The text is written in the Gurmukhi script. However, the actual languages used inside represent a vast linguistic landscape of medieval India. It includes Sant Bhasha (a saint language), Punjabi, Sanskrit, Persian, Prakrit, and Arabic. The Ragas (Musical Framework)

When reading , pay attention to footnotes explaining untranslatable terms like Hukam (Divine Order), Maya (Illusion), and Waheguru (Wonderful Lord).

The first major translation of the Adi Granth (the first rendition) into English was not a Sikh-led initiative but rather a commission of the British colonial government. In 1869, the India Office tasked a German linguist and missionary, , with the assignment. After eight years of study, Trumpp published an incomplete translation in 1877. He lacked fluency in Punjabi, heavily relied on local priests with limited knowledge, and his work was plagued with inaccuracies and a critical, unsympathetic tone that was rejected by the Sikh public.

Guru Granth Sahib in English: A Journey Through Translation and Meaning

"Merchant," said the sage, "you know how to count coins. But have you ever opened the Guru Granth Sahib to listen , not just to bow?"