13 adorable Bengali words and phrases I miss hearing abroad
You know the feeling of homesickness that is not only associated with friends and family but even little things from your home town? The feeling that is consistently there, but gets elevated especially during festivals and celebrations or when you happen to meet someone familiar with your city and the local jokes? Well, I’m from Kolkata, the ‘City of Joy’ in India, and although I’m always craving for the street food (Hello there Puchkas and Jhal Muri!) apart from fondly thinking of my friends and family, there are two things I really miss a lot : Durga Puja and hearing people speak in Bengali. Now, I’m not a native Bengali speaker and have been staying away from the city for a long time, but I realized how excited I get when I do get to speak in Bengali with someone during my visit back home, even though it might not be fluent and sound funny to my friends. Recently though, when my brother visited me for a few days, I enjoyed randomly breaking into conversations in Bengali with him and using some of my favourite words and phrases. Yes, I do have a list of Bengali words and phrases that I really miss hearing and some of them are just so colloquial that I wasn’t sure how to explain them correctly. So, I enlisted the help of my dear friend Sumana from My Occassional Musings Blog and it gives me immense pleasure to finally get to share this list of 13 adorable and funny Bengali words, phrases I miss hearing abroad. Perhaps, some of you will be able to relate to it but for the rest of you, time to learn some local lingo and laugh out aloud!
An illustration of Kolkata, the City of Joy, by Sreoshi Sinha from Burgundy Ochre. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook.
Some Funny Bengali Words and Phrases:
- “Aaste ladies Kole bachcha” – The epic catchphrase used by bus conductors to alert the bus driver for slowing down (aaste) and eventually stop the bus for a lady carrying a baby in her arms (ladies kole bachcha), mostly to allow her alight from the bus. This is the five-star treatment offered by bus conductors and drivers to show their care for women and children! I personally have memories of laughing over this with friends on the way to or back from school , and somehow thinking of this makes me instantly smile.
- Haingla or rather Hyangla means greedy . Essentially for food. Can also mean a glutton.
Example: She is such a hyangla for Chocolate Cake!
- Nyaka/Nyaka chondi – This word unfortunately doesn’t have any English translation. It can mean a range of things from being a drama queen to pansy to being irritatingly dumb to seeking attention by playing dumb! Mostly used for females. Example: Think of the Plastics from Mean Girls or (for those familiar with Bollywood) Poo from K3G! They were NYAKA for Bangalis.
- Nyaka chondi is a level higher but Chondi is Goddess Chandi who is known for her fierceness. So maybe fiercely nyaka? I’m not even sure of how many people still use this term regularly but having heard it through high school, it sort of stuck with me.
The Victoria Memorial, Kolkata.
Where you’ll find several joggers each morning and spot some of them again at the nearest sweet shop for breakfast.
- Fatafati /fatiye diyeche – Superb or Brilliant or Awesome! Colloquial way of expressing appreciation at something brilliant.
Example – He is looking Fatafati! The Biryani is fatafati!
- Fatiye diyeche means “you/someone nailed/killed it”. When you are appreciating (again informally) how brilliantly someone has done something.
Example – Q: How was Kohli at today’s match? A: Fatiye diyechhe!
- Kyabla – Dumb and silly! Someone who is innocent and dumb. You would get into trouble if you had a Kyabla in your friends’ circle if you were planning something secret because the kyabla would inadvertently let you down!
Example: Kyabla Rahul let his sister fiddle with his phone and now she has seen our photos from the secret movie-outing!
- Gondogol – Trouble or when you suspect “something is wrong”.
Example: Why is Rohit not returning my call? I think there must be some Gondogol!
- Chhatar matha – Literally the tip/head of an umbrella, but can indicate nonsense!
Example : I had such high expectations from this film but it turned out to be chhatar matha!
- Biye Baari te khaabo – I’ll eat at a wedding – a phrase that is often accompanied with happiness or excitement. In fact, I’ve heard several exclamations translating to something like ‘It’s been so long since I got to eat at a wedding’ or even ‘When do you plan to get married? It’s been so long since I attended (and ate at) a wedding.’
You see, food is sacred to all of us!
- “Paglamo koro na”/ “Baaje kotha bolo na” – Simply translating to something like ‘Don’t act silly’ and ‘Don’t talk nonsense’, how I love getting to use these phrases when possible!
- “Shingara kine niye aaye” – Shingara is a snack popular in Bengal, similar to Samosa, although they are said to be slightly different. The numerous sweet and snack stores found all across the city make it very easy to quickly get some of these ‘Shingaras’ or even sweets like ‘Sondesh’ or ‘Mishti Doi’ should you have guests over at your house or even if you are simply longing for it.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BAWJookqlzb/?taken-by=menorca_c
- Byapok – Literally means covering a wide area or expansive. However, it has gained currency in colloquial Bangla recently and is often synonymous with Fatafati!
Example: Kolkata looks Byapok during the Durga Pujas!
On the note of Durga Puja, which is the biggest festival in Bengal and currently being celebrated, I am constantly wondering what my friends and family in Kolkata might be doing, how the Pandals (decorative bamboo tents housing the idols of Goddess Durga and her family) might be decorated this time and how the Dhunuchi dance will be performed on the last day. Did you know that nearly 3000 Pandals are set up in Kolkata alone for the festival, many of which are themed after current events or other creative ideas?
No matter where Kolkatans live, I’m sure their hearts are always in the city, especially during Durga Puja 
Here are two phrases specifically associated with Durga Puja, not funny Bengali words but very colloquial:
- Pandal dekhte jaabo – (pronounced Pan-dell) – I’ll go to see a Pandal , or Pandal hopping. Let me tell you, Pandal hopping is one of the most essential activities during Durga Puja, and in fact the city doesn’t really sleep for four days.
- Anjali dite jaabo – (pronounced On-jo-lee) – Every festival has its own traditions or customs and Anjali or Pushpanjali refers to the daily ritual of offering flowers to Goddess Durga and her family during the festival. Several people also fast through the day until they get to visit a Pandal , chant the prayers along with the priest , make the flower offerings and participate in Aarti.
https://www.instagram.com/p/5P7SizKl0z/?taken-by=menorca_c
If you visit Kolkata, here are some ideas for tours you can take to explore the city:
If you are from Bengal or familiar with the Bengali language, do you have any favourite words and phrases? For the rest of you, had you heard of any these words before or know of any other funny Bengali words? If not, which ones would you like to try integrating in a conversation? Let me know in the comments below!
P.S : If any of you are attending Durga Puja festivities this year, tag me on Instagram or use #shareTravellersTales on your pictures to share your photo stories.
Stay blessed and keep exploring more.
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joshihk
onek bhalo …amibangla shi:kchi olpo olpo…ar proti bochor pujate bengala jayi
Danica Watson
Amazing shots.love to be there.thanks a lot for sharing.
sksojib003
You captured this so well thanks
Abhijit Shevale
Ki sundor..Ami 1 bochor dhare ekhane aachi.. Initially it was difficult to understand but aaste aste buze gelaam.. This post will enrich my vocabulary,as I am a Non-Bengali..
Anjali Chawla
Fatiye diyeche
Richa
Oh this Post was “Fatafati” Enjoyed going through the blog post 🙂
reflectiveponderer
Thanks Richa!:)Glad you enjoyed it!
Upasana Mukherjee
Amusing! You captured this so well!