Punjab
/pʌnˈdʒɑːb/noun
A historical region in South Asia, now divided mainly between India and Pakistan.
Did you know?The name ultimately comes from Persian and Indo-Aryan elements meaning “five” and “water,” referring to the five major rivers of the region, a classic example of a place-name built from elemental power.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*penkʷe
“five”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wódr̥
“water”
Old Persian / Sanskrit
OP/Skt
pañca + āp
“five + waters”
Persian
Persian
panj āb
“five waters, the land of five rivers”
Medieval Indo-Aryan
Indo-Aryan
pañjāb / panjāb
“the five-river region”
Modern English
English
Punjab
“the Punjab region”