Getting around
মেট্রো
পরের স্টেশন।
Next station.
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 main language of the city. Hindi and English are also heard. This is a Bengali city, not a Hindi-only city.
In this city
- Language
- Bengali
- Also heard
- Hindi and English
- A local word
- আড্ডা — A long, unhurried chat.
- Writing
- the Bengali script
What people say
Ordinary lines from this city: the ride, the counter, the food, and the greeting.
The counter
ট্রাম
একটা চা।
One tea.
This line is a whole order. You do not need a longer sentence.
Food
দোকান
কত?
How much is it?
The order is built in short pieces like this one.
The street
রাস্তা
নমস্কার।
Hello.
People keep this line short. It is enough for the moment.
The language through the day
Bengali is the main language. You also hear Hindi and English. This is a Bengali city first.
Around College Street, Park Street, the ghats, this is the ordinary sound of the day.
A first day in Kolkata can run on four lines: “পরের স্টেশন।”, “একটা চা।”, “কত?”, and “নমস্কার।”. 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 Kolkata, the stop and the price are written down.
One local word: আড্ডা. It means A long, unhurried chat..
Places you can see
- Victoria Memorial — A white marble hall in a large garden, built as a memorial to Queen Victoria.
- Howrah Bridge — A steel cantilever bridge, also called Rabindra Setu, carrying a huge flow between Kolkata and Howrah.
- College Street — A long book market beside the university.
Food
Fish curry with rice is a home meal, and kathi rolls are the street version.
Getting around
The metro, the remaining tram lines, and ferries across the Hooghly all run. You can cross the river by ferry.
Daily life
Long café conversations, called adda, are a local habit. Bookstalls keep Bengali in public view.
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… |
