Yes, no and the essentials in Assamese
The small words that carry half of every conversation, and the ones that rescue it. Play the ten Assamese words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Assamese phrases in this lesson
- হয়HOY
- Yes
- নহয়no-HOY
- No
- ঠিক আছেTHIK a-SE
- Okay
- মই বুজি পোৱা নাইMOI BU-zi PO-wa nai
- I don't understand
- আপুনি ইংৰাজী কয় নে?a-PU-ni ing-RA-zi KOY ne
- Do you speak English?
- আকৌ এবাৰ কওকa-KOU E-bar KO-wok
- Can you repeat that?
- লাহে লাহে কওকLA-he LA-he KO-wok
- Slowly, please
- এইটো কি?EI-to KI
- What is this?
- মোক ... লাগেMUK ... LA-ge
- I need...
- মোক সহায় কৰিব পাৰিবনে?MUK xo-HAI KO-ri-bo PA-ri-bo-ne
- Can you help me?
The standard yes. In casual speech you will also hear "আঁ" (aa, a light nasal affirmative) from friends and family, but হয় is safe in any context.
Literally "is not", for denying or correcting. To decline an offer, the natural phrase is নালাগে (na-LA-ge), not needed. নাই (NAI, there isn't) is what a shopkeeper says when something is out of stock.
আছে is "ase", not "achhe". The all-purpose agreement word: okay, fine, understood, sounds good. You will hear and use it constantly, very often shortened to just ঠিক (THIK).
The standard form; the clipped বুজা নাই (BU-za nai) is what you will hear in fast speech. Your honest escape hatch. Follow it with the next phrase in this lesson and most encounters resolve themselves. Saying it in Assamese first, even imperfectly, is always appreciated.
English is widely used in Assam in education, business, and government. In Guwahati and larger towns the answer is usually yes. Asking in Assamese first creates a good impression.
Literally "say it once more".
Literally "speak slowly slowly". Doubling words is how Assamese softens a request.
Point and ask. At a pitha stall the answer is a rice cake with a name you will want to remember.
Literally "to me ... is needed": মোক ডাক্তৰ লাগে (MUK DAK-tor LA-ge), I need a doctor.
Polite form, right for strangers.