2 syllables: Pun, jab. Stress on jab.
puhn-JAHB
/pəˈndʒɑb/
Punjab is pronounced puhn-JAHB (/pəˈndʒɑb/). It has two syllables (Pun-jab), with the stress on "jab". Punjab is a proper noun referring to a historical region in the northwestern Indian subcontinent, now divided between India and Pakistan. It is also used to denote the associated cultural and linguistic region, including its people and traditions. In pronunciation, the emphasis is typically on the first syllable, with a clear, distinct 'P' and 'j' sound that distinguishes it from similar-sounding terms.
nounPunjab is a proper noun referring to a historical region in the northwestern Indian subcontinent, now divided between India and Pakistan. It is also used to denote the associated cultural and linguistic region, including its people and traditions. In pronunciation, the emphasis is typically on the first syllable, with a clear, distinct 'P' and 'j' sound that distinguishes it from similar-sounding terms.
How to Pronounce Punjab
"Punjab is known for its vibrant folk music and rich agricultural heritage."
"The city of Amritsar is a major center in Punjab, India."
"He studied Punjabi in college and frequently visits Punjab to practice speaking."
Punjab is pronounced with a two-syllable pattern: PUN-jab. In IPA: US /ˈpənˌdʒɑːb/, UK /ˌpənˈdʒɑːb/, AU /ˌpənˈdʒæb/. The first syllable has a light 'u' sound, the second syllable contains a bold ‘jab’ with /dʒ/ as in judge. Primary stress tends to be on the first syllable in many variants, with a secondary stress on the second in some dialects. Picture the mouth starting with a soft P, then a quick schwa or reduced vowel in the first syllable, followed by a clear dʒ sound and an open back a in the second. Listen for the distinct ‘dʒ’ in the second syllable to avoid turning it into ‘jab’ with a simple ‘j’ sound.
Common mistakes include misplacing the secondary stress, pronouncing the second syllable as a plain ‘jab’ with a d͡ʒ but without the clear back vowel, and over-aspirating the first syllable as a pure ‘p’ or treating it as ‘Pün-’. To correct: ensure the second syllable uses a genuine /ɑː/ (British/American contexts) or /æ/ (Australian) vowel quality with less trailing vowel length; practice the /dʒ/ cluster tightly with the following /aː/ or /ɑː/; keep the first syllable unstressed or lightly stressed as a reduced vowel; use a two-beat rhythm: unstressed- stressed- unstressed.
In US English, you’ll hear /ˈpənˌdʒɑːb/ with a light first syllable reduction and a clear /ɑː/ in the second. UK English commonly presents /ˌpənˈdʒɑːb/ with stronger secondary stress on the first syllable, and the second syllable’s /ɑː/ similar to a British long vowel. Australian English often shows /ˌpənˈdʒæb/ or /ˌpənˈdʒɑːb/ with a more fronted /æ/ in the second syllable, and slightly wider vowel space. Across all, the key is the /dʒ/ in the second syllable and avoiding a single flat vowel; keep mouth rounded but relaxed, letting the /ɔː/ or /ɑː/-like vowel breathe.
The difficulty lies in the two-syllable structure with a tense affricate /dʒ/ in the second syllable and a lightly reduced first syllable. Learners often misplace the stress or shorten the second syllable into a casual ‘jab’ without the proper back vowel quality. Achieve accuracy by isolating the /dən/ rise into /dʒɑː/ and practicing the transition from a near-schwa to a strong, open back vowel. Gentle, deliberate practice with IPA guidance and listening to native pronunciations helps, especially to keep the second syllable vowel quality consistent across accents.
Punjab features a prominent /dʒ/ sound immediately before an open vowel in the second syllable, creating “jab” with a distinct voiced postalveolar affricate. The first syllable tends to be lighter, often reduced to /pən/ or /pʌn/ depending on the speaker. Focusing on the precise tongue blade position for /dʒ/ and maintaining a relaxed jaw for the /ɑː/ or /æ/ in the second syllable will yield the most authentic pronunciation across dialects.
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- US: /ˈpənˌdʒɑːb/; keep a light first syllable and strong second; rhoticity is limited here, focus on the non-rhotic quality in /ˈpən/; use relaxed lip rounding at /d͡ʒ/ and broad jaw openness for /ɑː/. - UK: /ˌpənˈdʒɑːb/; place more emphasis on the second syllable, maintain a long back-vowel /ɑː/ and clear /d͡ʒ/; slight vowel lengthening before final consonant; - AU: typically /ˌpənˈdʒæb/ or /ˌpənˈdʒɑːb/; use a slightly more fronted second-syllable vowel /æ/ or /ɑː/ with less steep vowel movement, keep /d͡ʒ/ crisp and the final /b/ closed.
Punjab derives from Persian/Arabic roots: ‘panj’ meaning five and ‘āb’ meaning waters, reflecting the five rivers of the region. The term first appears in Achaemenid and early medieval texts as a geographic descriptor for the Punjab plain watered by the Allah, Beas, Sutlej, Jhelum, and Chenab rivers. In Sanskrit and Prakrit, variants of pancha-ābha appear in literature describing the five rivers. As a political-cultural unit, the name solidified under Mughal and Sikh empires, aligning with classic geographic naming conventions in South Asia. The modern political distribution split Punjab into parts within India and Pakistan after 1947, but the cultural-linguistic notion persists across borders. The word’s evolution tracks from geographic identifier to a culturally dense region with a distinct language (Punjabi), cuisine, dress, and traditions. First known written uses emerge in early Persian administrative records and later in South Asian literary works; the term traveled into English through colonial-era cartography and ethnography, becoming the standard English label for the region and its people. The etymology reflects both geography (five rivers) and cultural identity that has shaped a large, diverse diaspora worldwide.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Punjab" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Punjab"
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