A working repertoire of daily phrases is the practical payoff of Bengali study. After mastering the script, pronunciation, and core grammar, learners need roughly 200 high-frequency expressions to handle a Kolkata market, a Dhaka taxi ride, a dinner invitation with a Bengali family, or a phone call with a local friend. This reference collects more than 100 essential phrases organized by situation, each shown in Bengali script, transliteration, and English translation, with notes on formality, regional variation, and common pitfalls.
Bengali greeting conventions reflect the religious demographics of its speakers. The traditional Hindu greeting নমস্কার Nomoshkar and the Muslim greeting আসসালামু আলাইকুম Assalamu Alaikum are both in wide use, with distribution correlated to the religious background of the speakers. Across both communities, certain phrases have become universal: ভাল আছি bhalo achhi (I am well), ধন্যবাদ dhônnobad (thank you), কেমন আছেন kêmon achhen (how are you, respectful). The phrases in this reference note regional and religious variation where it matters.
Social conventions around Bengali speech are as important as vocabulary. Bengalis of different generations and regions differ in how they offer food, whether and when they thank each other, how directly they ask for things, and what counts as polite address in public. Many of the phrases below carry cultural assumptions worth understanding before deploying them.
Greetings
| Bengali | Transliteration | English | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| নমস্কার | Nomoshkar | traditional greeting | Hindu, West Bengal default |
| আসসালামু আলাইকুম | Assalamu Alaikum | peace be upon you | Muslim, Bangladesh default |
| ওয়ালাইকুম আসসালাম | Walaikum Assalam | and upon you peace | reply to Salam |
| হ্যালো | Hêlo | hello | casual, neutral |
| শুভ সকাল | Shubho shôkal | good morning | formal |
| শুভ সন্ধ্যা | Shubho shôndhya | good evening | formal |
| শুভ রাত্রি | Shubho ratri | good night | formal |
| আবার দেখা হবে | Abar dekha hôbe | see you again | goodbye |
| বিদায় | Biday | farewell | formal goodbye |
| চলি | Choli | I'm off | casual goodbye |
The response to নমস্কার is the same word. The standard response to আসসালামু আলাইকুম is ওয়ালাইকুম আসসালাম (wa-alaikum assalam, "and upon you peace"). Using the wrong response, or not responding at all, is noticeable.
How Are You and General Inquiry
| Bengali | Transliteration | English | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| কেমন আছেন? | Kêmon achhen? | How are you? | respectful |
| কেমন আছ? | Kêmon achho? | How are you? | familiar |
| কি খবর? | Ki khôbor? | What's up? | casual |
| ভাল আছি, ধন্যবাদ | Bhalo achhi, dhônnobad | I am well, thank you | standard reply |
| ভাল আছেন? | Bhalo achhen? | Are you well? | return question |
| সব ঠিক আছে? | Shôb Thik achhe? | Is everything OK? | follow-up |
| পরিবার কেমন? | Poribar kêmon? | How is the family? | polite concern |
| অনেকদিন পর | Ônek din pôr | after a long time | seeing someone after a while |
The full exchange typically runs:
A: কেমন আছেন? Kêmon achhen? (How are you?) B: ভাল আছি, আপনি কেমন আছেন? Bhalo achhi, apni kêmon achhen? (I am well, how are you?) A: আমিও ভাল আছি, ধন্যবাদ। Amio bhalo achhi, dhônnobad. (I am also well, thank you.)
