Word · from the archive
duābā
A doab is the fertile strip of land enclosed by two rivers. In modern Indian Punjab, “Doaba” specifically names the region between the Beas and Sutlej — one of the province’s three heartlands, alongside Majha and Malwa.
noun (masculine) · doab — the land between two rivers
Literal sense
“Two waters”; the tract of land lying between two rivers.
Pronunciation
/d̪oː·aː·baː/ — “do-aa-baa”
Etymology
From Persian do (two) + āb (water) — literally “two-water land.” It shares its āb with Panjāb itself, “the five waters.”
Etymological stream: Perso-Arabic
Cultural context
Historically the whole Punjab was mapped as a set of doabs between its rivers — the Bari Doab (Beas–Ravi), Rachna Doab (Ravi–Chenab), and others; the naming is traditionally credited to Mughal-era administration. Today’s Doaba is also known as the diaspora’s heartland, home to many overseas Punjabi families.
In a sentence
ਦੋਆਬਾ ਆਪਣੀ ਉਪਜਾਊ ਜ਼ਮੀਨ ਲਈ ਜਾਣਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।دوآبہ اپنی اُپجاؤ زمین لئی جاݨیا جاندا ہے۔duābā āpṇī upjāū zamīn laī jāṇiā jāndā hai“The Doaba is known for its fertile land.”
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Featured as word of the day on 2026-07-24.