Lesser-known Pubjabi phrases

Now I had not intended to update the blog this week and this post is yet another example of how I never follow through my plans. Anyhue, the world probably knows our words "खोता" and "वेला". Then, with our Punjabi and Jaat boys running all over north India in their bling-bling cars and their ढिंगचक music; not to mention that God-awful song (not really, I quite love it), the words "Amplifier" and "Woofer" too have become universally-known Punjabi words.

But besides that, Punjabi is a fascinating language that is inherently so offensive that you do not really wonder about the sarcasm of Punjabis when you know more of it. Here compilation of some lesser known and absurd Punjabi phrases and quotes:

1. रब्बे दी धुन्नी : Literally, the Navel of God. I know!!! You would ever say that, right? Except that Punjabis do. The phrase is used to describe a location or address that is very difficult to reach; a remote location.
Example: मैं उस्सा कद्दों मिलां, उस दा घार ते रब्बे दी धुन्नी विच है!
Or एथे रब्बे दी धुन्नी विच network कित्थों आसी!

2. चूल्हे दी छाई: Literally, residue ash from the stove. It used to convey a sentiment similar to one relayed by the English phrases "nonsense" or "what rot" or "bullshit"
Example:
Me: मैं कल से exercise शुरू करुँगी.
Chacha: चूल्हे दी छाई!

Note: The phrase चूल्हे दी छाई! is often also used as "छाई चूल्हे दी!" to the same effect.

Example:
Chacha: मैं कल सुबह आठ बजे उठ जाऊंगा
Me: छाई चूल्हे दी!


3. मैदे दी फूसी: Literally, the fart after eating something made of refined (rice) flour. Unbelievable, right? This phrase is used for the act of bragging.

Example: मैदे दी फूसियाँ ना मारो, कुछ कम् करो.

Or उस्सा इक्क कम् दित्ता मैं, अद्धा घंटा मैदे दी फूसियाँ मारदा रहा ते कम् वी नहीं कर के दित्ता.

4. Finally, there is a Punjabi phrase that I am quite fond of:

फिट पैड़े दी अकल गयी
मंज वेच के खोती लेई
दुध पीने तो गया
लित्त चानी पेयी

The word फिट means curdled milk and पैडा means a useless kinda guy. So when translated, this phrase means:

A useless man lost his mind
And sold his buffalo (मंज) to buy a mule (खोती)
So he lost out on the milk that he would get to drink from the buffalo
And instead, had to clean the mule's shit (लित्त) all day for naught.

There is a final phrase that I have been trying to trace the literal meaning of. It is difficult to type as well. त्रटी चोर is used for a person who is unfair or dishonest but I do not know yet, what the word त्रटी means. Buaji does not know, chacha does not know, my dad does not know and the other buaji also does not know. This phrase was used frequently by Dadi and I shall post what it means as soon as I find out.