ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Dialects of the Punjab

Okay kiddo, do you know what dialects are? They are different ways of speaking the same language. So, just like how people in different parts of the world have different accents and ways of pronouncing words, people in different parts of the Punjab region in India also have different ways of speaking Punjabi.

Now, Punjabi is a language spoken in the Punjab region of India and also in Pakistan. In India, there are mainly three dialects of Punjabi spoken in different parts of Punjab - Majhi, Malwai and Doabi.

Majhi is the most widely spoken and understood dialect of Punjabi. It is spoken in the central part of Punjab which includes cities like Amritsar, Ludhiana, and Jalandhar. The Punjabi spoken in this dialect is considered to be the standard Punjabi and is used in official government documents and media.

Malwai is a dialect spoken in the Malwa region of Punjab which includes cities like Patiala and Bathinda. People in this region speak Punjabi with a slightly different accent and also use some different words.

Doabi is spoken in the Doab region of Punjab which lies in between the rivers Beas and Sutlej. This dialect has its own unique pronunciation and vocabulary.

In Pakistan, there are also different dialects of Punjabi spoken in different regions. Some of the dialects include Saraiki, Pothohari, and Hindko.

So, just like how you might have different ways of speaking English depending on where you live, people in the Punjab region also have different ways of speaking Punjabi depending on where they come from.