Order anything by pointing in Assamese
I would like, this one, how much, the bill: survive any counter or menu. 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 11 Assamese phrases in this lesson
- মোক ... দিয়কMUK ... di-YOK
- I would like...
- এইটোEI-to
- This one
- কিমান হ'ব?KI-man HO-bo
- How much is it?
- বিল দিয়কBIL di-YOK
- The bill, please
- কাৰ্ডেৰেKAR-de-re
- By card
- নগদ টকাৰেno-GOD to-KA-re
- In cash
- পানীPA-ni
- Water
- কফিKO-phi
- Coffee
- চাহsaah
- Tea
- বিয়েৰBI-yer
- Beer
- বিনা...bi-NA
- Without...
Literally "give me ..., please", the everyday polite order: মোক এটা চাহ দিয়ক (MUK E-ta SAH di-YOK), a tea for me, please.
Point and say it. At any counter or market stall, এইটো plus a gesture covers the entire selection process without needing further vocabulary.
The standard price question. You can also say কিমান দাম (KI-man DAM), how much is the price. At markets, asking before committing is completely normal and expected.
In local dhaba-style restaurants, the bill rarely comes automatically; you need to ask for it. Catching the server's eye and saying বিল or miming writing on your palm also works.
The ending -ৰে means "by means of". In practice UPI apps have overtaken cards even at small stalls; holding up your phone and saying "UPI?" often works faster than any phrase.
Village markets and roadside stalls often prefer cash. Keep smaller notes; change for large bills can be hard to find at smaller establishments.
Tap water quality varies; bottled water is recommended for visitors. At a restaurant, bottled water is বটল পানী (BO-tol PA-ni). Ice is বৰফ (BO-roph), worth mentioning if you are cautious.
This is tea country: Assam grows a large share of India's tea, and চাহ (SAH) is what most people drink.
Assam grows much of India's tea. It comes strong, milky and sweet.
Served in bars and some restaurants. Rice beer, called xaj pani in Ahom tradition, is the local brew in villages.
বিনা চেনিৰে চাহ (bi-NA SE-ni-re SAH), tea without sugar. Tea is served very sweet unless you ask.