Usage of Sihari with Nouns in Gurbani

In Gurbani, a rule is followed where the Sihari (ਿ ) used with the last letter of a noun when acting as a case marker is not pronunced. To clarify this rule, consider the following examples in Gurbani:

  1. ਰੇ ਮਨ ਐਸੀ ਹਰਿ ਸਿਉ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਕਰਿ ਜੈਸੀ ਜਲ ਕਮਲੇਹਿ ॥ (Ang: 59)

    ਕਮਲੇਹਿ is pronounced ਕਮਲੇਹ

  2. ਲਹਰੀ ਨਾਲਿ ਪਛਾੜੀਐ ਭੀ ਵਿਗਸੈ ਅਸਨੇਹਿ ॥ (Ang: 59)

    ਅਸਨੇਹਿ is pronounced ਅਸਨੇਹ

  3. ਜੀਉ ਵੰਞੈ ਚਉ ਖੰਨੀਐ ਸਚੇ ਸੰਦੜੈ ਨੇਹਿ ॥ (Ang: 644)

    ਨੇਹਿ is pronounced ਨੇਹ

  4. ਕਿਤ ਕਉ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਆਵਹਿ ਰੋਹਿ ॥ (Ang: 25)

    ਰੋਹਿ is pronounced ਰੋਹ

  5. ਇਕਸੁ ਹਰਿ ਕੇ ਨਾਮ ਬਿਨੁ ਅਗੈ ਲਈਅਹਿ ਖੋਹਿ ॥ (Ang: 133)

    ਖੋਹਿ is pronounced ਖੋਹ

  6. ਕਾਲੁ ਜਾਲੁ ਜਮੁ ਜੋਹਿ ਨ ਸਾਕੈ ਭਾਇ ਭਗਤਿ ਭੈ ਤਰਣਾ ॥ (Ang: 76)

    ਜੋਹਿ is pronounced ਜੋਹ

  7. ਸੁਣਿਐ ਪੋਹਿ ਨ ਸਕੈ ਕਾਲੁ ॥ (Ang: 2)

    ਪੋਹਿ is pronounced ਪੋਹ

  8. ਰੁਤਿ ਸਿਸੀਅਰ ਸੀਤਲ ਹਰਿ ਪ੍ਰਗਟੇ ਮੰਘਰ ਪੋਹਿ ਜੀਉ ॥ (929)

    ਪੋਹਿ is pronounced ਪੋਹ

    Difference Between ‘ਮੋਹਿ’ as a Pronoun vs. as a Noun

  9. ਮੋਹਿ ਸਿਆਣਪ ਕਛੂ ਨ ਆਵੈ ॥ (Ang: 626)
  10. ਕਾਮਿ ਕ੍ਰੋਧਿ ਲੋਭਿ ਮੋਹਿ ਮਨੁ ਲੀਨਾ ॥ (Ang: 804)

    In verse 9, ਮੋਹਿ is a pronoun, meaning “to me”. It is pronounced “ਮੋਹੇ”.
    In verse 10, ਮੋਹਿ is a noun, referring to attachment. The Sihari is used as a case marker and has no impact on pronunciation. It is pronounced “ਮੋਹ”. Reading it as “ਮੋਹੇ” here is incorrect.

  11. ਕਰਿ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਮੋਹਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਦੇਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਦਰ ਸਰੀਤਾ ॥ (Ang: 810)
  12. ਮੰਨੈ ਮੁਹਿ ਚੋਟਾ ਨਾ ਖਾਇ ॥ (Ang: 3)

    In verse 11, ਮੋਹਿ is a pronoun, meaning “to me”, and is pronounced as “ਮੋਹੇ”.
    In verse 12, ਮੁਹਿ is a noun, meaning “on the face”, and the Sihari is used only as a grammatical marker, not for pronunciation. The correct pronunciation is “ਮੂੰਹ”. Reading it as “ਮੋਹੇ” in this context would be incorrect.

This rule helps in understanding the correct pronunciation of Gurbani and prevents misinterpretation of its meaning.

2 Comments

  • Prakash S Bagga

    July 14, 2026

    If we see a matra of sihari with last alphabet of proper Noun as in NANAKi
    What NANAKi will mean

    • Admin

      August 31, 2026

      ਨਾਨਕਿ: This form means “Nanak did” or “by Nanak,” indicating that an action was performed by Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

      ਹਰਿ ਭਗਤਿ ਖਜਾਨਾ ਬਖਸਿਆ ਗੁਰਿ ਨਾਨਕਿ ਕੀਆ ਪਸਾਉ ਜੀਉ॥
      ਗੁਰਿ ਨਾਨਕਿ ਮੇਰੀ ਪੈਜ ਸਵਾਰੀ ॥੨॥੩॥੨੧॥

      Please read the following article: Different forms of ਨਾਨਕ, ਨਾਨਕੁ, ਨਾਨਕਿ and their meanings

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