← Dance-Fitness to Punjabi Music · Module 3 of 7 · 5 minutes
How to say it
Key idea: Say bhangra closer to “pun-gra” than “bang-rah”, and say Punjab, not “north India”. A small effort shows respect.
How is it pronounced?
In Punjabi it is written ਭੰਗੜਾ (ਭੰਗੜਾ).
- Closer to Punjabi: “pHun-ga-ra”, with a breathy “bh”, a short “u” as in “cup”, a nasal “ng” and a soft flick of the tongue for the “r”.
- Anglicised: “BANG-grah”.
Say Punjab, not “north India”
Bhangra comes from the Punjab region, which today spans both India and Pakistan. Calling it “north Indian” leaves out half of that map and treats a regional culture as a direction on a compass. Say “the Punjab region” and you will be right.
Try it
Say the word aloud three times, slowly, then once at normal speed. If you are unsure, ask a Punjabi speaker, or listen to a Punjabi artist or presenter and copy them. If someone corrects you, thank them.