LearnBanglaBasic Bengali phrases
52 everyday Bangla phrases with audio, from hello to haggling over a rickshaw fare. Every phrase is written in Bangla script and romanisation, with notes on when to use it.
Polite and friendly Bangla
Bangla has different words for you depending on how well you know someone. Use আপনি (apni) with strangers, shopkeepers and anyone older. Use তুমি (tumi) with friends and people younger than you. The verb changes too: apni kemon achhen? but tumi kemon achho? When in doubt, choose আপনি. It is never rude.
The phrases here are standard Bangladeshi Bangla, as you would hear it in Dhaka.
Greetings
- আসসালামু আলাইকুমassalamu alaikum
Peace be upon you (hello)
The most common greeting in Bangladesh, used by Muslims and widely understood by everyone. The reply is ওয়ালাইকুম আসসালাম, walaikum assalam.
- নমস্কারnomoshkar
Hello (respectful)
Used by Hindus and in West Bengal. Said with palms together.
- আদাবadab
Hello (neutral, respectful)
A greeting anyone can use, especially with older people.
- শুভ সকাল!shubho shokal!
Good morning!
Polite and a little formal. Many people simply say hello or use the greetings above.
- শুভ সন্ধ্যা!shubho shondha!
Good evening!
How are you?
- আপনি কেমন আছেন?apni kemon achhen?
How are you? (polite)
Use আপনি with strangers, elders and anyone you want to show respect to.
- তুমি কেমন আছ?tumi kemon achho?
How are you? (friendly)
Use তুমি with friends, classmates and people younger than you.
- আমি ভালো আছি।ami bhalo achhi.
I'm good.
- আমিও ভালো আছি। তোমার নাম কী?ami-o bhalo achhi. tomar nam ki?
I'm good too. What's your name?
Introducing yourself
- আপনার নাম কী?apnar nam ki?
What's your name? (polite)
- তোমার নাম কী?tomar nam ki?
What's your name? (friendly)
- আমার নাম রাফি।amar nam rafi.
My name is Rafi.
Put your own name in place of রাফি.
- তুমি কী করো?tumi ki koro?
What do you do?
- আমি পড়াশোনা করি।ami porashona kori.
I'm a student. (literally: I do studies.)
- আমি চাকরি করি।ami chakri kori.
I have a job. (literally: I do a job.)
- আমি বাংলা শিখি।ami bangla shikhi.
I'm learning Bangla. (I Bangla learn.)
- আমি একটু একটু বাংলা পারি।ami ektu ektu bangla pari.
I speak a little Bangla.
Polite words and everyday basics
- ধন্যবাদdhonnobad
Thank you
People say thank you less often than in English. A warm smile does a lot of the work.
- আপনাকে ধন্যবাদ।apnake dhonnobad.
Thank you (to you, polite)
- হ্যাঁhae
Yes
- জিji
Yes (polite)
A soft, respectful yes. Very common in Bangladesh.
- নাna
No
- ঠিক আছেthik achhe
OK, fine
One of the most useful phrases in Bangla.
- একটুektu
A little
When you don't understand
- আমি বুঝিনি।ami bujhini.
I didn't understand.
- আবার বলবেন?abar bolben?
Could you say that again?
- একটু আস্তে বলবেন?ektu aste bolben?
Could you speak a bit more slowly?
- মানেmane
Meaning…? / That is…
Say মানে? with a rising voice to ask what something means.
Shopping and prices
- দাম কত?dam koto?
How much is it?
- কী লাগবে?ki lagbe?
What do you need? (what a shopkeeper asks)
- এক কেজি আলু দিন।ek keji alu din.
One kilo of potatoes, please.
- এক হালি ডিম কত?ek hali dim koto?
How much for four eggs?
Eggs are sold by the হালি, a set of four.
- বেশি দাম!beshi dam!
Too expensive!
- একটু কম করেন।ektu kom koren.
Lower it a little.
Bargaining is normal at markets. Keep it friendly.
Getting around
- মামা, যাবেন?mama, jaben?
Will you go? (to a rickshaw driver)
মামা means uncle and is the friendly way to address a rickshaw or CNG driver.
- ধানমন্ডি যাবেন?Dhanmondi jaben?
Will you go to Dhanmondi?
Swap in any place name.
- ভাড়া কত?bhara koto?
What's the fare?
- এখানে থামেন।ekhane thamen.
Stop here.
- কোথায় যাবেন?kothay jaben?
Where are you going?
- বাথরুম কোথায়?bathrum kothay?
Where's the bathroom?
Time and days
- কয়টা বাজে?koyta baje?
What time is it?
- সকাল সাতটা বাজে।shokal shatta baje.
It's 7 a.m.
- সাড়ে নয়টা বাজে।share noyta baje.
It's half past nine.
- আজ কী বার?aj ki bar?
What day is it today?
- আজ শুক্রবার।aj shukrobar.
Today is Friday.
Friday is the weekend in Bangladesh, along with Saturday.
- আগামীকাল রবিবার।agamikal robibar.
Tomorrow is Sunday.
Food and drink
- আমি ভাত খাই।ami bhat khai.
I eat rice. (I rice eat.)
- আমি চা খাই।ami cha khai.
I drink tea. (I tea drink.)
- চা বা কফি?cha ba kophi?
Tea or coffee?
- তুমি কী খাও?tumi ki khao?
What do you eat?
- আমি ভাত আর ডাল খাই।ami bhat ar dal khai.
I eat rice and lentils.
- পানিpani
Water
In Bangladesh water is পানি. In West Bengal you will also hear জল, jol.
Bengali phrases FAQ
How do you say hello in Bengali?
In Bangladesh the most common greeting is আসসালামু আলাইকুম (assalamu alaikum). Hindus and people in West Bengal often say নমস্কার (nomoshkar). আদাব (adab) is a respectful greeting anyone can use.
How do you say thank you in Bengali?
ধন্যবাদ (dhonnobad). To be extra polite, say আপনাকে ধন্যবাদ (apnake dhonnobad), thank you to you.
How do you say how are you in Bengali?
Polite: আপনি কেমন আছেন? (apni kemon achhen?). Friendly: তুমি কেমন আছ? (tumi kemon achho?). The usual answer is আমি ভালো আছি (ami bhalo achhi), I'm good.
What is the difference between আপনি and তুমি?
Both mean you. আপনি (apni) is polite, for strangers and elders. তুমি (tumi) is friendly, for friends and people younger than you. A third form, তুই (tui), is for very close friends and family; learners mostly just need to recognise it.
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