Getting around in Assamese
Left, right, the station, one ticket, where is the toilet. 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
- শৌচাগাৰ ক'ত আছে?XOU-sa-gar KOT a-SE
- Where is the toilet?
- ...লৈ কেনেকৈ যাম?...-loi KE-ne-koi ZAM
- How do I get to...?
- বাওঁফালেBAU-pha-le
- To the left
- সোঁফালেXON-pha-le
- To the right
- পোনে পোনেPO-ne PO-ne
- Straight ahead
- ইয়াতi-YAT
- Here
- ৰেলৱে ষ্টেচনREL-we STE-son
- Train station
- বাছBAS
- Bus
- বিমানবন্দৰbi-MAN-bon-dor
- Airport
- এখন টিকট দিয়কE-khon TI-kot di-YOK
- One ticket, please
The most urgent sentence in any language. শৌচাগাৰ is the standard word; you will also see "Toilet" on signage in English, which is common across Assam.
Literally "how shall I go to...?".
Literally "to the left side".
The doubled form emphasizes going straight without turning. Directions from locals often come very fast; watching for pointing hands is just as important as hearing the words.
Guwahati is a major rail hub. The bus stand is বাছ আড্ডা (BAS AD-da). The two are often close together in town centers.
Said "bas", not "bash". Buses are the main intercity transport in Assam. For city travel in Guwahati, auto-rickshaws (অটো, O-to) and app cabs are the common options; agree the auto fare before getting in.
Guwahati airport is about forty minutes from the city.
খন is the flat-object counter, used for tickets, books, and papers, where -টা was the general one. For a return ticket, ask ঘূৰি অহা টিকট (GHU-ri O-ha TI-kot).