Punjabis

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A group of people originating from the Punjab region, known for their distinct cultural practices and traditions
2. Referring to individuals who speak Punjabi and share a common heritage, often recognized for their vibrant festivals and cuisine
3. An ethnic community primarily found in India and Pakistan, associated with a rich historical background and unique social customs

Etymology: "Punjabis" is simply the plural of "Punjabi," so its story is really the story of the people's name. The name's core is "Punjab," from Classical Persian "panjāb," meaning "five waters." The first element, "panj," means "five," descending from the same Proto-Indo-European root as English "five," and "āb" means "water," related to the Old Persian "āpiya." The name was a calque of the Sanskrit "pañcanada," a compound with the same literal sense, referring to the five rivers that flow through the region. The adjective "Punjabi" came into English by borrowing from Classical Persian "panjābī," which was built by adding the Persian suffix "-ī" to "Punjab." That suffix, traceable back through Middle Persian to Old Persian, marks belonging to or coming from a place, much like English "-ian" or "-ese." The word is thus a surface-analysis formation: "Punjab" plus "-i," meaning "of Punjab."

Synonyms: Punjabi people, Punjabis