Tussi

Tussi is a second-person pronoun in Punjabi used to address one or more people in formal or respectful contexts. It is the standard polite form in many dialects of Punjabi and is widely used in both the Indian Punjab and the Pakistani Punjab, as well as among Punjabi-speaking communities abroad. It often corresponds to the English you in formal or plural contexts, and it contrasts with tu, the informal singular form.

Usage and grammar

Tussi is used when addressing someone with politeness, respect, or in formal situations. Verbs accompanying tussi are conjugated in the second-person plural/formal form, regardless of whether the addressee is a single person or a group in many dialects. Examples include: Tussi ki karde ho? (What are you doing?), Tussi kithhe ja rahe ho? (Where are you going?). Romanization varies in texts, with spellings such as tussi or tusi common in informal writing. Context, tone, and regional norms influence how formally tussi is perceived.

Script and regional varieties

In writing, Punjabi uses two scripts. In Gurmukhi, the pronoun is written as ਤੁਸੀਂ. In Shahmukhi, used in Pakistan, it is typically written as تسیں. Pronunciation remains broadly similar across dialects, though regional accents can affect the exact vowel quality.

Cultural notes

Tussi serves as a marker of politeness and social distance in Punjabi conversation. Its use reflects respect, age differences, or formality in interactions. In many urban and diasporic communities, tussi is common in everyday speech, media, and education, while informal tu is reserved for close friends, family, or equals. The choice between tussi and tu thus conveys social relationship and context.