କେମିତି ଅଛନ୍ତି?
kemiti achhanti?
To say "how are you?" in Odia, use କେମିତି ଅଛନ୍ତି? (kemiti achhanti?)
କେମିତି ଅଛନ୍ତି? is a common greeting used to ask someone about their health or general well-being.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of କେମିତି (kemiti) meaning "how" and ଅଛନ୍ତି (achhanti) meaning "are [you]".
Which one should you use?
The default form କେମିତି ଅଛନ୍ତି? uses the honorific or plural verb form to show respect to elders or strangers, whereas କେମିତି ଅଛ? is used for peers or children.
How does it change in a sentence?
The informal version of the phrase is କେମିତି ଅଛ? (kemiti achha?).
How do you pronounce it?
kemiti achhanti?
When do people say it?
A common response to this greeting is ମୁଁ ଭଲ ଅଛି। (mu bhala achhi.), which means "I am well."
Did you know?
- In very traditional settings, asking କେମିତି ଅଛନ୍ତି? might be preceded by asking about the other person's family members first, as greetings are often collective rather than individual.
- The response 'I am well' uses the word ଭଲ (bhala), which carries a deeper connotation than just 'fine'. In Odia, this word describes not only physical health but also a person's moral goodness and kindness.
- The greeting କେମିତି ଅଛନ୍ତି? is frequently paired with the Namaskar gesture, involving pressed palms and a slight bow of the head.
Examples in context
- ମାଉସୀ, କେମିତି ଅଛନ୍ତି?mausi, kemiti achanti?Auntie, how are you?
- ଶିକ୍ଷକ ମହୋଦୟ, କେମିତି ଅଛନ୍ତି?shikhshaka mahodaya, kemiti achanti?Teacher, how are you?
Example conversation
Two acquaintances meet on the street.
- ପୂଜା Pujaନମସ୍କାର ସୁମିତ, ଆପଣ କେମିତି ଅଛନ୍ତି?Namaskar Sumit, apana kemiti achanti?Hello Sumit, how are you?
- ସୁମିତ Sumitମୁଁ ଭଲ ଅଛି, ପୂଜା। ଆପଣ କେମିତି ଅଛନ୍ତି?Mun bhala achi, Puja. Apana kemiti achanti?I am fine, Puja. How are you?
- ପୂଜା Pujaମୁଁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଭଲ ଅଛି।Mun madhya bhala achi.I am also fine.
- ସୁମିତ Sumitଏହା ଶୁଣି ଖୁସି ଲାଗିଲା।Eha suni khusi lagila.I am glad to hear that.
