vadda

Vadda is a Punjabi adjective meaning big, large, or older. It is written in Gurmukhi as ਵੱਡਾ and commonly transliterated as vaḍḍā. The feminine form is vaḍḍī (ਵੱਡੀ). In everyday speech, the word describes physical size or age and is often used as an honorific when addressing or referring to an elder or a respected person within a family or community.

The term appears across Punjabi usage and is part of many compound forms and idioms. In diaspora communities, vadda remains widespread as part of everyday language and social norms surrounding age and respect. Variants in romanization arise from dialect differences and transcription practices, including vadda, vadha, and vaḍḍā.

Usage notes:

- As an attributive adjective, vaḍḍā can precede a noun to convey seniority or size, as in phrases that indicate an elder or a larger instance of something.

- As a predicative form, it can describe a subject, with agreement in gender and number.

- The feminine form vaḍḍī is used for feminine nouns, reflecting standard gender agreement in Punjabi.

Cultural context:

In Punjabi-speaking communities, vaḍḍā carries social nuance related to age, respect, and hierarchy. While it can be a neutral descriptive term, its use as an honorific or in respectful address reinforces social relationships and norms surrounding elders. The word is a basic element of Punjabi vocabulary and appears in everyday conversation, literature, and media within Punjabi-speaking populations worldwide.