜ੍ਹਨਾ / چاڑھنا	ਚਾੜ੍ਹਨਾ / چاڑھنا
Coming	ਅਛਣਾ / اچھݨا	ਆਉਣਾ / آؤݨا
Walking	ਟੁਰਨਾ / ٹُرنا	ਟੁਰਨਾ / ٹُرنا
Pulling	ਛਿੱਕਣਾ / چھِکّݨا	ਛਿੱਕਣਾ / ਖਿੱਚਣਾ چھِکّݨا / کھِچّݨا
Passing	ਲੰਘਣਾ / لنگھّݨا	ਲੰਘਣਾ / لنگھّݨا
Capturing	ਮੱਲਣਾ / مَلّݨا	ਮੱਲਣਾ / مَلّݨا
Cooling	ਠਾਰਨਾ / ٹھارنا	ਠਾਰਨਾ / ٹھارنا
Obtaining	ਲੱਭਣਾ / لبھّݨا	ਲੱਭਣਾ / لبھّݨا
Lighting up	ਬਾਲਣਾ / بالݨا	ਬਾਲਣਾ / بالݨا
Cooking	ਰਿੰਨ੍ਹਣਾ / رِنھّݨا	ਰਿੰਨ੍ਹਣਾ / رِنھّݨا
Tying	ਬੰਨ੍ਹਣਾ / بنھّݨا	ਬੰਨ੍ਹਣਾ / بنھّݨا
Roasting	ਭੁੰਨਣਾ / بھُنّݨا	ਭੁੰਨਣਾ / بھُنّݨا
Slaughtering	ਕੋਹਣਾ / کوہݨا	ਕੋਹਣਾ / کوہݨا
To identify	ਸਿਆਣਨਾ / سیاݨنا	ਸਿਆਣਨਾ / سیاݨنا
Throwing	ਸੱਟਣਾ / سٹّݨا	ਸੱਟਣਾ / ਸੁੱਟਣਾ سُٹّݨا / سٹّݨا
Losing	ਹਰਨਾ / ہرنا	ਹਰਨਾ / ہرنا
Entering	ਬੜਨਾ / بڑنا	ਵੜਨਾ / وڑنا
Crumbling	ਭੋਰਨਾ / بھورنا	ਭੋਰਨਾ / بھورنا
Covering	ਕੱਜਣਾ / کجّݨا	ਕੱਜਣਾ / کجّݨا
Dividing	ਵੰਡਣਾ / ونڈݨا	ਵੰਡਣਾ / ونڈݨا
Stuffing / Thrusting	ਤੁੰਨਣਾ / تُنّݨا	ਤੁੰਨਣਾ / تُنّݨا
To press	ਮੰਡਣਾ / منڈݨا	ਮੰਡਣਾ / منڈݨا
To vex	ਖਪਾਣਾ / کھپاݨا	ਖਪਾਉਣਾ / کھپاؤݨا
To spread	ਖਿਲਾਰਨਾ / کھِلارنا	ਖਿਲਾਰਨਾ / کھِلارنا
To be stolen	ਖੁੱਸਣਾ / کھُسّݨا	ਖੁੱਸਣਾ / کھُسّݨا
To blow	ਫੂਕਣਾ / پھُوکݨا	ਫੂਕਣਾ / پھُوکݨا
To dust off	ਛੰਡਣਾ / چھنڈݨا	ਛੰਡਣਾ / چھنڈݨا
To mix	ਰਲਣਾ / رلݨا	ਰਲਣਾ / رلݨا
To dry	ਸੁੱਕਣਾ / سُکّݨا	ਸੁੱਕਣਾ / سُکّݨا
Hanging	ਲਮਕਣਾ / لمکݨا	ਲਮਕਣਾ / لمکݨا
Boiling	ਕਾੜ੍ਹਨਾ / کاڑھنا	ਕਾੜ੍ਹਨਾ / کاڑھنا
Spilling	ਡੋਲ੍ਹਣਾ / ڈولھݨا	ਡੋਲ੍ਹਣਾ / ڈولھݨا
Shining	ਲਿਸ਼ਕਣਾ / لِشکݨا	ਲਿਸ਼ਕਣਾ / لِشکݨا
Plastering / Coating	ਲਿੰਬਣਾ / لِنبݨا	ਲਿੰਬਣਾ / لِنبݨا
Maintain	ਸਾਂਭਣਾ / سانبھݨا	ਸਾਂਭਣਾ / سانبھݨا
To take along	ਖੜਨਾ / کھڑنا	ਖੜਨਾ ਜਾਂ ਲੈਜਾਣਾ / کھڑنا یا لَےجاݨا

