Potohari, also written as Pothwari or Potwari, is spoken across the Pothohar region, including Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Chakwal, and Attock. It is closely connected to Punjabi, but its everyday rhythm, pronouns, vocabulary, and future-tense endings give it a sound of its own.
You may hear slightly different wording from one family or area to another. That variation is normal. Treat the Roman Potohari as your main speaking guide, use the Shahmukhi lines as written support, and copy the pronunciation of the Potohari speakers in your own family whenever possible.
Quick Potohari pronunciation table
Read each sentence slowly in sound-parts, then join the words together. Potohari often sounds most natural when you copy the whole rhythm rather than pronouncing every word separately.
| English | Roman Potohari | Easy pronunciation | Shahmukhi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Are you well? | Tusan val o? | too-saan | val | oh | تُساں وَل او؟ |
| What is your name? | Tusan na nan ke? | too-saan | naa | naan | kay | تُساں ناں ناں کے؟ |
| My name is ___ | Marra nan ___ ae | maar-raa | naan | ___ | ay | ماڑا ناں ___ اے۔ |
| Where have you come from? | Tusan kudron ya kuthhe ne o? | too-saan | kud-ron | yaa | kuth-ay | nay | oh | تُساں کُدروں یا کُتھے نیں او؟ |
| What is the name of your village, town, or city? | Tusan ne granh na nan ke? | too-saan | nay | graan | naa | naan | kay | تُساں نے گراں ناں ناں کے؟ |
| We live in the big city of London | Assa barre shehr London rehne aan | us-saan | bar-ray | shehr | London | reh-nay | aan | اساں بڑے شہر لندن رہنے آں۔ |
| Because our parents live there | Keeaan marre maa pyoo uthhaa ne | kee-aan | maar-ray | maa | pyoo | uth-thaa | nay | کیاں ماڑے ماں پیو اُتھے نیں۔ |
| Will you be staying there? | Tusan rehso? | too-saan | reh-so | تُساں رہسو؟ |
| Where are you going? | Tusan kuthhe julle o? | too-saan | kuth-ay | jul-lay | oh | تُساں کُتھے جُلّے او؟ |
| I am hungry | Miki pukh lagi | mik-kee | pukh | la-gee | مِکی پُکھ لگی۔ |
1Tusan val o?
This is a warm, respectful way to ask how someone is. Tusan is the respectful or plural form of “you,” so it is a useful choice when speaking to elders, relatives, or someone you have just met.
B: Haan ji, val aan.
English: Are you well? Yes, I am well.
2Tusan na nan ke?
Use this sentence to ask “What is your name?” Potohari wording may sound different from the standard Punjabi sentence Tuhada naam ki hai?, but the purpose is the same.
3Marra nan ___ ae
This means “My name is ___.” Replace the blank with your own name. The Potohari word marra corresponds to “my” or “mine” in this sentence pattern.
B: Marra nan Komal ae.
English: What is your name? My name is Komal.
4Tusan kudron ya kuthhe ne o?
Use this when asking where someone has come from. It is helpful at family gatherings, community events, or when meeting another Potohari speaker for the first time.
5Tusan ne granh na nan ke?
This asks for the name of someone’s village, town, or city. The word granh can refer to a village or home place, which makes this especially useful when people are talking about family roots.
B: Marre granh na nan Gujar Khan ae.
English: What is the name of your town? My town is called Gujar Khan.
6Assa barre shehr London rehne aan
This sentence means “We live in the big city of London.” Replace London with your own city. Assa means “we,” while rehne aan expresses that you live or stay somewhere.
7Keeaan marre maa pyoo uthhaa ne
This means “Because our parents live there.” It is a useful follow-up when explaining why your family visits or stays connected to a particular place.
The words maa pyoo mean mother and father, or parents. Family vocabulary is one of the best places for heritage learners to begin because it immediately connects the language to real people and memories.
8Tusan rehso?
Use this to ask “Will you be staying there?” The ending -so is a noticeable Potohari future form. It helps distinguish Potohari speech from standard Punjabi patterns such as ravoge.
B: Haan ji, rehsa.
English: Will you stay? Yes, I will stay.
9Tusan kuthhe julle o?
This means “Where are you going?” In Potohari, you may hear julna or a related form where a standard Punjabi speaker might use chalna.
10Miki pukh lagi
This means “I am hungry.” The word miki is an important Potohari form meaning “to me.” Standard Punjabi learners may be more familiar with mainu.
B: Roti khaaso?
English: I am hungry. Will you eat some food?
Three Potohari patterns to notice
A respectful “you”
Use tusan with elders, new people, or more than one person.
Distinctive pronouns
Miki and marra are useful clues that you are hearing Potohari rather than standard Punjabi.
Future endings
Future forms such as rehso are an important part of Potohari sentence rhythm.
Practise one short Potohari conversation
B: Haan ji, val aan.
A: Tusan na nan ke?
B: Marra nan Alex ae.
A: Tusan kuthhe julle o?
B: Bazaar. Miki pukh lagi.
A: Acha ji.
How to remember the sentences
Start with two question-and-answer pairs rather than memorising all ten lines at once. Say them aloud, record yourself, and compare your rhythm with a family member or native Potohari speaker. Once the first four sentences feel natural, add the location and future-tense phrases.
Your goal is not to make every regional speaker use exactly the same wording. Your goal is to understand the pattern, respond confidently, and gradually adjust your pronunciation to the Potohari spoken in your own family.