Essential Bengali Phrases


Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases. All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get what you need, or where you need to go.

Here are the bare minimum of Bengali words and phrases you need to know to survive.

Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum. If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases, Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.

If you need help with pronunciation, please see the Pronunciation Guide below. Here are ten easy phrases to get you started ... The Top 10 ... nomoshkar. slamalaikum. walaikum salam. (reply) Hello. adab. khoda hafez. Goodbye. apni ki ingreji janen? Do you speak English? bujhte parlam na. I don't understand. olpo ektu. A little. hẽ. na. Yes. No. dam koto? How much is it? beshi dam. Thik ache/achha. Too expensive. OK. doya kore. Please. (onek) dhonnobad. Thank you (very much).

Here are ten more phrases that will help you make new friends and ask for directions ... The Top 20 ...
	apnar nam ki? What is your name? amar nam ... My name is ... apni kæmon achen? How are you? ami bhalo achi. Fine. ... kothae? Where is ...? soucagar kothae? purush/mohila ToeleTTi kothae? purush/mohila Where is the toilet? Men/Women dukkhito. maf korben. Sorry. Excuse me. hoye jabe. shomossha noe. No problem. ami ... cai. I want ... ami... cai na. I don't want ...

Here are another ten phrases to help you make a little more conversation and to get around ... The Top 30 ...

apni kotha theke ashen? Where are you from? ami osTrelia theke ashi. I am from Australia. amar hishabTa deben. The bill, please. ami poth hariyechi. I'm lost. thamun! opekkha korun! Stop! Wait! ekhane, shekane, okhane. Here, there, over there. Tæksi. hoTel. earport. sTeshon. Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Station. ... amar bhalo lage. I like ... ... amar bhalo lage na. I don't like ... æk, dui, tin, car, pãc. one, two, three, four, five. choe, shat, aT, noe, dosh. six, seven, eight, nine, ten. *Or choose your country: amerika - America kanaDa - Canada bilet - England ayarlyænD - Ireland nyu jilyænD - New Zealand

Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful, especially if you have dietary needs or allergies ... Useful Extras ...

joe! Cheers! bhalo / kharap good / bad boRo / choTo big / small kache / dur near / far kom / aro less / more æk aro / jothesTo another / enough ami niramishashi. I am vegetarian. ami mangsho khai na. I don't eat meat. ... murgi ... ... chicken. ... mach ... ... fish. amar badam-e ælargi. I am allergic to nuts. ... chinabadam-e ... ... peanuts. ... mach-e ... ... fish. ... siphuD-e ... ... sifuD-e ... ... seafood. ... Dim-e ... ... eggs.

Stress is usually on the last syllable unless indicated with an accent.