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Last edited March 23, 2026

Template:Infobox language Doabi (Template:Small Template:IPA; Template:Small Template:IPA), also known as Bist Doabi or Jalandhari, is an eastern dialect of the Punjabi language. The dialect is named after the region in which it originated, Doaba or Bist Doab,[1] between the Beas and Sutlej. Its occurrence in parts of Pakistani Punjab owes to post-1947 migration of Punjabi Muslim populace from East Punjab. The region it is now spoken includes: the Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Una and Nawanshahr districts of Indian Punjab, including the areas known as the Dona and Manjki; and the Toba Tek Singh and Faisalabad districts of Pakistani Punjab; and some areas of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.Template:Citation needed

The sub dialects of Doabi include Dona and Manjki.[2]

Phonology

Consonants

Consonantal Inventory of Punjabi
Labial Dental/Alveolar Postalveolar Retroflex Velar Glottal
Plosive/Affricate Tenuis Template:IPA link Template:IPA link Template:IPA link Template:IPA link Template:IPA link
Aspirated Template:IPA link* Template:IPA link Template:IPA link* Template:IPA link Template:IPA link
Voiced Template:IPA link Template:IPA link Template:IPA link* Template:IPA link Template:IPA link
Fricative Template:IPA link Template:IPA link*, Template:IPA link* Template:IPA link Template:IPA link*
Approximant Template:IPA link Template:IPA link* Template:IPA link* Template:IPA link
Nasal Template:IPA link Template:IPA link Template:IPA link*
Lateral Template:IPA link Template:IPA link*
Tap/Flap Template:IPA link Template:IPA link

Spirantisation of /Template:IPA/ and /Template:IPA/ is quite common in Punjabi, but this is less apparent in Doaba. Similarly, other Persian-borrowed phonemes are also pronounced in a more indigenous manner. Template:IPA are pronounced Template:IPA respectively. Another surprising aspect is that Template:IPA is almost always pronounced as Template:IPA.

Debuccalisation of Template:IPA, to Template:IPA in between vowels also occurs.

Among youngesters, Template:IPA and Template:IPA are often replaced with Template:IPA and Template:IPA. Though, some will replace all instances of alveolar Template:IPA and Template:IPA with retroflex Template:IPA and Template:IPA as a form of overcompensation.

Consonants Template:IPA and Template:IPA are often realised as nasal and lateral flaps respectively.

Doabi's fortition Template:IPA at the start of a stressed syllable to Template:IPA[3] as in Template:IPA (big) to Template:IPA .

They also use Template:IPA elsewhere in a word instead of Template:IPA as in Template:IPA (dream) to Template:IPA. A distinctive feature of Doabi is the use of w. Where Template:IPA appears in the middle of a word in Standard Punjabi, Doabis use Template:IPA so that Template:IPA (wind) becomes Template:IPA.

Also, the vowel Template:IPA is pronounced Template:IPA. Accordingly, Template:IPA (happy) becomes Template:IPA or Template:IPA (to beat - noun form) becomes Template:IPA. In Doabi, any word beginning with stressed Template:IPA is pronounced Template:IPA. For example, the word Template:IPA (to pull - noun form) is pronounced as Template:IPA or the word Template:IPA (in [something]) is pronounced as Template:IPA.

The Doabi dialect in its eastern part blends with the Malwai dialect of Ludhiana District, and in its Northern side, it shares the linguistic features of Pahari. Some of the linguistic features of the Doabi dialect that separate it from other Punjabi dialects are as below:[4]