Note:

• Eastern Majhi and Malvai use Khichchna for pulling, while Western Majhi, Jhangochi, Shahpuri, Pothohari use Chhikkna.
• Eastern dialects will use Bhann-Toṛ and Ṭuṭṭ-Bhajj, while Western dialects like Pothohari use Bhann-Troṛ and Truṭṭ-Bhajj.
• Saṭṭna for throwing is used in Western dialects, and Chaana for picking. (As opposed to Suṭṭna / Chukkna), though Pothohari may use Chukkna as well.
• Pothohari verbs do not seem to involve the -aavna or -aauna sound. This is similar to certain Majhi sub-dialects.
• Labbhna is used for obtaining and receiving as in most dialects of Punjabi, however it is often not used in the active sense. For this Pothohari prefers Loṛna. (The passive form of this word "Loṛeenda" is commonly used in Standard Punjabi)
• The Pothohari word for grabbing and holding is Nappṅa (common in Punjabi) and Lapaṛna (unique verb)

The passives remain the same throughout Punjabi dialects

• Bhannṅa (to break) and Bhajjṅa (to be broken)
• Bhunnṅa (to roast) and Bhujjṅa (to be roasted)
• Rinnhṅa (to cook) and Rijjhṅa (to be cooked)
• Ḍolhṅa (to spill) and Dullhṅa (to be spilt)
• Laahṅa (to take off) and Lehṅa (to descend/come off)
• Laveṛna (to besmear) and Livaṛna (to be besmeared)

The irregular past tense remains the same throughout Punjabi dialects

Differences in brackets.

• Khaadhā
• Peetā
• Dittā
• Keetā
• Suttā
• Moeā
• Seāṅtā (Jhangochi/Shahpuri/Dhanni: Seātā, Majhi: Seāṅeā)
• Latthā
• Ḍhaṭṭhā
• Baddhā
• Nahātā
• Dhotā
• Khaltā (In other dialects: Khalotā) e.g.: Miki saɽke apar khalteon addhā ghantā hoi gya sā
• Baṅtā (In other dialects: Baṅeā) e.g.: Chāʼ kadū̃ ni banti hoi ae
• Guddhā

Nā and Khā̃

Used throughout Punjabi dialects (e.g.: Majhi, Jhangochi, etc.)

• Gall suṅeṉ na (Please listen)
• Gall suṅ khā̃ (Listen up!)

Word for sleep

English	Pothohari	Jhangochi / Shahpuri	Majhi
To sleep	ਸੈਣਾ / سَیݨا	ਸੌਂਣਾ / سَوݨا ਸੰਵਣਾ / سن٘وݨا	ਸੌਣਾ / سَوݨا
Has slept	ਸਈ ਰਿਹਾ   سئی ریہا	ਸੈਂ ਪਿਆ / سَیں پیا ਸੈਂ ਰਿਹਾ  / سَیں ریہا	ਸੌਂ ਗਿਆ / سَوں گیا
He is sleeping	ਉਹ ਸੈਣਾ ਐ ਪਿਆ اوہ سَیݨا اے پیا	ਉਹ ਸੌਂਦਾ ਐ ਪਿਆ اوہ سَوندا اے پیا	ਉਹ ਸੌਂਦਾ ਐ ਪਿਆ اوہ سَوندا اے پیا
Asleep	ਸੁੱਤਾ ਪਿਆ / سُتّا پیا	ਸੁੱਤਾ ਪਿਆ / سُتّا پیا	ਸੁੱਤਾ ਪਿਆ / سُتّا پیا
Having slept or While asleep	ਸੁੱਤਿਓਂ / سُتّیوں	ਸੁੱਤਿਆਂ / سُتّیاں	ਸੁੱਤਿਆਂ / سُتّیاں
After sleeping	ਸਈ ਤੇ / سئی تے	ਸੈਂ ਕੇ / سَیں کے (or ਤੇ / تے)	ਸੌਂ ਕੇ / سَوں کے
Go to sleep	ਸਈ ਗੋ / سئی گو ਸਈ ਜਾ / سئی جا ਸਈ ਰੋਹ / سئی روہ	ਸੈਂ ਪੋ / سَیں پو ਸੈਂ ਜਾ / سَیں جا ਸੈਂ ਰੋਹ / سَیں روہ	ਸੌਂ ਜਾ سَوں جا
He is to sleep	ਉਹ ਸਏ / اوہ سئے	ਉਹ ਸੌਂਵੇ / اوہ سَون٘وے	ਉਹ ਸੌਂਵੇ / اوہ سَون٘وے
Putting to sleep	ਸੰਵਾਲਣਾ سن٘واولݨا	ਸੰਵਾਵਣਾ سن٘واوݨا	ਸੰਵਾਉਣਾ سن٘واؤݨا

