অসম
Oxom
Assam
Usage
The name of the north-eastern Indian state, known for tea, silk, rhinos and the Brahmaputra
Grammar Note
In Assamese it is written অসম, and অ is the vowel o
অসমীয়া
Oxomiya
Assamese (person, language, of Assam)
Usage
Used before nouns for 'of Assam' and by itself for the people or language; handy in introductions
Grammar Note
Formed from অসম with the suffix -ীয়া meaning of or belonging to
অসমীয়া ভাষা
Oxomiya bhaxa
Assamese language
Usage
The main language of Assam, a language of eastern India; its script is close to Bengali but has its own letters
Grammar Note
ভাষা means language
গামোচা
Gamosa
Gamosa (Assamese cloth)
Usage
A white cloth with a red border, often given to guests and elders as a mark of respect, and a good souvenir
Grammar Note
The dictionary calls it an article of great significance for the people of Assam
জাপি
Japi
Japi (Assamese hat)
Usage
A conical hat woven of cane and leaf, worn against sun and rain and also used as a decoration or gift
Grammar Note
The dictionary calls it a wicker hat used as an umbrella or sun-shade
মুগা
Muga
Muga (golden silk of Assam)
Usage
A golden silk found only in Assam, lustrous and durable, sold in weaving shops and markets
Grammar Note
The dictionary calls it a golden-coloured silk produced in Assam
পাট
Pat
Pat (mulberry silk)
Usage
A pale silk from silkworms that feed on mulberry leaves, used for festive clothes
Grammar Note
পাট also spells words meaning throne and plank
এৰী
Eri
Eri (eri silk)
Usage
A soft, warm silk from the eri silkworm, made into winter shawls
Grammar Note
The dictionary also lists a silkworm sense of the word
চাদৰ মেখেলা
Sador mekhela
Chador mekhela (Assamese women's dress)
Usage
The traditional dress of women, a wrapped skirt with a shoulder cloth, worn at weddings and Bihu
Grammar Note
The two words name the upper cloth and the wrapped skirt
তাঁতশাল
Tãtoxal
Handloom
Usage
A weaving loom or the shed where it stands, often in a home; ask permission before watching
Grammar Note
The dictionary calls it a machine for weaving fabric
নামঘৰ
Namoghor
Namghar (prayer hall)
Usage
The community prayer hall found in many villages; remove your shoes and keep quiet inside
Grammar Note
নাম is the chanting of God's name and ঘৰ is house
সত্ৰ
Xotro
Sattra (monastery)
Usage
A Vaishnavite monastery that preserves prayer, song, dance and drama, with many on Majuli
Grammar Note
A religious term in the dictionary; each sattra has its own rules for visitors
শংকৰদেৱ
Xongkorodew
Srimanta Sankardev (saint)
Usage
The 15th-16th century saint, poet and dramatist who deeply shaped Assam's religion and culture
Grammar Note
দেৱ is a title added to the names of gods and revered people
মাধৱদেৱ
Madhowodew
Madhavdev (saint)
Usage
The chief disciple of Sankardev, a poet and musician who left many devotional songs
Grammar Note
ৱ in মাধৱ is the /w/ sound, followed by দেৱ
কীৰ্তন
Kirton
Kirtan (devotional singing)
Usage
Devotional singing of God's name and stories in chorus, often held in the evening at a namghar
Grammar Note
A word shared with many Indian languages
বৰগীত
Borogit
Borgeet (devotional songs)
Usage
Devotional songs composed by Sankardev and Madhavdev, with melodies close to classical music
Grammar Note
বৰ is great and গীত is song, so it means great song
সত্ৰীয়া নৃত্য
Xotriya nrityo
Sattriya dance
Usage
A classical dance that grew up in the sattras and is recognised as one of India's classical dances; worth watching in performance
Grammar Note
সত্ৰীয়া is সত্ৰ with a suffix, meaning of the sattra
