খাওয়া
khaōẇa/kʰao̯a/
To eat in Bengali is খাওয়া (khaōẇa).
The term refers to the act of consuming a meal. The form খাওয়া can also function as a verbal noun meaning 'the act of eating'.
Meaning: eat a meal (verb)
Which one should you use?
Use খান for formal situations, খাও for informal situations and খাই or খায় for standard/informal conjugation depending on the person.
How does it change in a sentence?
The first person singular form is খাই (khāi) and the third person singular form is খায় (khāy). For the past tense, the polite/honorific form is খেয়েছেন (khēẏēchēn) and the standard/neutral form is খেয়েছে (khēẏēchē).
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is khaōẇa and the IPA is /kʰao̯a/.
Did you know?
- In Bengali, খাওয়া is used for consuming things other than food, such as 'taking' medicine or 'drinking' water.
- The verb খাওয়া is linguistically related to the Hungarian word 'kajál', which also means to eat.
- While খাওয়া means to eat, Bengali speakers often use it to describe 'spending' or 'wasting' time, as if time were something to be consumed.
Examples in context
- আপনার শাকসব্জি খাওয়া উচিত।You should eat vegetables.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of খাওয়া regarding nutritional advice.Tatoeba #5566931 by tanay, translation #1808071 by pne
- আপনার খুব বেশি খাওয়া উচিত না।You'd better not eat too much.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of খাওয়া regarding quantity.Tatoeba #12524875 by robingaspi, translation #7004913 by CK
- আপনার এখানে খাওয়ার অনুমতি নেই।You're not allowed to eat in here.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of খাওয়া regarding permission.Tatoeba #11463050 by robingaspi, translation #5849127 by CK
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Rahul and Tania are talking about lunch at home.
- তানিয়া Taniaরাহুল, তুমি কি দুপুরে খাওয়া শেষ করেছ?Rahul, tumi ki dupure khawa shesh korecho?Rahul, have you finished eating lunch?
- রাহুল Rahulহ্যাঁ তানিয়া, আমি মাত্র খাওয়া শেষ করলাম।Hyan Tania, ami matro khawa shesh korlam.Yes Tania, I just finished eating.
- তানিয়া Taniaতাহলে তুমি এখন বিশ্রাম নিতে পারো।Tahole tumi ekhon bishram nite paro.Then you can rest now.
- রাহুল Rahulধন্যবাদ, আমি এখন একটু শুতে যাব।Dhonyobad, ami ekhon ektu shute jabo.Thanks, I will go lie down for a bit now.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry খাওয়া, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries খাওয়া, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
