হয়
Hoy
Yes
Usage
The full affirmative answer, literally "it is so"; a nod alongside makes it unmistakable
Grammar Note
হয় is also the word for "horse", but context keeps them apart. Do not answer yes with আছে, which means "there is"
নহয়
Nohoy
No
Usage
The plain no, "it is not so"; pair it with a head shake to make the refusal clear
Grammar Note
It is হয় with the negative prefix ন-. A short না also exists, but নহয় is the complete answer
অনুগ্ৰহ কৰি
Onugroh kori
Please
Usage
Placed before a request to mean "please"; a polite request verb (ending -ক or -িব) follows
Grammar Note
Literally "having shown kindness": the Sanskrit-origin অনুগ্ৰহ plus the gerund of কৰা (to do). দয়া কৰি means the same
ধন্যবাদ
Dhonyobad
Thank you
Usage
The standard thanks, fine in shops, with guides and with elders alike
Grammar Note
A single Sanskrit-origin word (tatsama). The conjunct ন্য is read "nyo", so it sounds like "dhonyobad"
ক্ষমা কৰিব
Khoma korib
Excuse me
Usage
A polite phrase for getting someone's attention or squeezing past
Grammar Note
Literally "please forgive". A polite request uses the future-form verb ending -িব. The conjunct ক্ষ is pronounced /kʰ/, not "ksh"
মই দুখিত
Moi dukhit
Sorry
Usage
Used to apologise for a mistake or an inconvenience you caused
Grammar Note
দুখিত is an adjective built from দুখ (sorrow) and sounds a little bookish. For a light apology ক্ষমা কৰিব also works
ঠিক আছে
Thik ase
It's OK
Usage
An all-purpose answer meaning "that's fine" or "no problem"
Grammar Note
ঠিক (correct) + আছে (is). It can also decline politely, but a head shake with নালাগে is clearer
মই বুজি পোৱা নাই
Moi buji powa nai
I don't understand
Usage
Say it when you cannot follow; then ask for a repeat with আকৌ এবাৰ কওক
Grammar Note
Literally "I have not managed to understand": বুজি পোৱা (get to understand) negated with নাই, the usual way to negate a completed state
মই বুজি পাইছোঁ
Moi buji paisõ
I understand
Usage
The reply once an explanation has sunk in
Grammar Note
পাইছোঁ carries the first-person perfect ending -ছোঁ that goes with মই; with a polite or third-person subject it becomes -ছে
শেষ হ'ল
Xex hol
I'm finished
Usage
Used when a meal or a task is over; it means "it is finished"
Grammar Note
শেষ (end) + হ'ল (became). The apostrophe marks a dropped vowel and the word is read "hol"
অনুগ্ৰহ কৰি অপেক্ষা কৰক
Onugroh kori opekha korok
Please wait
Usage
A polite way to ask someone to wait, at a counter or in the street
Grammar Note
অপেক্ষা কৰা (to wait) in its polite imperative; -ক is the polite request ending. The pattern noun + কৰা makes verbs
অলপ ৰ'ব
Olop rob
Just a moment
Usage
Asks for a short wait; ৰ'ব is the polite form of "stay, wait"
Grammar Note
ৰ'ব is the future form of ৰোৱা (stay) used as a polite request, the same -ব pattern as ক্ষমা কৰিব
এজন প্ৰাপ্তবয়স্ক
Ejon praptoboyoxko
One adult
Usage
Used at ticket counters to say how many adults
Grammar Note
এ (one) + জন, the classifier for people. Always count people with -জন; things take -টা
মই বুকিং কৰা নাই
Moi buking kora nai
I don't have a reservation
Usage
Tells a hotel or restaurant you have not booked; বুকিং is a loan from English
Grammar Note
Borrowed from English "booking". The negative is the past participle + নাই ("have not done")
মই বুকিং কৰিছোঁ
Moi buking korisõ
I have a reservation
Usage
Said at check-in to show that a booking exists
Grammar Note
কৰিছোঁ is the first-person perfect; with আপুনি or a third-person subject it becomes কৰিছে
অনুগ্ৰহ কৰি মোক সহায় কৰক
Onugroh kori mok xohay korok
Please help me
Usage
A polite request to anyone nearby when you are in trouble
Grammar Note
মোক is the object form of মই ("me / to me"). The noun সহায় + কৰক makes "please help"
অনুগ্ৰহ কৰি আকৌ এবাৰ কওক
Onugroh kori akou ebar kook
Once more, please
Usage
Asks the speaker to say it again when you missed it
Grammar Note
এবাৰ is এ (one) + বাৰ (time), "once". কওক is the polite request form of কোৱা (to say)
অনুগ্ৰহ কৰি লাহে লাহে কওক
Onugroh kori lahe lahe kook
Please speak slowly
Usage
Use it when the other person speaks too fast to follow
Grammar Note
লাহে লাহে repeats the word to mean "slowly, gradually"; doubling is a common way to build adverbs
মই অলপ অসমীয়া ক'ব পাৰোঁ
Moi olop oxomiya kob parõ
I can speak a little Assamese
Usage
Mentioning a little Assamese tends to please people and make them speak more slowly
Grammar Note
ক'ব পাৰোঁ is the verb + পাৰোঁ (can); -ওঁ is the first-person ending, and for a polite or third-person subject it becomes পাৰে
আপুনি ইংৰাজী ক'ব পাৰেনে?
