Getting around
রিকশা
কত?
How much is it?
You hear this when the doors close or the next stop is called. It is written down too, so a missed word does not end the ride.
How the language is used
Bengali is the official language and the language of everyday life.
In this city
- Language
- Bengali
- Also heard
- Mostly Bengali
- A local word
- রিকশা — A rickshaw.
- Writing
- the Bengali script
What people say
Ordinary lines from this city: the ride, the counter, the food, and the greeting.
The counter
মেট্রো
পরের স্টেশন।
Next station.
This line is a whole order. You do not need a longer sentence.
Food
দোকান
একটা চা।
One tea.
The order is built in short pieces like this one.
The street
রাস্তা
আসসালামু আলাইকুম।
Hello.
People keep this line short. It is enough for the moment.
The language through the day
Bengali is the language of the ride, the shop, and the street.
Around Old Dhaka, Gulshan, Dhanmondi, this is the ordinary sound of the day.
A first day in Dhaka can run on four lines: “কত?”, “পরের স্টেশন।”, “একটা চা।”, and “আসসালামু আলাইকুম।”. Each one is already a complete moment.
If you are new here
- Stops, prices, and shop signs are written in the Bengali script.
- আপনি is the polite you. তুমি is closer.
- If a spoken line goes past you, read the screen or the board. In Dhaka, the stop and the price are written down.
One local word: রিকশা. It means A rickshaw..
Places you can see
- Lalbagh Fort — An unfinished Mughal fort in Old Dhaka.
- Buriganga — The river that still carries boats past the old ghats.
- Jatiya Sangsad — Louis Kahn's parliament. You can see the geometric halls from the grounds outside.
Food
Rice and fish are the daily plate, and Old Dhaka is known for biryani.
Getting around
Rickshaws, buses, and a metro share the roads. You can cross a short distance by rickshaw.
Daily life
Newspapers, schools, and street talk use Bengali. Some official forms also use English.
A few everyday phrases
Bengali
| Phrase | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| নমস্কার | Nomoskar | Hello |
| ধন্যবাদ | Dhonnobad | Thank you |
| সুপ্রভাত | Suprobhat | Good morning |
| আমার নাম… | Amar naam… | My name is… |
