Cursing is an art form in the sub-continent. In fact in some more rural parts it is almost said as casually as please or thank you. I don’t know if I came from a particularly crude family, but the relatives on my father’s side are particularly good in this department. My mother’s relatives, on the other hand are much more toffee-nosed.
I think desi cursing is pretty much up there with the best. It can involve family members, farmyard animals, different castes - just about anything and everyone you could care to imagine.
These curses can be delivered either maliciously, in which case they are very effective and extremely wounding, or they can be delivered almost affectionately, in which case they should not be taken literally, but in the right spirit.
Of course, being Xtremely well-mannered and highly sensitive, I don’t use this language myself. This is just a general post about the actual practice/art of cursing in Pakistan.
Your XXXtremely Respectful
Mr Xtreme
…the final frontier…to go where no man has gone before…
Finally here is something that Xtreme and I can agree upon. Not only cursing, as Xtreme suggests, an art form, but it is the main, and perhaps most basic element of Punjabi language. Linguistically, all Indo-European languages have various elements that make up a sentence. In Punjabi a curse counts for Noun, Verb, adjective, bridge, and all the rest of it. For example, “O teri MaN….”, in this instance, MaN can be a Noun, a Verb, an Adjective, or simply your Mom.
The discussion about other foundational stuff that makes Punjabi the greatest language of the world, is too complex to get into. I am personally thankful to Mr. Xtrteme, MaN da TeeNda, for raising awareness of the Punjabi language. I will support any such movement to support the use of curses in all contexts.
I always have supported the linguistic diversity of our nation, and I hope that Punjabi is not corrupted by these MaN dey CHolay influences that we have imported from all kinds of MaaN-duG nations.
We need to focus our efforts to make sure that the Listening Comprehension, Speaking, Reading, and Writing of Punjabi are given the crucial attention by the Government of Pakistan.
Sahi gal keethi, gaalaN kadniyaN Punjabi vich e maza aandaN.
Punjabi was designed for casual cursing although I am sure the inventiveness of desi gaaliyaN is echoed in all dialects.
The endearing quality of a crotchety Thaaiya inadvertently insulting himself with curses like, “oye tu kissay thaaN da khothay da putt” is pretty hard to beat for sheer entertainment value.
All my Father’s side were good for inventing new and eye-popping curses threats. My dear old chaachi (although she wasn’t that old at the time) would threaten me with “maiN teray haddiyaN te loon laoNgee” (I will put salt on your bones), which to a young boy can sound pretty terrifying - and fascinating - at the same time.
why is it that desi cursing often informs the recepient of the originators illicit affairs with certain female members of the
recepient's family.
I mean I have seen ppl family and infact would not want anything of a funky nature with them.
do women do the same? do they curse each other out by claiming that they had certain short term allainces with the male members of the counterpart's family?
Fraud Yara, women are the best (or worst) when it comes to cursing (cursing is not such a bad thing in my opinion). The best and most visually pleasing and entertaining scenes are often seen on rooftops of houses in Old City neighborhoods. MaiaaN (ladies) will curse the hell out of each other for simple matters. A simple thing could be that “when you JhaRoo (sweep dirt) on your rooftop, all the dust ends up on my side”. After a few nice curses it is hard to distinguish between rooftop and one’s certain body part. It is a riot.
Mid-aged, recently menopaused MaiaaN are notorious for this.
On an academic level, there are various levels of Punjabi cursing: starting with PG13 (borderline R) to about XXXXXXX.
It is such a part of our culture that I have seen Bazurg cursing even when they are just about to go for Nimaz.
I love it when an old lady curses. It sounds so noble.
I totally agree with Roman that in Punjabi without cursing it is very hard to convey a message and it looses its meaning.
Well I like this topic. I think in punjabi not only Galian are juicy, the idioms are also funny
Kisay Da Tale(Oil) nahin Bulda Tay Kisay Da Mutur(Urine) Peya Bulda Aey.
Phisi Phisi Loomaree (FOX)....... Tay Pudan(Fart) Da Swaad. ( I don't know if I said it right).