Family relations

The names of family relations are mostly the same throughout the Punjabi dialects.

English	Punjabi / Pothohari
	Shahmukhi
Mother / Father	ماں پیو
Son / Daughter	دھِیاں پُتّر
Brother / Sister	بھَیݨاں بھرا
Husband	گھر الا / جݨا / خسم
Wife	گھر آلی / زنانی
Grandchildren (from son)	پوترے پوترِیاں
Grandchildren (from daughter)	دوترے دوترِیاں
Son-in-law	جوائی
Daughter-in-law	نوںھہ
Mother-in-law	سسّ
Father-in-law	سوہرا
Husband's sister	نناݨ
Sister's husband	بھݨوئیا
Brother's wife	بھرجائی
Father's brother / Father's sister	چاچا / پُپھّی
Father's brother's wife	چاچی
Father's sister's husband	پُھپھّڑ
Mother's brother / Mother's sister	ماما / ماسی
Mother's brother's wife	مامی
Mother's sister's husband	ماسڑ
Cousin from father's brother	چچیر / دد پوترا
Cousin from father's sister	پھُپھیر
Cousin from mother's brother	ملویر
Cousin from mother's sister	مسیر

Some words unique to Pothohari include:

• Daad-Potraa to refer to a cousin (Son of father's brother, Potraa is a common Punjabi word)
• Be for mother (Eastern Punjabi does use Be-Be for mother)
• Bhaapaa for brother (Sometimes used in Eastern-Majhi)

Body part names

Names of body parts are the same throughout Punjabi dialects with minimal differences if any.