Introductions
| Bengali | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| আমার নাম ... | Amar nam ... | My name is ... |
| আপনার নাম কি? | Apnar nam ki? | What is your name? |
| আপনার সাথে দেখা হয়ে ভাল লাগল | Apnar shathe dekha hôye bhalo laglo | Nice to meet you |
| আমি আমেরিকান | Ami Amerikan | I am American |
| আমি ভারতীয় | Ami Bharotiyo | I am Indian |
| আমি বাংলাদেশি | Ami Bangladeshi | I am Bangladeshi |
| আমি ইংরেজি বলি | Ami ingreji bôli | I speak English |
| আমি বাংলা শিখছি | Ami bangla shikhchhi | I am learning Bengali |
| একটু একটু বলি | ÊkTu êkTu bôli | I speak a little |
| আমি বুঝি না | Ami bujhi na | I don't understand |
| আবার বলবেন? | Abar bôlben? | Could you say it again? |
| আস্তে বলবেন? | Aste bôlben? | Could you speak slowly? |
Politeness and Thanks
| Bengali | Transliteration | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ধন্যবাদ | Dhônnobad | thank you | formal |
| অনেক ধন্যবাদ | Ônek dhônnobad | thanks a lot | emphatic |
| শুকরিয়া | Shukria | thanks | Muslim, less common than dhônnobad |
| স্বাগতম | Shagotôm | you're welcome | response |
| কিছু না | Kichhu na | it's nothing | response |
| দয়া করে | Dôya kôre | please | literally "having done mercy" |
| অনুগ্রহ করে | Onugrôho kôre | kindly | formal please |
| দুঃখিত | Duhkhito | sorry | formal |
| মাফ করবেন | Maph kôrben | please pardon me | Bangladesh common |
| ক্ষমা করবেন | Khôma kôrben | forgive me | formal |
| সরি | Sôri | sorry | urban, English borrowing |
| অসুবিধা নেই | Ôshubidha nei | no problem | response to apology |
| ব্যাপার না | Bêpar na | not a big deal | casual response |
Bengalis in close relationships often do not say ধন্যবাদ for small favors. Thanking a family member for passing the salt can feel formal and distancing. Thanks is reserved for service transactions, substantial favors, or formal interactions.
Asking Questions
| Bengali | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| এটা কি? | ÊTa ki? | What is this? |
| এটা কি বাংলায়? | ÊTa ki banglay? | What is this in Bengali? |
| বাংলায় কিভাবে বলে? | Banglay kibhabe bôle? | How do you say it in Bengali? |
| এটার অর্থ কি? | ÊTar ôrtho ki? | What does this mean? |
| কত? | Kôto? | How much? |
| কোথায়? | Kothay? | Where? |
| কেন? | Kêno? | Why? |
| কখন? | Kôkhon? | When? |
| কিভাবে? | Kibhabe? | How? |
| কে? | Ke? | Who? |
| আপনি বুঝেছেন? | Apni bujhechhen? | Did you understand? |
| হ্যাঁ | Hãn | yes |
| না | Na | no |
| জানি না | Jani na | I don't know |
| হয়তো | Hoyto | maybe |
Directions
| Bengali | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| স্টেশন কোথায়? | Steshon kothay? | Where is the station? |
| হাসপাতাল কোথায়? | Haspatal kothay? | Where is the hospital? |
| কত দূর? | Kôto dur? | How far? |
| কাছে | Kachhe | near |
| দূরে | Dure | far |
| বাঁয়ে | Bãye | to the left |
| ডানে | Dane | to the right |
| সোজা | Shoja | straight |
| ফিরুন | Phirun | turn (respectful) |
| থামুন | Thamun | stop (respectful) |
| এখানে | Êkhane | here |
| ওখানে | Okhane | there |
| রাস্তা পার হোন | Rasta par hon | cross the road |
| নিচে | Niche | downstairs, below |
| উপরে | Upôre | upstairs, above |
| কোন দিকে? | Kon dike? | Which direction? |
Example:
দয়া করে বলবেন, বাজার কোথায়? Dôya kôre bôlben, bajar kothay? Please tell me, where is the market?
সোজা যান, তারপর ডানে ফিরুন। Shoja jan, tarpôr dane phirun. Go straight, then turn right.
Shopping and Bargaining
| Bengali | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| দাম কত? | Dam kôto? | What is the price? |
| এটা কত টাকা? | ÊTa kôto Taka? | How much is this? |
| খুব বেশি | Khub beshi | too much |
| কমাবেন? | Kômaben? | will you reduce? |
| আরেকটু কমান | Arekto kôman | reduce a bit more |
| ঠিক আছে | Thik achhe | OK, alright |
| আমি নেব | Ami nebo | I will take it |
| আমি নেব না | Ami nebo na | I will not take it |
| টাকা | Taka | money, taka currency |
| ভাংতি আছে? | Bhangti achhe? | do you have change? |
| রসিদ দিন | Rôshid din | give a receipt |
| প্যাকেট করে দিন | PekêT kôre din | please pack it up |
| দেখাতে পারেন? | Dekhate paren? | can you show me? |
| এটা আছে? | ÊTa achhe? | do you have this? |
Bargaining is expected in traditional markets and stalls but not in fixed-price shops and modern stores. A common exchange:
Customer: এই শাড়ির দাম কত? Ei sharir dam kôto? What is the price of this sari?