Apuni ingraji kob parene?
Do you speak English?
Usage
Asks a stranger whether English will work, using the polite আপুনি
Grammar Note
The suffix -নে at the end marks a yes/no question. আপুনি takes the third-person verb form (পাৰে)
এইটো
Eito
This
Usage
Points at something near you; handy with a gesture when asking its price or name
Grammar Note
এই (this) + টো (the one thing). Careful: এটা does not mean "this" but "one"
সেইটো
Xeito
That
Usage
Points at something away from you
Grammar Note
সেই (that) + টো; for something near use এইটো. টো is the classifier for a specific single thing
ইয়াত
Iyat
Here
Usage
Means "here / in this place"; useful when pointing out where you are
Grammar Note
ইয়া (this place) + the locative -ত; the same pattern gives তাত (there). ইয়ালৈ means "to here"
তাত
Tat
There
Usage
Refers to a place away from the speaker
Grammar Note
তা (that place) + the locative -ত; তালৈ means "to there"
মই
Moi
I
Usage
The basic word for "I"; the verb then takes its first-person ending (-ওঁ)
Grammar Note
Careful: Bengali আমি means "I", but Assamese আমি means "we". "I" is always মই
আপুনি
Apuni
You (polite)
Usage
The polite "you" a traveller should use with strangers; choose it when in doubt
Grammar Note
Close friends get তুমি, which a traveller should avoid; তই is rude and never used. The verb takes the third-person form
একেলগে
Ekeloge
Together
Usage
An adverb for "together" or "all at once", as in paying or going together
Grammar Note
Built from এক (one) + লগ (company). লগত means "with" and follows the person
এতিয়াই
Etiyai
Right now
Usage
Stresses urgency, "this very moment"
Grammar Note
এতিয়া (now) + the emphatic -ই, which adds "right" or "just" to the word
এজন মানুহ
Ejon manuh
One person
Usage
Used to give a head count at a restaurant or ticket counter
Grammar Note
People are counted with the classifier -জন. The number comes first and the noun follows
দুজন মানুহ
Dujon manuh
Two people
Usage
How to say a party of two at a restaurant or on a ride
Grammar Note
দুই (two) shortens to দু- before the classifier, giving দুজন
তিনিজন মানুহ
Tinijon manuh
Three people
Usage
Tells a shop or driver that there are three of you
Grammar Note
Three is তিনি, not Bengali তিন, so do not copy the Bengali form
More Assamese phrases
- Basic Nouns
- Basic Verbs
- Adjectives
- Question Words
- Greetings
- Food & Drinks
- Transportation
- Shopping
- Numbers
- Hotel
- Emergency
- Sightseeing
- Flirting
- Nightlife
- Massage & Spa
- Compliments
- Contacts & SNS
- Beach & Activities
- Places & Areas
- Useful Phrases
- Airport & Customs
- Weather & Climate
- Pharmacy & Health
- Directions
- Money & Exchange
- Health & Hospital
- Internet & WiFi
- Nature & Outdoors
- Religion & Temples
- Café & Drinks
- Schedule & Booking
- Culture & Etiquette
- Traveling with Kids
- Sports & Activities
- Public Transport
- Accommodation
- Banking & ATM
- Visa & Immigration
- Business & Work
- School & Education
- Cooking & Markets
- Music & Entertainment
- Art & Museums
- Festivals & Events
- Photography
- Laundry
- Post Office
- Language Learning
- Dating & Romance
- Volunteering
- Accessibility
- Sustainability & Eco
- Fruits
- Colors
- Dietary & Allergies
- Markets & Souvenirs
- Wine & Spirits
- Car Rental & Driving
- Time & Dates
- Hiking & Trekking
- Yoga & Wellness
- Beauty & Grooming
- Remote Work
- Fashion & Clothing
- Convenience Store
- Martial Arts
- Signs
- Body Parts
- Animals
- Vehicles
- Electronics
- Feelings
- Local Dishes
- Local Drinks
- Indulgences