English	Pothohari	Jhangochi / Shahpuri	Majhi
Eyes	ਅੱਖੀਆਂ / اکھِّیاں	ਅੱਖੀਆਂ / ਅੱਖੀਂ / اکھِّیاں / اکھِیں	ਅੱਖਾਂ / اکھّاں
Head	ਸਿਰ / سِر	ਸਿਰ / سِر	ਸਿਰ /سِر
Forehead	ਮੱਥਾ / متھّا	ਮੱਥਾ / متھّا	ਮੱਥਾ / متھّا
Eyelashes	ਪਿੱਮਣੀਆਂ / پِمݨِیاں	ਪਿੱਪਣੀਆਂ / پِپّݨیاں	ਪਲਕਾਂ / پلکاں
Eyebrows	ਭਰਵੱਟੇ / بھروٹّے	ਭਰਬਿੱਟੇ / بھربِٹّے	ਭਰਵੱਟੇ / بھروٹّے
Eyelids	ਛੱਪਰ / چھپّر	ਛੱਪਰ / چھپّر	ਛੱਪਰ / چھپّر
Eyeballs	ਆਨੇ / آنّے	ਆਨੇ / آنّے	ਆਨੇ / آنّے
Ears	ਕੰਨ / کنّ	ਕੰਨ / کنّ	ਕੰਨ / کنّ
Arms	ਬਾਹਾਂ / باہاں	ਬਾਹੀਂ / باہِیں	ਬਾਹਵਾਂ / باہواں
Throat	ਸੰਘ / سنگھ	ਸਘ / سگّھ	ਸੰਘ / سنگھ
Neck	ਧੌਣ / دھَوݨ	ਧੌਣ / دھَوݨ	ਧੌਣ / دھَوݨ
Shoulders	ਮੋਢੇ / موڈھے	ਮੋਢੇ / موڈھے	ਮੋਢੇ / موڈھے
Elbow	ਅਰਕ / ارک	ਅਰਕ / ارک	ਅਰਕ / ارک
Nails	ਨਹੁੰ / نَونہہ	ਨਹੁੰ / نَونہہ	ਨਹੁੰ / نَونہہ
Hands	ਹੱਥ / ہتھّ	ਹੱਥ / ہتھّ	ਹੱਥ / ہتھّ
Fingers	ਅੰਗਲਾਂ / انگلاں	ਅੰਗਲਾਂ / انگلاں	ਉਂਗਲਾਂ / اُنگلاں
Belly	ਢਿੱਡ / ڈھِڈّ	ਢਿੱਡ / ڈھِڈّ	ਢਿੱਡ / ڈھِڈّ
Waist	ਲੱਕ / لکّ	ਲੱਕ / لکّ	ਲੱਕ / لکّ
Legs	ਲੱਤਾਂ / لتّاں	ਲੱਤਾਂ / لتّاں	ਲੱਤਾਂ / لتّاں
Knees	ਗੋਡੇ / گوڈے	ਗੋਡੇ / گوڈے	ਗੋਡੇ / گوڈے
Ankles	ਗਿੱਟੇ / گِٹّے	ਗਿੱਟੇ / گِٹّے	ਗਿੱਟੇ / گِٹّے
Feet	ਪੈਰ / پَیر	ਪੈਰ / پَیر	ਪੈਰ / پَیر
Palm	ਤੱਲੀ / تلّی	ਤੱਲੀ / تلّی	ਤੱਲੀ / تلّی
Teeth	ਦੰਦ / دند	ਦੰਦ / دند	ਦੰਦ / دند
Molars	ਹਣਿਓਂ / ہݨیوں	ਹਣਿਓਂ / ہݨیوں	ਜਾੜ੍ਹਾਂ / جاڑھاں
Tongue	ਜੀਭ / جِیبھ	ਜਿੱਭ / جِبھّ	ਜੀਭ / جِیبھ
Nose	ਨੱਕ / نکّ	ਨੱਕ / نکّ	ਨੱਕ / نکّ
Nostrils	ਨਾਸਾਂ / ناساں	ਨਾਸਾਂ / ناساں	ਨਾਸਾਂ / ناساں
Face	ਮੂੰਹ / مونہہ	ਮੂੰਹ / مونہہ	ਮੂੰਹ / مونہہ
Back	ਕੰਡ / کنڈ	ਕੰਡ / کنڈ	ਕੰਡ / کنڈ
Hips	ਢਾਕਾਂ / ڈھاکاں	ਢਾਕਾਂ / ڈھاکاں	ਢਾਕਾਂ / ڈھاکاں
Hip bone	ਚੂਕਣਾ / چُوکݨا	ਚੂਕਣਾ / چُوکݨا	ਚੂਕਣਾ / چُوکݨا

Words for "Coming" and "Going"

The Pahari-Pothwari word for "coming" is acchṇā, whereas for "going" gacchṇā, julṇā and jāṇā are used.

English	Pahari-Pothwari	Jatki	Standard Punjabi
	Shahmukhi	Shahmukhi	Shahmukhi
I am coming	میں اچھنا پیا ہاں	میں آوندا پیا ہاں	میں آوندا پیا ہاں
I am going	میں گچھنا پیا ہاں میں جُلنا پیا ہاں	میں ویندا پیا ہاں میں جاوندا پیا ہاں	میں جاندا پیا ہاں
I am not understanding	میکی سمجھ نِیہ اچھنی پئی	مینُوں سمجھ نہیں آوندی پئی	مینُوں سمجھ نہیں آوندی پئی
I will leave tomorrow	میں کلّ گیساں میں کلّ جُلساں	میں کلّھ ویساں میں کلّھ جاساں	میں کلّھ جاواں گا
We are going for work	اساں کمّے اپّر جُلے ہاں	اسِیں کمّ تے چلے ہاں	اسِیں کمّ تے چلے ہاں
It happens	ہوئی گچھنا اے ہوئی جُلنا اے ہوئی جانا اے	ہو ویندا ہے ہو جاوندا ہے	ہو جاندا ہے
Sit down	بہی جُل بہی گچھ بہی جا	بہہ ونج بہہ جا	بہہ جا
I will take him along	اُسکی وی نال گھِنی گیساں اُسکی وی نال گھِنی جُلساں	اوہنُوں وی نال لے ویساں/جاساں اوہنُوں وی نال گھِن ویساں	اوہنُوں وی نال لَے جاواں گا

The imperative for gacchṇā is both gacch and gau.