Shopkeeper: দুই হাজার টাকা। Dui hajar Taka. Two thousand taka.
Customer: অনেক বেশি। কম করবেন? Ônek beshi. Kôm kôrben? That's a lot. Will you lower it?
Shopkeeper: আঠারোশ টাকা দিন। AThhnrôsh Taka din. Give eighteen hundred taka.
Food and Dining
| Bengali | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| ভাত | Bhat | rice (cooked) |
| চাল | Chal | rice (uncooked) |
| মাছ | Machh | fish |
| মাংস | Mangsho | meat |
| মুরগি | Murgi | chicken |
| খাসি | Khashi | goat meat (also mutton) |
| গরু | Goru | beef |
| ডিম | Dim | egg |
| সবজি | Shôbji | vegetables |
| ডাল | Dal | lentils |
| রুটি | Ruti | flatbread |
| পরোটা | Pôrota | flaky flatbread |
| তরকারি | Tôrkari | curry |
| ঝোল | Jhol | thin curry, broth |
| ঝাল | Jhal | spicy hot |
| মিষ্টি | Mishti | sweet, sweets |
| রসগোল্লা | Rôshogolla | famous sweet |
| মিষ্টি দই | Mishti dôi | sweet yogurt |
| চা | Cha | tea |
| কফি | Kôphi | coffee |
| পানি | Pani | water (Bangladesh) |
| জল | Jôl | water (West Bengal) |
| লবণ | Lôbôn | salt |
| চিনি | Chini | sugar |
| তেল | Tel | oil |
| ঘি | Ghi | clarified butter |
| পিঠা | PiTha | rice cake (traditional sweet) |
| বিরিয়ানি | Biriyani | biryani |
| খিচুড়ি | Khichuri | rice and lentil dish |
| ইলিশ | Ilish | hilsa fish, Bengali favorite |
Dining phrases:
| Bengali | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| খিদে পেয়েছে | Khide peyechhe | I am hungry |
| তৃষ্ণা পেয়েছে | Trishna peyechhe | I am thirsty |
| ভীষণ স্বাদ | Bhishôn shad | extremely delicious |
| আর একটু দিন | Ar êkTu din | please give a bit more |
| যথেষ্ট হয়েছে | JôthôshTo hôyechhe | that's enough |
| আমি নিরামিষ খাই | Ami niramish khai | I am vegetarian |
| আমি মাছ খাই না | Ami machh khai na | I don't eat fish |
| এটা ঝাল? | ÊTa jhal? | is this spicy? |
| কম ঝাল দেবেন | Kôm jhal deben | please make it less spicy |
| বিল দিন | Bil din | please give the bill |
Note the regional difference for water: পানি pani in Bangladesh, জল jôl in West Bengal. Using the wrong one is immediately marked. Both are understood but reveal the speaker's origin or learning source.
Emergency and Practical Phrases
| Bengali | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| সাহায্য করুন | Shahajjo korun | please help |
| বিপদ! | Bipôd! | danger! |
| পুলিশ ডাকুন | Pulish Dakun | call the police |
| ডাক্তার দরকার | Daktar dôrkar | I need a doctor |
| আমি অসুস্থ | Ami ôshushtho | I am sick |
| মাথা ব্যথা | Matha bêtha | headache |
| পেট ব্যথা | PêT bêtha | stomachache |
| জ্বর | Jôr | fever |
| আমার ব্যাগ হারিয়ে গেছে | Amar bêg hariye gêchhe | I lost my bag |
| পাসপোর্ট | Pasport | passport |
| ফোন | Phon | phone |
| অ্যামবুল্যান্স | Ambulêns | ambulance |
Time Expressions
| Bengali | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| আজ | Aj | today |
| কাল | Kal | yesterday or tomorrow (context) |
| গতকাল | Gôtokal | yesterday |
| আগামীকাল | Agamikal | tomorrow |
| এখন | Êkhon | now |
| পরে | Pôre | later |
| আগে | Age | before, ago |
| সকালে | Shôkale | in the morning |
| দুপুরে | Dupure | at noon |
| বিকেলে | Bikele | in the afternoon |
| সন্ধ্যায় | Shôndhyay | in the evening |
| রাতে | Rate | at night |
| সপ্তাহ | Shôptaho | week |
| মাস | Mash | month |
| বছর | Bôchhôr | year |
Asking the time:
| Bengali | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| কয়টা বাজে? | Kôyta baje? | what time is it? |
| দশটা বাজে | DôshTa baje | it is ten o'clock |
| সাড়ে দশটা | Share dôshTa | half past ten |
| পৌনে এগারোটা | Paune êgaroTa | quarter to eleven |
Family Vocabulary
| Bengali | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| বাবা | Baba | father |
| মা | Ma | mother |
| ভাই | Bhai | brother |
| বোন | Bon | sister |
| স্বামী | Shami | husband |
| স্ত্রী | Stri | wife |
| ছেলে | Chhêle | son |
| মেয়ে | Meye | daughter |
