বোবা
boba
The English word 'dumb' can be translated into Bengali as বোবা (boba).
The word বোবা (boba) literally means 'mute' or someone who cannot speak, but is often used colloquially to mean 'stupid'.
Meaning: stupid (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word বোবা literally means 'mute' or 'dumb' in the sense of being unable to speak.
How does it change in a sentence?
The related adjective বোকা is invariant for gender, meaning it remains the same whether you are describing a male or a female.
How do you pronounce it?
boba
Did you know?
- The term বোবা is frequently used in Bengali literature to symbolize the 'voiceless' or the oppressed members of society who have no power to speak.
- Bengali often uses the phrase বোবা হয়ে যাওয়া (boba hoye jawa), which literally means 'becoming mute', to describe the feeling of being speechless with shock or surprise.
- The word বোবা is a linguistic relative of the Gujarati word બોબડું (bobḍũ).
Example conversation
Ishani and Anirban are discussing a silly mistake.
- অনির্বাণ Anirbanআমি সত্যিই খুব বোবা!Ami sotti-i khub boba!I am really so dumb!
- ইশানি Ishaniনা, তুমি বোবা নও।Na, tumi boba nou.No, you are not dumb.
- অনির্বাণ Anirbanকিন্তু আমি ভুল করেছি।Kintu ami bhul korechi.But I made a mistake.
- ইশানি Ishaniভুল সবাই করে, অনির্বাণ।Bhul sobai kore, Anirban.Everyone makes mistakes, Anirban.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries বোবা, CC BY-SA 4.0.
