There are over 100 million Punjabi ਪੰਜਾਬੀ speakers worldwide in Punjab, Canada, United Kingdom, the United States, Malaysia, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates and elsewhere. It is descended from the Shauraseni Prakrit, a language of medieval northern India that was used primarily in drama and plays during the 3rd to 10th centuries. Fun fact: the word Punjabi ਪੰਜਾਬੀ is made from two Persian words; ‘Panj’ means five and ‘aab’ means water and is named for the five rivers that run through the state-- Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, Chenab and Jehlum.