| দাদা | Dada | older brother (also paternal grandfather) |
| দিদি | Didi | older sister |
| চাচা | Chacha | uncle (father's brother, Bangladesh) |
| কাকা | Kaka | uncle (father's younger brother, West Bengal) |
| মামা | Mama | uncle (mother's brother) |
| পিসি | Pishi | aunt (father's sister) |
| মাসি | Mashi | aunt (mother's sister) |
| দাদু | Dadu | grandfather |
| ঠাকুমা | Thakuma | grandmother (paternal, West Bengal) |
| দাদি | Dadi | grandmother (Bangladesh) |
| পরিবার | Poribar | family |
Bengali family vocabulary is highly specific. "Uncle" in English has multiple Bengali equivalents depending on which side of the family. Getting these right is part of adult competence.
Common Mistakes English Speakers Make
Using the wrong greeting for the wrong community. Saying আসসালামু আলাইকুম to a devoutly Hindu family or নমস্কার to a devoutly Muslim family is a real mistake, not just a style preference. Default to শুভ সকাল or হ্যালো when unsure.
Saying thank you too often. In Bengali family and close friend contexts, thanking excessively creates emotional distance. Save ধন্যবাদ for service contexts and substantial favors.
Using tumi or tui with shopkeepers, taxi drivers, and waiters. The default in service contexts is apni, regardless of the age difference. Using tumi can sound patronizing.
Confusing pani (Bangladesh) and jôl (West Bengal). Both mean water, but each is the regional default. Using pani in Kolkata or jôl in Dhaka will still be understood but marks you as coming from the other side.
Mispronouncing Nomoshkar as Namaste. Namaste is the Hindi form. The Bengali form is Nomoshkar, pronounced with the inherent vowel ô. Using namaste sounds like you are importing Hindi vocabulary.
Saying sôri excessively. Sôri is borrowed from English and is increasingly common in urban speech, but apologizing for every small thing (bumping into someone on a crowded bus, asking a question) is culturally not required. Bengalis are less profuse in verbal apologies than Americans or British.
Translating "excuse me" literally. There is no single equivalent. To get attention, use Shunchhen? (respectful, "are you listening?") or dôya kôre (please). To pass someone in a crowd, you might say aste or simply shift around them without a formal verbal marker.
Quick Reference
Essential Bengali greetings: Nomoshkar (Hindu), Assalamu Alaikum (Muslim), Shubho shôkal (good morning). Thanks: Dhônnobad (formal), less used among close family. Apologies: Duhkhito (sorry), Maph kôrben or Khôma kôrben (please forgive me). Asking how someone is: Kêmon achhen (respectful), Ki khôbor (casual). Directions: soja (straight), bãye (left), dane (right). Shopping: Dam kôto (price?), Kômaben (reduce?), Ami nebo (I will take it). Food staples: bhat (rice), machh (fish), dal (lentils), cha (tea). Water is pani in Bangladesh, jôl in West Bengal. Family vocabulary is highly specific; each uncle, aunt, and cousin has a distinct Bengali term based on genealogical relation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use Nomoshkar or Salam as a greeting?
The choice depends on the religious background of your interlocutor. Nomoshkar is the traditional Hindu greeting and is standard in West Bengal and among Hindu Bengalis in Bangladesh. Assalamu Alaikum is the Muslim greeting, standard in Bangladesh and among Muslim Bengalis. In mixed or neutral contexts, hêlo (hello) or shubho shôkal (good morning) are safe.
How do I say thank you in Bengali?
The formal word is dhônnobad. In everyday casual speech, Bengalis often do not say thank you for small favors from family or close friends, because doing so can sound oddly formal and distancing. Thanks is reserved for service encounters, substantial favors from acquaintances, or formal contexts.
How do I politely ask for directions?
