Essentials
ଦରକାରୀ କଥା
The basic words you will reach for in almost every conversation.
Hello; greetings
ନମସ୍କାର
namaskara
Said any time of day, usually with palms joined.
Yes
ହଁ
han
To an elder, ହଁ ଆଜ୍ଞା (han agyan) is more respectful.
No
ନା
na
Please
ଦୟାକରି
dayakari
Often unnecessary: the polite verb ending -ନ୍ତୁ already sounds like 'please'.
Thank you
ଧନ୍ଯବାଦ
dhanyabada
Sorry; excuse me
ମାଫ କରିବେ
maph karibe
More formal: କ୍ଷମା କରିବେ (khyama karibe).
I didn't understand
ମୁଁ ବୁଝିପାରିଲି ନାହିଁ
mun bujhiparili nahin
Can you speak English?
ଆପଣ ଇଂରାଜୀ କହିପାରିବେ କି?
apana ingraji kahiparibe ki?
Can you speak Hindi?
ଆପଣ ହିନ୍ଦୀ କହିପାରିବେ କି?
apana hindi kahiparibe ki?
Please speak a little slowly
ଟିକିଏ ଧୀରେ କୁହନ୍ତୁ
tikie dhire kuhantu
Please say that again
ପୁଣି ଥରେ କୁହନ୍ତୁ
puni thare kuhantu
What is this called in Odia?
ଏଇଟାକୁ ଓଡ଼ିଆରେ କ'ଣ କହନ୍ତି?
eitaku Odiare kana kahanti?
OK; fine; alright
ଠିକ୍ ଅଛି
thik achhi
I know a little Odia
ମୁଁ ଅଳ୍ପ ଅଳ୍ପ ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଜାଣେ
mun alpa alpa Odia jane
“…” marks a blank you fill in, e.g. a place name. Beta — report a mistake.