Causative verbs

Pahari-Pothwari causative verbs end with -ālnā. This feature also exists in the Eastern Majhi dialect. (e.g.: Vikhālṇā)

English	Pahari-Pothwari	Standard Punjabi	Jatki
To cause to eat	کھوالݨا	کھواوݨا	کھواوݨا
To cause to drink	پیالݨا	پیاوݨا	پِواوݨا
To cause to bathe	نہوالݨا	نہواوݨا	نہواوݨا
To cause to wash	دھوالݨا	دھواوݨا	دھواوݨا
To cause to cry	رووالنا	رواوݨا	رواوݨا
To cause to sleep	سوالݨا	سواوݨا	سواوݨا
To cause to sit	بہالݨا	بہاوݨا	بہاوݨا
To cause to stand	اُٹھالݨا	اُٹھاوݨا	اُٹھاوݨا

*Notes

Not all causative verbs are formed like this, e.g. to play -kheṛṇā to khaṛāṇa,

Words used for "Taking" and "Bringing"

Commonly observed in the Lahnda dialects is the use of Ghinṇā (گھِننا) and Aaṇnā (آننا) instead of the Eastern Punjabi words Laiṇā (لَینا) and Lyāṇā (لیانا).

Notice how Ghin āo becomes Ghini achho, and Ghin ghidā becomes Ghini ghidā in accordance with Pothwari grammar and vocabulary.

