punj

Punj is a romanization that may refer to elements related to the Punjabi language and the Punjab region. It stems from the Punjabi word panj, written in Gurmukhi as ਪੰਜ and in Persian-derived scripts as پنج, meaning "five." In transliterations from Punjabi, panj is often rendered as panj or punj. The best-known geographic use is in the name Punjab, traditionally described as the "land of five rivers" (panj + āb, with āb meaning water in Persian and Urdu).

As a surname or given name, Punj appears among Punjabi-speaking communities. It is relatively uncommon as a given name but is attested as a family name in India, Pakistan, and in diaspora communities. Its use as a personal name typically reflects regional or cultural alignment with Punjabi identity.

In linguistic and onomastic contexts, Punj more often functions as a root element within longer terms rather than as a standalone English term. The spelling Punj is one of several transliteration variants of the Punjabi phoneme commonly represented as panj in standard transliterations.

See also: Punjab; Panjabi; Punjabi language; Punjabi people.