Use dôya kôre (please) with a question: dôya kôre bôlben, steshon kothay? (Please tell me, where is the station?) With the respectful bôlben (will you please say). The construction dôya kôre plus future tense verb is a universal polite request.
What is Ki khobor and when do I use it?
Ki khôbor literally means "what news" and functions like English "what's up" or "how are you." It is casual and used with familiar people (tumi or tui level). With respected people, use kêmon achhen (how are you, respectful).
What should I know about Bengali food vocabulary?
Rice (bhat) and fish (machh) are central to Bengali cuisine. Essential words include dal (lentils), tôrkari (curry), mishti (sweets), rôshogolla (a famous sweet), piTha (rice cakes), and cha (tea). Food vocabulary varies between West Bengal and Bangladesh.
How do I apologize in Bengali?
Formal: duhkhito (sorry, literally "saddened") or khôma kôrben (please forgive me). Casual: sôri (sorry, borrowed from English, widely used in urban speech). Bangladeshis may also say maph kôrben (please pardon me), from Arabic maaf.
What are the essential shopping phrases?
Dam kôto? (What is the price?) is the core phrase. Kômaben? (Will you reduce it?) initiates bargaining. Ami êTa nebo (I will take this) confirms the purchase. MoT kôto? (How much total?) asks for the final sum. Bhauchar din (please give a receipt) closes the transaction.
See Also
- Bengali Honorifics Three Levels Reference
- Bengali Script and Alphabet Complete Guide
- Bengali Pronunciation and Phonology Reference
- Bengali Numbers and Counting Reference
- Bengali Dialects: Bangladesh vs West Bengal Reference
- Bengali Pronouns Three Levels and Demonstratives Reference
- Bengali Verb Conjugation Complete Tense System Reference
- Language Difficulty for English Speakers Reference
Author: Kalenux Team
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use Nomoshkar or Salam as a greeting?
The choice depends on the religious background of your interlocutor. নমস্কার Nomoshkar is the traditional Hindu greeting and is standard in West Bengal and among Hindu Bengalis in Bangladesh. আসসালামু আলাইকুম Assalamu Alaikum is the Muslim greeting, standard in Bangladesh and among Muslim Bengalis. In mixed or neutral contexts, হ্যালো hêlo (hello) or শুভ সকাল shubho shôkal (good morning) are safe.
How do I say thank you in Bengali?
The formal word is ধন্যবাদ dhônnobad. In everyday casual speech, Bengalis often do not say thank you for small favors from family or close friends, because doing so can sound oddly formal and distancing. Thanks is reserved for service encounters, substantial favors from acquaintances, or formal contexts.
How do I politely ask for directions?
Use দয়া করে dôya kôre (please) with a question: দয়া করে বলবেন, স্টেশন কোথায়? Dôya kôre bôlben, steshon kothay? (Please tell me, where is the station?) With the respectful বলবেন bôlben (will you please say). The construction dôya kôre plus future tense verb is a universal polite request.
What is Ki khobor and when do I use it?
কি খবর Ki khôbor literally means 'what news' and functions like English 'what's up' or 'how are you.' It is casual and used with familiar people (tumi or tui level). With respected people, use কেমন আছেন kêmon achhen (how are you, respectful).
What should I know about Bengali food vocabulary?
Rice (ভাত bhat) and fish (মাছ machh) are central to Bengali cuisine. Essential words include ডাল dal (lentils), তরকারি tôrkari (curry), মিষ্টি mishti (sweets), রসগোল্লা rôshogolla (a famous sweet), পিঠা piTha (rice cakes), and চা cha (tea). Food vocabulary varies between West Bengal and Bangladesh.
How do I apologize in Bengali?
Formal: দুঃখিত duhkhito (sorry, literally 'saddened') or ক্ষমা করবেন khôma kôrben (please forgive me). Casual: সরি sôri (sorry, borrowed from English, widely used in urban speech). Bangladeshis may also say মাফ করবেন maph kôrben (please pardon me), from Arabic maaf.
What are the essential shopping phrases?
দাম কত? Dam kôto? (What is the price?) is the core phrase. কমাবেন? Kômaben? (Will you reduce it?) initiates bargaining. আমি এটা নেব ami êTa nebo (I will take this) confirms the purchase. মোট কত? MoT kôto? (How much total?) asks for the final sum. ভাউচার দিন bhauchar din (please give a receipt) closes the transaction.