English	Pahari-Pothwari	Jatki		Hindko	Saraiki
		Shahpuri/Jhangochi	Dhanni
From tomorrow onwards, I'll also bring it for you, just cope for today.	کلّ سوں میں تُساں کی وی آݨی دِتّا کرساں، اجّ گُزارہ کری گھِنو ਕੱਲ੍ਹ ਸੋਂ ਮੈਂ ਤੁਸਾਂ ਕੀ ਵੀ ਆਣੀ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਕਰਸਾਂ, ਅੱਜ ਗੁਜ਼ਾਰਾ ਕਰੀ ਘਿਨੋ	کلّ توں میں تُہانُوں وی لیا دِتّا کرساں، اجّ گُزارہ کر لوو ਕੱਲ੍ਹ ਤੋਂ ਮੈਂ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਲਿਆ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਕਰਸਾਂ, ਅੱਜ ਗੁਜ਼ਾਰਾ ਕਰ ਲਵੋ	کلّ توں میں تُسانُوں وی آݨ دِتّا کریساں، اجّ گُزارہ کر گھِنو ਕੱਲ੍ਹ ਤੋਂ ਮੈਂ ਤੁਸਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਆਣ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਕਰੇਸਾਂ, ਅੱਜ ਗੁਜ਼ਾਰਾ ਕਰ ਘਿਨੋ	کلّ توں میں تُساں آں وی آݨ دیا کرساں، اجّ گُزارہ کر گھِنو ਕੱਲ੍ਹ ਤੋਂ ਮੈਂ ਤੁਸਾਂ ਆਂ ਵੀ ਆਣ ਦਿਆ ਕਰਸਾਂ, ਅੱਜ ਗੁਜ਼ਾਰਾ ਕਰ ਘਿਨੋ	کلّ توں میں تُہاکُوں وی آݨ ڈِتّا کریساں، اجّ گُزارہ کر گھِنو ਕੱਲ੍ਹ ਤੋਂ ਮੈਂ ਤੁਹਾਕੂੰ ਵੀ ਆਣ ਡਿੱਤਾ ਕਰੇਸਾਂ, ਅੱਜ ਗੁਜ਼ਾਰਾ ਕਰ ਘਿਨੋ
Take him along as well.	اُسکی وی نال گھِنی اچھو ਉਸਕੀ ਵੀ ਨਾਲ ਘਿਨੀ ਅਛੋ	اوہنُوں وی نال لَے آوو ਓਹਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਨਾਲ ਲੈ ਆਵੋ	اوہنُوں وی نال گھِن آوو ਓਹਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਨਾਲ ਘਿਨ ਆਵੋ	اُساں وی نال گھِن آؤ ਉਸਾਂ ਵੀ ਨਾਲ ਘਿਨ ਆਓ	اُوکُوں وی نال گھِن آوو ਊਕੂੰ ਵੀ ਨਾਲ ਘਿਨ ਆਵੋ
They took it from me as well	اُنھاں مھاڑے کولُوں وی گھِنی گھِدا ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਮਹਾੜੇ ਕੋਲੂੰ ਵੀ ਘਿਨੀ ਘਿਦਾ	اُنھاں میرے کولُوں وی لَے لیا ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਮੇਰੇ ਕੋਲੂੰ ਵੀ ਲੈ ਲਿਆ	اُنھاں مینڈھے کولُوں وی گھِن گھِدا ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਮੈਂਢੇ ਕੋਲੂੰ ਵੀ ਘਿਨ ਘਿਦਾ	اُنھان مڑھے کولُوں وی گھِن گھِدا ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਮੜ੍ਹੇ ਕੋਲੂੰ ਵੀ ਘਿਨ ਘਿਦਾ	اُنھاں میڈے کولُوں وی گھِن گھِدا ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਮੈਂਡੇ ਕੋਲੂੰ ਵੀ ਘਿਨ ਘਿਦਾ
He is bringing	اوہ آݨنا پیا ہے ਓਹ ਆਣਨਾ ਪਿਆ ਐ	اوہ لیاندا پیا ہے ਓਹ ਲਿਆਂਦਾ ਪਿਆ ਐ	اوہ اݨیندا پیا ہے ਓਹ ਅਣੇਂਦਾ ਪਿਆ ਐ	اوہ آݨدا پیا ہے ਓਹ ਅਣੇਂਦਾ ਪਿਆ ਐ	اوہ اݨیندا پیا ہے ਓਹ ਅਣੇਂਦਾ ਪਿਆ ਐ
We will also have to bring them back	اُنھاں کی واپس وی آݨنا ہوسی ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕੀ ਵਾਪਿਸ ਵੀ ਆਣਨਾ ਹੋਸੀ	اُنھاں نُوں واپس وی لیاوَݨا ہوسی ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਵਾਪਿਸ ਵੀ ਲਿਆਵਣਾ ਹੋਸੀ	اُنھاں نُوں واپس وی آݨنا ہوسی ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਵਾਪਿਸ ਵੀ ਆਣਨਾ ਹੋਸੀ	اُنھاں آں واپس وی آݨنا ہوسی ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਆਂ ਵਾਪਿਸ ਵੀ ਆਣਨਾ ਹੋਸੀ	اُنھاں کُوں واپس وی آݨنا ہوسی ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕੂੰ ਵਾਪਿਸ ਵੀ ਆਣਨਾ ਹੋਸੀ
Eat it	کھائی گھِن ਖਾਈ ਘਿਨ	کھا لَے ਖਾ ਲੈ	کھا گھِن ਖਾ ਘਿਨ	کھا گھِن ਖਾ ਘਿਨ	کھا گھِن ਖਾ ਘਿਨ
Bring it Brought it	چائی آݨو چائی آݨنا ਚਾਈ ਆਣੋ ਚਾਈ ਆਣਨਾ	چا لیاؤ چا لیاندا ਚਾ ਲਿਆਓ ਚਾ ਲਿਆਂਦਾ	چا آݨو چا اݨیندا ਚਾ ਆਣੋ ਚਾ ਅਣੇਂਦਾ	چا آݨو چا اݨدا ਚਾ ਆਣੋ ਚਾ ਆਣਦਾ	چا آݨو چا اݨیندا ਚਾ ਆਣੋ ਚਾ ਅਣੇਂਦਾ
Take it Took it	چائی گھِنو چائی گھِدا ਚਾਈ ਘਿਨੋ ਚਾਈ ਘਿਦਾ	چا لوو چا لیا ਚਾ ਲਵੋ ਚਾ ਲਿਆ	چا گھِنو چا گھِدا ਚਾ ਘਿਨੋ ਚਾ ਘਿਦਾ	چا گھِنو چا گھِدا ਚਾ ਘਿਨੋ ਚਾ ਘਿਦਾ	چا گھِنو چا گھِدا ਚਾ ਘਿਨੋ ਚਾ ਘਿਦਾ
He will take him along	اوہ اِسکی نال گھِنی گیسی/ جُلسی/ جاسی ਉਹ ਇਸਕੀ ਨਾਲ ਘਿਨੀ ਗੇਸੀ / ਜੁਲਸੀ / ਜਾਸੀ	اوہ ایہنُوں نال لَے ویسی اوہ ایہنُوں لے جاسی ਉਹ ਇਹਨੂੰ ਨਾਲ ਲੈ ਵੇਸੀ/ਜਾਸੀ ਉਹ ਇਹਨੂੰ ਨਾਲ ਲੈ ਜਾਸੀ	اوہ ایہنُوں نال گھِن ویسی ਉਹ ਇਹਨੂੰ ਨਾਲ ਘਿਨ ਵੈਸੀ	اوہ اِساں نال گھِن جُلسی ਉਹ ਇਸਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਘਿਨ ਜੁਲਸੀ	اوہ اِیکُوں نال گھِن ویسی ਉਹ ਈਕੂੰ ਨਾਲ ਘਿਨ ਵੇਸੀ

