Punjab

Meanings

1. A geographical region of South Asia, divided (by the Radcliffe Line) between India and Pakistan. Pakistani Punjab includes the (West) Punjab Province and parts of the Islamabad Capital Territory; Indian Punjab includes (East) Punjab State and some other territories.
2. A state in northern India. Capital: Chandigarh. Largest city: Ludhiana.
3. A province in Pakistan. Capital: Lahore.

Etymology

From Punjabi ਪੰਜਾਬ / پنجاب (pañjāb), from Classical Persian پَنْجَاب (panjāb, “[Land of] the Five Rivers”), from پَنْج (panj, “five”) and آب (āb, “water”), referring to five rivers of the Punjab region: the Jhelum, the Chenab, the Ravi, the Sutlej and the Beas. The Persian term is a calque of Sanskrit पञ्चनद (pañcanada, “[Land of] the Five Rivers”), from पञ्च (pañca, “five”) and नद (nada, “river”).