অঙ্কীয়া নাট
Ongkiya nat
Ankiya Nat (one-act play)
Usage
One-act plays created by Sankardev on mythological themes, staged in the sattras
Grammar Note
অঙ্কীয়া is of an act and নাট is play; the dictionary also has the spelling অংকীয়া
ভাওনা
Bhaona
Bhaona (traditional theatre)
Usage
Traditional theatre with masks and costumes enacting myth, often staged in villages at night
Grammar Note
A theatre name in the dictionary; ask locals when a performance is on
ওজাপালি
Ojapali
Ojapali (narrative singing)
Usage
A performance in which the lead singer oja and assistants pali narrate myth in song and movement
Grammar Note
ওজা is the lead narrator and পালি the assistants; the name joins the two
দেওধনী নৃত্য
Deodhoni nrityo
Deodhani dance
Usage
A ritual dance performed in worship of the goddess, seen at festival sites
Grammar Note
নৃত্য means dance
ভোৰতাল নৃত্য
Bhorotal nrityo
Bhortal dance (large cymbals)
Usage
A dance performed while striking large cymbals, which grew out of sattra tradition around Barpeta
Grammar Note
ভোৰতাল is a large cymbal and নৃত্য is dance
অসমৰ ঢোল
Oxomor dhol
Dhol of Assam
Usage
The central drum of Bihu music, hung from the neck and struck with a stick and the hand
Grammar Note
অসমৰ is of Assam with the genitive -ৰ
পেঁপা
Pẽpa
Pepa (buffalo-horn pipe)
Usage
A pipe made from buffalo horn, essential to Bihu music, with a high, sharp sound
Grammar Note
The sign ঁ in পেঁপা marks a nasal vowel
গগনা
Gogona
Gogona (bamboo jaw harp)
Usage
A bamboo instrument held in the mouth and plucked with a finger, adding a small dry sound to Bihu music
Grammar Note
The name of a traditional instrument listed in the dictionary
খোল
Khol
Khol (drum)
Usage
A two-headed drum used in devotional songs and kirtan, played in the namghar
Grammar Note
খোল is the name of the instrument that accompanies devotional singing
বৰতাল
Borotal
Bortaal (large cymbals)
Usage
Large cymbals struck while singing kirtan and borgeet, with a loud ringing sound
Grammar Note
বৰ is large and তাল is beat or cymbal
ঢেঁকী
Dhẽki
Dheki (foot-operated husker)
Usage
A wooden tool for pounding rice, worked by the foot and seen in village homes
Grammar Note
The sign ঁ in ঢেঁকী marks a nasal vowel
বাঁহ
Bãh
Bamboo
Usage
A vital material in Assam, used for houses, tools, instruments and food
Grammar Note
The sign ঁ in বাঁহ marks a nasal vowel
আহোম
Ahom
Ahom (people and dynasty)
Usage
The dynasty and people who ruled Assam from the 13th to the 19th century; ruins remain across the state
Grammar Note
আহোম is the dynasty's name, common in notes on riverside ruins
বড়ো
Boro
Bodo (people)
Usage
A large community living mainly in north-western Assam, with its own language and weaving culture
Grammar Note
বড়ো names both the community and its language
মিচিং
Mising
Mising (people)
Usage
A community living along the Brahmaputra, building raised houses and known for the rice beer apong
Grammar Note
In the community name মিচিং the letter চ is the sound s
ৰাভা
Rabha
Rabha (people)
Usage
A community living mainly in western Assam with its own dances and weaving
Grammar Note
The initial ৰ in ৰাভা is the sound r
কাৰ্বি
Karwi
Karbi (people)
Usage
A community living mainly in the hills of Karbi Anglong, with its own language and festivals
Grammar Note
ৰ্ব is the cluster rb
ডিমাছা
Dimasa
Dimasa (people)
Usage
A community living in and around Dima Hasao, with its own language and rice-wine tradition
Grammar Note
ছ is the sound s in the Latin form
More Assamese phrases
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