I know I have a advantage of using both Urdu and Punjabi when cursing. Some time Urdu has better words than Punjabi and sometime Punjabi looks like unbeatable. Some times laaloo Khatee language is as bad as punjabi is.
Abey o Bhu%&&(())( Kay
Bh&% Ch^%* D%&^*&&
Teri Bh%*&^(^ Ko Teri Maan kay (Never Mind)
or I liked the cursing done in movie The Good The Bad and The Ugly.
( this post may be offensive to some people, has moderate adult language)
now this is so intresting... punjabi swearing is endearing.. in some streets in Lahore, you can be an outcast cuz you don`t swear, so you hold back, and thus are a liar... or a snob ( which is worse)
idioms... i remember a few...
soochi piya tay banda giya
"he who thinks is gone"
=>original version of the Nike slogan "just do it"
this is one that can be used for anything from urging a fellow to go up and talk to a girl, to getting a person standing next to you with a stocking on his head as a signal to enter the bank.
parayay lan tay shadara veikhna
"to go see shadara on someone elses penis"
=> okay, this is difficult to explain. to take someones car and prtend its yours... to dance with your friends babe of a girl friend to make the girl youre really intrested in jelous... to wear someone elses tie to a dinner.... ect. ect.
lun tay noohn nikal ana
"to have a nail grow on your penis"
=> this is pretty much self explainatory, to not have had sex for over 12 months, and when you do try you can`t do it until you buy a nail clipper
khoosa khata karna
"to make it sour"
=> means to make it sour.. means to make it sour it sour..
to disillusion a young girl so that she had a bad opinion pof all men in her life
i cant think of any others right off the top of my head... but if anybody else can, ill be glad to read em.
John,
Along the same lines you were talking about lalokhaiti language, I recently made some friends from Karachi, all Urdu speaking.
Although I was sort of familiar with their slangs in but never had the opportunity to hear them first-hand in casual sitting before. I was quite amused by hearing the slang from a different language.
One of the common ones I hear is
meri *&&%$ sulg gai uss ki baat sun kar (my rear burnt upon hearing that - meaning I got really frustrated or exasperated upon hearing that).
Ama Bahi Mian, Bho$#@^^ Kay mujhey G$#@% (ASS) dehka geya, Yanee kay Chuteya bana deya woh bhey mere ko, Yaro main Dunya ko Chuteya Bunata Raha aur woh merey Ko Jhandi Dheka Geya Sala. Hum Bhi Bara Behan C^$^& hay (annouced/admitted openly), hum bhey us key Maan key..... Nay key tu humara naam badal dena.
They are some time funny and waired, I remember I was traveling by bus and had a beautifull girl got on the bus. I noticed the guy sitting next to me started staring at her like he is going to eat her alive. After few minutes he turned towards me and said
its been a while, but hers a couple more i remembered....
jainay laya gali, oday nal tur chali
"whomsoever attempts, gets laid"
representing the fickle characteristic of a young perky breated girl who is just looking for it... or may also represent the naiveness or stupidness. EG. the blonde girl who is dancing with someone else by the time you come back with a drink.
phoophi noon tatat hunday tay chacha hondi.
"If your aunt had balls, she`d be your uncle"
This is so easy to explain, its like when Chann mahi tries to become an unlce :))
cheers chan
Koozagar, Yar tu kithya chypya baitha saiN? Welcome to gupshup.
There is one more:
“Chouti vich Wada Pay Geya” self explanatory to punjabis.
Meaning, going out of one’s limits and bounds, e.g, when someone gets unexpected amount of money and buys a big car while there are no roads to drive the car on.
Ahmadi yaar, tera vee koi haal nai... teenooN bus koi Lahoria labh jana chai da ay, teri forun raal tapak paindee ay :P
Ok, here is a very popular one:
&^& ch gooN nai tay kawaaN noo saintaaN - Translation: You haven't got shit in the a* and yet are ogling to crows. Applies to somebody who tries to achieve or wish for something without having the required substance (pun intended) for it.
we should have a punjabi swearing/jugatbazi forum for all those stressed out punjabis who don`t feel any relief shouting out witty obscenities to non-punjabi speaking ppl...