বোলো
bōlō
বোলো (bōlō) (bolo) is the Bengali command used to tell someone to speak or say something.
The phrase is a command derived from the verb বলা (bola), which means to speak or to say.
Which one should you use?
While বোলো is used for peers or people of equal social standing, the highly formal or respectful imperative form is বলুন (bolun).
How does it change in a sentence?
Depending on the level of respect required, you may use the informal বল, the standard বোলো or the formal বলুন.
How do you pronounce it?
bōlō
Did you know?
- While বোলো (bolo) is a command to speak, it is also frequently used in the phrase বল তো (bol to), which functions as a conversational filler similar to 'tell me' or 'let's see' when pondering a question.
- The word বলা (bola) shares a common linguistic ancestry with the Sanskrit root for 'to speak', which connects it to many other Indo-Aryan languages used across South Asia.
- In Bengali, using বোলো instead of the formal বলুন with a stranger or an elder can be perceived as a significant social slight or an act of aggression.
Examples in context
- আপনি কি কথা বলতে পারবেন?Can you speak?
- কেন তুমি কথা বলতে চাও?Why do you want to speak?
- সত্যি বলোSotti bolo
- সত্যিটা বোলো।Shottita bolo.Tell the truth.
- মন দিয়ে কথাটি বোলো।Mon diye kothati bolo.Say the word carefully.
Example conversation
Akash and Moumita are having a serious discussion at a cafe.
- আকাশ Akashতুমি কি বলতে চাও, বোলো।Tumi ki bolte chao, bolo.Tell me what you want to say.
- মৌমিতা Moumitaআমি খুব চিন্তিত।Ami khub chintito.I am very worried.
- আকাশ Akashভয় পেয়ো না, সত্যিটা বোলো।Bhoy peyo na, shottita bolo.Don't be afraid, tell the truth.
- মৌমিতা Moumitaআমি সব বলছি।Ami shob bolchi.I am telling everything.
