Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh, How can I learn to understand Gurbani without relying on English translations? I've heard Gurmukhi includes words from Farsi, Persian, Hindi, Punjabi, etc. Which languages should I learn to understand Gurbani? Where should I start? I speak Punjabi fluently, having grown up in a Punjabi household.

Basically, If you are fluent in Punjabi, you just have to learn the vocabulary of Gurmukhi as words sound like Punjabi but have completely different meaning

If you want to get deep knowledge, you have to learn Gurmukhi as it is, as it is a whole another language and word meaning change according to context

you can do so by reading Gurbani along with Steek, as it has technical explaination of words/language as well all historical references/context to people/events mentioned in Gurbani

SOURCES : srigranth.org for word meanings and steek, (click left of search bar – read page by page) You can also toggle languages, word meanings, I suggest select the ones by SGPC

The website itself is maintained by Rara Sahib trust.

One thing i would recommend is not rely on English translation as it controversial not because it is bad or wrong translation but it is not true literal translation, it is written according to the writings of the west and true meaning gets lost sometimes.