Interrogative words

English	Pahari-Pothwari	Jatki	Standard
Why	کِیاں ਕੀਆਂ	کیوں ਕਿਓਂ	کیوں ਕਿਓਂ
Where	کتھے ਕੁੱਥੇ	کِتھّے ਕਿੱਥੇ	کِتھّے ਕਿੱਥੇ
Whither	کُدھّر ਕੁੱਧਰ	کِدّے ਕਿੱਦੇ	کِدّھر ਕਿੱਧਰ
Who	کُݨ ਕੁਣ	کَوݨ ਕੌਣ	کَوݨ ਕੌਣ
What?	کے؟ ਕੇ	کیہہ / کی ਕੇਹ / ਕੀ	کی / کِیہہ ਕੀ / ਕੀਹ

Pahari-Pothwari vocabulary similarities with other Western Punjabi dialects

English	Pahari-Pothwari	Jatki	Hindko	Saraiki
Very / Much	بُہو	بہُوں	بہُوں	بہُوں
Go to sleep	سئی گو	سَیں ونج	سَیں جُل	سم ونج
Alright / Okay	ہلا	ہلا	ہلا	ہلا
Boy	جاکت / جاتک	جاتک / چھوہر	جندک	چھُوہر
What is his name?	کے ناں اُسنا؟	کیہ/کے ناں اُس؟	کے ناں اُس؟	کیا ناں اُس؟
Take	گھِنو	لَوو (جھنگوچی/شاہپُوری) گھِنو (دھنی)	گھِنو	گھِنو
Bring	آݨو	لیاوو (جھنگوچی/شاہپُوری) آنو (دھنی)	آنو	آنو
He speaks like us	اوہ اساں آر بولنا اے	اوہ ساڈے آر بولیندا اے	اوہ اساں آر بولدا اے	اوہ ساڈے آر الیندا اے
Let's go	آ جُلِیَے	آ چلِیئے/جُلِیے	آ جُلاں	آ جُلُوں
Lift/Raise	چاؤ	چاوو	چاؤ	چاوو
Life	حیاتی	حیاتی	حیاتی	حیاتی

Bibliography

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• Akhtar, Raja Nasim; Rehman, Khawaja A. (2007). "The Languages of the Neelam Valley". Kashmir Journal of Language Research. 10 (1): 65–84. ISSN 1028-6640.
• Baart, Joan L. G. (2003). Sustainable Development and the Maintenance of Pakistan's Indigenous Languages. Islamabad.
• Bhat, Javeed Ahmad (2014). Politics of Reservations: A Comparative Study of Gujjars and Paharis of Jammu and Kashmir (PhD). Aligarh Muslim University. hdl:10603/167183.
• Grierson, George A. (1919). Linguistic Survey of India. Vol. VIII, Part 1, Indo-Aryan family. North-western group. Specimens of Sindhī and Lahndā. Calcutta: Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing, India.
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• Simons, Gary F.; Fennig, Charles D., eds. (2017). "Pahari-Potwari". Ethnologue (20 ed.). (access limited).
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Further reading

• Karnai, Mian Karim Ullah (2007). Pahari aor Urdu: ik taqabali jaiza (in Urdu). Islamabad: National Language Authority.
• Nazir, Farah (2014). Light Verb Constructions in Potwari (PhD). University of Manchester.

External links

• Pahari Language Textbook for Class2
• Pahari Language Textbook for Class3
• Pahari Language Textbook for Class4
• Pahari Language Textbook for Class5
• Pahari Language Textbook for Class6
• Pahari Language Textbook for Class8 (Part A)
• Pahari Language Textbook for Class8 (Part B)