Consonant Doabi word English translation
Template:IPA Template:Angbr Template:IPA ‘moment’ (ਪਲ/Template:Nq)
Template:IPA Template:Angbr Template:IPA ‘fruit’ (ਫਲ/Template:Nq)
Template:IPA Template:Angbr Template:IPA ‘firewood’(ਬਾਲਣ/Template:Nq)
Template:IPA Template:Angbr Template:IPA ‘wire’ (ਤਾਰ/Template:Nq)
Template:IPA Template:Angbr Template:IPA ‘round tray’(ਥਾਲ/Template:Nq)
Template:IPA Template:Angbr Template:IPA ‘pulse’ (ਦਾਲ/Template:Nq)
Template:IPA Template:Angbr Template:IPA ‘pile’ (ਟਾਲ/Template:Nq)
Template:IPA Template:Angbr Template:IPA ‘correct’ (ਠੀਕ/Template:Nq)
Template:IPA Template:Angbr Template:IPA ‘mail’ (ਡਾਕ/Template:Nq)
Template:IPA Template:Angbr Template:IPA ‘imprint’ (ਛਾਪ/Template:Nq)
Template:IPA Template:Angbr Template:IPA leech (ਜੋਕ/Template:Nq)
Template:IPA Template:Angbr Template:IPA ‘crow’ (ਕਾਗ/Template:Nq)
Template:IPA Template:Angbr Template:IPA ‘open’ (ਖੋਲ/Template:Nq)
Template:IPA Template:Angbr Template:IPA ‘abuse’ (ਗਾਲ਼/Template:Nq)
Template:IPA Template:Angbr Template:IPA ‘peacock’ (ਮੋਰ/Template:Nq)
Template:IPA Template:Angbr Template:IPA ‘male’ (ਬੰਦਾ/Template:Nq)
Template:IPA* Template:Angbr Template:IPA ‘now’ (ਹੁਣ/Template:Nq)
Template:IPA Template:Angbr Template:IPA ‘red’ (ਰੱਤਾ/رتہ)
Template:IPA* Template:Angbr Template:IPA ‘near’ (ਕੋਲ਼/Template:Nq)
(Template:IPA Template:Angbr) Template:IPA ‘hear’ (ਸੁਣ/Template:Nq)
(Template:IPA Template:Angbr) Template:IPA ‘lion’ (ਸ਼ੇਰ/Template:Nq)
(Template:IPA Template:Angbr) Template:IPA ‘strength’ (ਜ਼ੋਰ/Template:Nq)
(Template:IPA Template:Angbr) Template:IPA ‘distance’ (ਫ਼ਾਸਲਾ/Template:Nq)
Template:IPA Template:Angbr Template:IPA ‘more’ (ਹੋਰ/Template:Nq)
Template:IPA Template:Angbr Template:IPA ‘disease’ (ਰੋਗ/Template:Nq)
Template:IPA* Template:Angbr Template:IPA ‘pain’ (ਪੀੜ/Template:Nq)

* does not occur word initially

Vowels

Front Center Back
Long Short Long Short
Close Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA ʊ
Mid-close Template:IPA Template:IPA
Mid-open Template:IPA Template:IPA Template:IPA
Open Template:IPA

Doabi has ten vowels. These are Template:IPA

For example:

Vowel Word Translation
Template:IPA ਅੱਖ /Template:IPA/ 'eye'
Template:IPA ਉਠ /Template:IPA/ ‘awake’
Template:IPA ਇੱਟ /Template:IPA/ ‘brick’
Template:IPA ਆਸ /Template:IPA/ ‘hope’
Template:IPA ਐਨਕ /Template:IPA/ spectacles’
Template:IPA ਊਠ /Template:IPA/ ‘camel’
Template:IPA ਸ਼ੇਰ /Template:IPA/ ‘lion’
Template:IPA ਮੋਰ /Template:IPA/ ‘peacock’
Template:IPA /Template:IPA/ ‘fear’
Template:IPA ਤੀਰ /Template:IPA/ ‘arrow’

One of the most distinctive features of Doabi is how its short close vowels are pronounced. Phonemically, they are:

But are phonetically:Template:Citation needed

Nasalisation

Nasalisation in Punjabi is phonemic.

Suprasegmental Features

Tone

Three tones are used in Doabi: low, mid and high. For example;

Tone Doabi word English translation
Falling ਭਾ pà ‘rate’
Neutral ਪਾ pa ‘put’
Rising ਪਾਹ pá ‘harsh’

This tonogenesis occurred from the loss of breathy voiced consonants. Word-initially, they became voiceless plosives, but remained voiced word-medially and finally. This loss of phonemes led to tone to distinguish between similar morphemes.

When the consonant (that was breathy-voiced) is word initial, the vowel that follows has a falling tone. When the consonant is medial or word-final, it has a rising tone.

Loss of word-final Template:IPA also led to a rising tone in the preceding vowel.

Stress, however can change what tone on what syllable is present.

Stress

Stress in Doabi is realized in two ways, syntagmatically and paradigmatically.

Syntagmatically, stress-shift results in change of meaning. This kind of stress is often orthographically unmarked, and may shift any tone present in a word to the stressed syllable.

For example:

Doabi word English translation
ਘੜਾ /'kə̀ɽa:/ ‘pitcher’
ਘੜਾ /kə'ɽà:/ ‘to shape, sculpt, mold’

Paradigmatically, Doabi has stressed and unstressed syllables;

Unstressed Doabi word English translation
sTemplate:Clarify sattTemplate:Clarify ‘essence’
Template:Clarify sirnawa ‘address’
Stressed Doabi word English translation
sTemplate:Clarify satTemplate:Clarify ‘seven’
ttTemplate:Clarify pattaTemplate:Clarify ‘leaf’

Some basic vocabulary items

Doabi word English translation
Template:Lang Template:IPA ‘father’
Template:Lang Template:IPA ‘sister’
Template:Lang Template:IPA ‘brother’
Template:Lang Template:IPA ‘apple’
Template:Lang Template:IPA ‘paddy’
Template:Lang Template:IPA ‘elder’

Fortition of Template:IPA word-initially

Doabi's drop the letter "v" at the start of a word and use the letter "b"[3] as in "vàdda" (big) to "bàdda". They also use the letter "o" elsewhere in a word instead of a "v" as in "Khvab" (dream) to "Khoaab". A distinctive feature of Doabi is the use of the "w" sound. Where "v" appears in the middle of a word in standard Punjabi, Doabis use "w" so that "hava" (wind) becomes "hawa". Also, the vowel "u" is pronounced with an "o". Accordingly, "khush" (happy) becomes "khosh" or "kuht" (to beat) becomes "koht". In Doabi, any word beginning with "i" is pronounced with "e". For example, the word "khich" (to pull) is pronounced as "khech" or the word "vich" (inside) is pronounced as "bech".

