Glossary

achchhá (Punjabi): good or excellent, used when one is in agreement

ad sach (Punjabi): roughly translated as truth/God was true in the beginning

ajuni (Punjabi): roughly translated as beyond the cycle of birth and death

akal murat (Punjabi): roughly translated as the truth is a shapeless form

anddá (Punjabi): egg

ārprāts (Latvian): mad, insane, or crazy

bachchá (Punjabi): male child

bháí (Punjabi): brother

bháíjis (Punjabi): Sikh preacher or holy person

bahut kharáb (Punjabi): very bad

badmásh (Punjabi): evildoer

chaliá/chalo (Punjabi): to go, go on, let’s go

daal (Punjabi): lentils

dacoit (Punjabi): a member of an armed band of robbers in India

dátrí (Punjabi): handheld sickle

dhí (Punjabi): daughter

dūre (Latvian): fist

ēzelis (Latvian): donkey

fiftee (Punjabi): the first layer of cotton wrapped around the head under a turban

frikadelu zupa (Latvian): dill and meatball soup

goonda (Punjabi): a gangster or individual involved in corruption

gurdwárá (Punjabi): a Sikh temple

gur prasad (Punjabi): roughly translated as his grace extends to all his creations

hánji (Punjabi): yes or okay, with respect

haveli (Punjabi): a private mansion in Northern India or Pakistan

hai be sach (Punjabi): roughly translated as it is true today as well

ik (Punjabi): one

ik onkar (Punjabi): roughly translated as there is but one God

ik mint (Punjabi): one minute

Japji Sahib (Punjabi): Guru Nanak’s poem in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib that one recites usually in the morning

jap (Punjabi): to recite or chant

jhutá (Punjabi): liar

ji (Punjabi): sign of respect, can be added to words and names

jugad sach (Punjabi): roughly translated as was true in the primal age

kaccha (Punjabi): one of the elements of the Khalsa, a loose-fitting undergarment like shorts or boxers

kara (Punjabi): one of the elements of the Khalsa, a simple metal bracelet

khanga (Punjabi): one of the elements of the Khalsa, a small wooden comb used and worn in one’s hair

karta purakh (Punjabi): roughly translated as only the truth can give creation existence

Khalsa (Punjabi): meaning pure, Khalsas are Sikhs who have undergone the sacred Amrit Ceremony initiated by the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh

kesh (Punjabi): one of the elements of the Khalsa, the practice of not cutting one’s hair

khichuri (Punjabi): a combination of lentils and rice

ki halle (Punjabi): how are you?

kirpan (Punjabi): one of the elements of the Khalsa, a ceremonial sword or knife

kokle (Latvian): Latvian string instrument related to the zither

kurta, kurta pajama (Punjabi): long and loose shirt that falls around the knees and pants worn by men and women in India

labrīt (Latvian): good morning

mané Sikh han (Punjabi): I am a Sikh

mans zvirbulis (Latvian): my sparrow

mazmeita (Latvian): granddaughter

mazs dēls (Latvian): little boy

meita (Latvian): daughter

mundá (Punjabi): boy

Nanak hosi be sach (Punjabi): roughly translated as Guru Nanak says this truth shall be forever

neyji (Punjabi): no, but with respect

nirvair (Punjabi): without hatred

nirbhao (Punjabi): fearless

pakora (Punjabi): battered and fried snacks usually made with vegetables

págal (Punjabi): crazy person

paranthas (Punjabi): stuffed flatbread made with whole wheat flour

patka (Punjabi): the under-turban that Sikh boys begin to use in preschool; they can tie the larger turban, called a pagri, at any age

pavan guru pari pita maataa dharat mahatt (Punjabi): roughly translated as air is the guru, water the father, the great earth the mother of all

pippal (Punjabi): fig tree of India noted for great size and longevity and regarded as sacred by Buddhists

piyar (Punjabi): love

potrí/potrá (Punjabi): granddaughter, grandson

putns (Latvian): bird

puttar (Punjabi): son

samajhna (Punjabi): understand?

saibhang (Punjabi): the truth is self existent

sardarni (Punjabi): female Sikh

satnam (Punjabi): whose name is truth 


sat sri akal (Punjabi): a greeting between Sikhs, sat meaning truth, sri, an honorific, akal, the immortal being, God; the whole phrase may be roughly translated as God is the ultimate truth

sohná (Punjabi): pretty, also means gold

spec piragi (Latvian): small yeast rolls stuffed with bacon

starpība (Latvian): difference

svieki (Latvian): welcome

sivēna galerts: (Latvian): an aspic loaf usually made with pork head, feet, and neck meat

tabla (Punjabi): a pair of drums played by hand

tatha (Punjabi): fabric worn around the jaw to fix the beard in place

tatte (Punjabi): testicles

uz redzēšanos (Latvian): goodbye

vīratēvs (Latvian): father-in-law

wahe guru (Punjabi): is a term most often used in Sikhism to refer to God; also a greeting, it means wonderful teacher in Punjabi

wie ist (German): what is?

yár (Punjabi): friend, between men

zeķe (Latvian): sock