Phonology
Sylheti is distinguished by a wide range of fricative sounds, which correspond to aspirated stops in closely related languages such as Bengali; a lack of the breathy voiced stops seen in many other Indic languages; word-final stress; and a relatively large set of loanwords from Arabic, Persian, Bengali and Assamese. Sylheti is spoken by about 10 percent of Bangladeshis, but has affected the course of standard Bengali in the rest of the state.
A notable characteristic of spoken Sylheti is the correspondence of the /x/, pronounced between and from like the "ch" in Scottish "Loch" or the "j" in Latin American Spanish "Jalapeño", to the, or "sh", of Bengali, e.g.
| Bengali | Sylheti | Sylheti Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coroṇ sporsho | Xodom boci | Khodom bosi | Touch the feet (A welcome/farewell ritual) |
| Dhaka | Dhaxa | Dhakha | Dacca; Dhaka |
| Dhaka nogor-bhashī | Dhaxaia | Dhakhaia | People of Dhaka region |
| Ek lōk | Ex manux | Ekh manush | A person |
| Ek jon | Ex zon | Ekh zon | Someone |
| Ek Puruṣh | Ex Beṭa | Ekh Beṭa | A man |
| Kiser: kīser | Xixor | Kihor | What (implying in no respect) |
| Konya; meye | Xonia; Zi | Khonia; Zi | Daughter |
| Manob Jatiyo | Manxor zat | Manshor zat | Human-kind |
| Osomīya | Axomia | Ahomia | People of Assam (Assamese) |
| Onguli; ongul | Anguil | Anguil | Finger; toe |
| Onguri | Anguti; angti | Angti | Finger-ring |
| Ognipokko | Agniphura | Agnifura | Baked; grilled |
| Osidharī | Axaidri | Ahaidri | Swordsman |
| Osur; Osuro | Axura; Axuria | Ahura; Ahuria | People of Assyria (Assyrian) |
| Pakira | Phaixia | Faikia | Plural of bird; All kinds of Bird species |
| Paki | Phaxi | Faki | A (singular) bird |
| Prīti | Phiriti | Firiti | Love |
| Por | Phore; bade | Fore; bade | Later |
| Sokol; somosto | Xoxol | Hokhol | All |
| Sara (kon) | Xara (buil) | Hara (buil) | Every (time) |
| Sato Beel | Xat Bila | Hat Bila | Seven wetlands |
| Sat Kora | Xat Xora | Hat Khora | Citrus macroptera fruit |
| Sat bar | Xat-bar | Hat-bar | Seven-times (Sylheti term for lots of time) |
| Sileṭī (স) | Ciloṭia (ছ) | Siloṭia | People of Sylhet |
| Su bhagyo | Allahr Hāola | Allaar Aaola | Good luck (Sylheti: God's Authority) |
| Su tripti; bhalo ruchi | Taza bhux; Bhalaṭike xawka | Taza bhukh; Bhalaṭike khawka | Bon appétit |
| Strī | Bow | Bow | Wife |
| Svamī | Zamai; beṭa | Zamai; beṭa | Husband |
| Shvoshur | Xoxur | Hohur | Father-in-law |
| Shashuṛī | Xoṛi | Hoṛi | Mother-in-law |
| Shala | Xala | Hala | Brother-in-law |
| Shalī | Xali | Hali | Sister-in-law |
| Shikśa kora | Xixia newa | Hikia newa | Learn |
| Shoriṣha | Xoirox | Hoiroh | Mustard |
| Shīẏal | Xial | Hial | Jackal |
| Shun̐ṭki | Xuṭki; xukṭi | Huṭki: hukṭi | Sundried Fish |
| Apnar nam ki? | Aphnar nam xita? | Afnar nam Kita? | What's your name? |
| Daktar asar purbe rugi mara gelo | Daxtor awar ageu bemari mori gece | Dakhtor awar ageu bemari mori gese | Before the doctor came, the patient had died |
| Bohu din dekhi ni | Oto buile na dexlam | Oto buile na dekhlam | Long time no see |
| Kemon achho? | Bhala acoen ni? | Bala asoin ni? | How are you? |
| Mangser torokariṭa ami bes bhalopeyechi | Ami ghustor calonṭa bhalaphaici | Ami gustor salonṭa balafaisi | I loved the meat curry |
| Mangser torokariṭa amar bhalō legeche | Ghustor calonṭa amar bhala lagce | Gustor salonṭa amar bala lagse | I liked the meat curry |
| Shilchor kon dike pore? | Xilcor xun baidi phorce? | Hilsor khun baidi forse? | Which way to Silchar? |
| Shōwchagar kōthay? | Xocailoe (ba leftin) xun xano? | Hosailoe ba liftin khun khano? | Where is the toilet? |
| Eiṭa ki? | Oxṭa xita? | Okṭa kita? | What is this? |
| Oṭa ki? | Outa xita? | Outa kita? | What are they? |
Read more about this topic: Sylheti Language