Doabis do not use "z" and therefore substitute "j". This is common in the Punjabi language as "z" is not indigenous to the area.

Grammar

Sentence structure

Doabi's end sentences with "aa" (present tense) and "sigey" (past —tense), instead of "han" (present tense) and "san" or "si" (past tense). "Aiddan", "Jiddan", "Kiddan" are all commonly used adverbs in Doabi as opposed to the "Aistaran/Enj," "Jistaran/Jivven," and "Kistaran/Kivven," used in Punjabi's prestige dialect, Majhi.

Present Tense: Usage of aa (sing.) and aa (plu.)

Examples:

Phrase Doabi Standard Punjabi
He is doing Oh kardā ā

ਉਹ ਕਰਦਾ ਆ

Template:Nastaliq

Oh kardā ɛ̀/e*

ਉਹ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ/ਏ*

Template:Nastaliq

They are doing Oh karde (y)ā

ਉਹ ਕਰਦੇ ਆ

Template:Nastaliq

Oh karde han

ਉਹ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਨ

Template:Nastaliq

*spoken forms

Past Tense: Uninflected sī, or number- and gender-inflected sīgā/sīgī/sīge/sīgīā, in Doabi

Examples:

Phrase Doabi Standard Punjabi
He was doing oh kardā sī/sīgā

ਉਹ ਕਰਦਾ ਸੀ/ਸੀਗਾ Template:Nastaliq

oh kardā sī

ਉਹ ਕਰਦਾ ਸੀ Template:Nastaliq

They were doing oh karde sī/sīge

ਉਹ ਕਰਦੇ ਸੀ /ਸੀਗੇ Template:Nastaliq

oh karde san

ਉਹ ਕਰਦੇ ਸਨ (also ਸਣ in spoken Majhi) Template:Nastaliq

You (sing. m.) were doing tũ kardā sī/sīgā

ਤੂੰ ਕਰਦਾ ਸੀ/ਸੀਗਾ Template:Nastaliq

tũ kardā sɛ̃

ਤੂੰ ਕਰਦਾ ਸੈਂ Template:Nastaliq

You (pl.) were doing tusī̃ karde sī/sīge

ਤੁਸੀਂ ਕਰਦੇ ਸੀ/ਸੀਗੇ Template:Nastaliq

tusī̃ karde so

ਤੁਸੀਂ ਕਰਦੇ ਸੋ Template:Nastaliq

I (m.) was doing mɛ̃ kardā sī/sīgā

ਮੈਂ ਕਰਦਾ ਸੀ/ਸੀਗਾ Template:Nastaliq

mɛ̃ kardā sã

ਮੈਂ ਕਰਦਾ ਸਾਂ Template:Nastaliq

We were doing āppā karde sī/sīge

ਆਪਾਂ ਕਰਦੇ ਸੀ/ਸੀਗੇ Template:Nastaliq

asī̃ karde sã

ਅਸੀਂ ਕਰਦੇ ਸਾਂ Template:Nastaliq

Vocabulary

Doabi English Standard Punjabi
ਹੋਊਗਾ "hōūgā" Will Happen "hōvēgā"
"bāɽa" Cow shed "havelī"
ਧੌਣ "dhauṇ" Neck "gardan"
"pāḷā " Cold "thand"
"kunjī" Key "chābbī"
"gaṭhe" Onions "ganḍē"
"niāṇe" Children "bacche"
"Dekhṇa" To See "Vekhṇā"
"kardā sī To Be Doing "kar ría ɛ̀"
"gábbe" Middle "vichkār"
"līre/talle" Clothes "kappaṛe"
"lītā" Bought "Leyayea"

Orthography

Doabi uses the Gurmukhi script.

Tone that occurs from the loss of breathy voiced consonants is shown through the following characters in orthography:

  • ੜ੍ਹ

See also

Notes

Template:Notelist

References

  1. Punjabi University, Patiala.. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
  2. Tribune 28 January 2009 Sarbjit Dhaliwal
  3. 3.0 3.1 Density of Population. Retrieved 2014-11-26.
  4. Chapter-III. Retrieved 2014-04-03.

Template:Punjabi dialects