ਦਹੀ

Old Punjabi

Etymology

Inherited from Prakrit 𑀤𑀳𑀺 (dahi) + Middle Indo-Aryan -𑀓- (-ka-), from Sanskrit दधि (dádhi). Doublet of ਦਧਿ (dadhi). Cognate with Old Gujarati दही (dahī), Old Hindi दही (dahī), Old Marathi 𑘟𑘮𑘲𑘽 (dahīṃ), Middle Bengali দহী (dohi).

Noun

ਦਹੀ (dahī /dahīṃ/) m (Shahmukhi دَہِی)

1. curds, coagulated milk, yogurt
   • 1604, Guru Nanak, Ādi Granth ang 150:

     ਵੁਠੈ ਘਾਹੁ ਚਰਹਿ ਨਿਤਿ ਸੁਰਹੀ ਸਾ ਧਨ ਦਹੀ ਵਿਲੋਵੈ ॥

     vuṭhai ghāhu carahi niti surahī sā dhana dahī vilovai.

     /vuṭṭhai ghāhu carahi niti surahī sā dhana dahīṃ vilovai./

     • 1972 translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

       When it rains, the cows always have grass to graze upon, and housewives can churn the milk into butter.

Descendants

• Punjabi:

  Gurmukhi script: ਦਹੀਂ (dahī̃)

  Shahmukhi script: دَہِیں (dahīṉ)

Further reading

• Christopher Shackle (2011) “ਦਹੀ”, in A Gurū Nānak Glossary, 2nd edition, New Delhi: Heritage Publishers, →ISBN, page 150.
• “ਦਹੀ”, in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Dictionary, SriGranth.org, 2024
• Turner, Ralph Lilley (1969–1985) “dádhi”, in A Comparative Dictionary of the Indo-Aryan Languages, London: Oxford University Press, page 351