Hello and how are you
🎯 Greet, ask after someone, and thank them.
🗣️ Say these out loud
- নমস্কার — nomoshkar 🔊 no-mosh-KAAR Greetings Used by Hindus; আসসালামু আলাইকুম among Muslims in Bangladesh. Both are answered in kind.
- কেমন আছেন? — kemon achhen? 🔊 KEH-mon AA-chhen How are you? (respectful) To a friend: কেমন আছো? kemon achho. To a child: কেমন আছিস? kemon achhish.
- আমি ভালো আছি — ami bhalo achhi 🔊 AA-mee BHA-lo AA-chhee I am well. ভালো bhalo = good. আছি achhi = I am (in a state).
- ধন্যবাদ — dhonnobad 🔊 dhon-no-BAAD Thank you Note the অ said as 'o' — dhonnobad, not dhanyavaad.
- আপনার নাম কী? — apnar naam ki? 🔊 AAP-naar naam KEE What is your name? কী ki = what. আপনার = your (respectful); তোমার tomar to a friend.
- আবার দেখা হবে — abar dekha hobe 🔊 AA-baar DEH-kha HO-bay We will meet again. The everyday goodbye.
Read every line aloud twice before moving on. The mouth learns a language, not the eye.
🔍 Three levels of respect, built into the verb
Like Hindi, Bengali chooses the level of the listener — but it marks it in the verb ending rather than only in the pronoun.
- আপনি করেন (apni koren) — respectful: elders, strangers, teachers
- তুমি করো (tumi koro) — friendly: friends, younger relatives
- তুই করিস (tui korish) — intimate: childhood friends, siblings; rude to anyone else
- Start with আপনি with everyone and move only when invited.
🌍 Among the people
Bengalis famously do not say 'thank you' between close family and friends — doing so can feel like putting a distance between you. Warmth is shown by feeding you, not by thanking you.
🔁 Practise today
- Say কেমন আছেন aloud with the right 'o' sound in each word.
- Practise ভালো আছি until the bh is breathed, not just b.
- Choose আপনি, তুমি or তুই for five people you know.
