Bengali daily life & culture

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The Bengali phrases of everyday life, plus the culture that makes them make sense.

Daily phrases

English	Hindi	Bengali	Say it
I don't understand	मैं नहीं समझा	আমি বুঝতে পারছি না	ami bujhte parchhi na
Speak slowly, please	धीरे बोलिए	আস্তে বলুন	aste bolun
What is this called?	इसे क्या कहते हैं?	এটাকে কী বলে?	eṭake ki bole?
I am learning Bengali	मैं बांग्ला सीख रहा हूँ	আমি বাংলা শিখছি	ami bangla shikhchhi
Where are you from?	आप कहाँ से हैं?	আপনি কোথা থেকে?	apni kotha theke?
My name is ...	मेरा नाम ... है	আমার নাম ...	amar nam ...
Nice to meet you	आपसे मिलकर खुशी हुई	আপনার সাথে পরিচিত হয়ে ভালো লাগলো	apnar shathe porichito hoye bhalo laglo

Culture in five words

দুর্গাপূজা (Durga Puja) — The biggest Bengali festival — Kolkata's streets fill with pandals for five days in autumn. If you visit Bengal once, come then.
পহেলা বৈশাখ (Pohela Boishakh) — Bengali New Year (mid-April) — new clothes, sweets, and শুভ নববর্ষ (shubho noboborsho) greetings.
আড্ডা (adda) — The legendary Bengali art of long, wandering conversation over tea — no agenda, no hurry. Join one and your Bengali will grow faster than any app.
২১শে ফেব্রুয়ারি (21st February) — Language Martyrs' Day — Bengalis died for their language in 1952, and UNESCO made the date International Mother Language Day. The language is loved fiercely; learners are welcomed warmly.
মিষ্টি দই (mishti doi) — Sweet curd set in clay cups — order it once and you understand half of Bengali food culture.