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 language of public life. Sylheti is widely spoken as well.
In this city
- Language
- Bengali
- Also heard
- Mostly Bengali
- A local word
- সিলেটি — Sylheti.
- Writing
- the Bengali script
What people say
Ordinary lines from this city: the ride, the counter, the food, and the greeting.
The counter
দোকান
একটা চা।
One tea.
This line is a whole order. You do not need a longer sentence.
The street
রাস্তা
আসসালামু আলাইকুম।
Hello.
People keep this line short. It is enough for the moment.
Food
বাড়ি
ভাত খাইছেন?
Have you eaten?
The order is built in short pieces like this one.
The language through the day
Bengali is the language of public life. Sylheti is widely spoken at home and in the market.
Around Zindabazar, the shrine, the tea-garden road, this is the ordinary sound of the day.
A first day in Sylhet can run on four lines: “কত?”, “একটা চা।”, “আসসালামু আলাইকুম।”, and “ভাত খাইছেন?”. 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 Sylhet, the stop and the price are written down.
One local word: সিলেটি. It means Sylheti..
Places you can see
- Ratargul — A freshwater wetland nearby. In the wet season the trees stand in the water.
- Shah Jalal Shrine — The city's main shrine, on a low hill.
- Keane Bridge — A steel bridge over the Surma in the centre of the city.
Food
Sylheti cooking uses shatkora, a sharp local citrus, and the hills nearby grow tea.
Getting around
Rickshaws cover the compact centre. Ratargul is a trip out, and you go by road.
Daily life
Many families use Sylheti at home and standard Bengali at school and in offices.
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… |
