চা
ca/t͡ʃa/
চা (ca) is the Bengali word for tea.
The word refers to the drink made from the leaves of the tea plant. In and around Kolkata, the term cha is the most commonly used way to refer to it.
Meaning: drink made from leaves of tea plant (noun)
Which one should you use?
While the standard form is চা, variations such as cha or Chaa are also used to refer to tea.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In and around Kolkata, cha is the most common term for tea.
How does it change in a sentence?
When talking about consuming tea, it is common in Bengali to use the colloquial verb for 'to eat' (খাওয়া) instead of the verb for 'to drink'.
How do you pronounce it?
/tʃa/
When do people say it?
It is a common linguistic custom to use the verb 'to eat' when referring to the consumption of tea.
Did you know?
- The word চা shares a direct ancestor with the English word 'tea'. Both originate from the Chinese word 茶, though they traveled via different trade routes.
- In West Bengal and Bangladesh, tea is often served in bhar, which are small, unglazed terracotta cups that are thrown away after a single use.
- In Bengali culture, offering a guest চা is a fundamental gesture of hospitality, and it is often considered impolite for a guest to refuse a first offering.
Examples in context
- আমি চা পছন্দ করি।I like tea.This sentence shows how to express a preference for the word চা.Tatoeba #5266557 by mahir256, translation #253293 by CK
- আমরা শুধু চা খাই।We only have tea.This sentence demonstrates the use of the verb 'to eat' with the word চা.Tatoeba #12725676 by robingaspi, translation #419711 by CM
- তুমি কি আমাকে এক কাপ চা দিতে পারবে?Can you give me a cup of tea?This sentence is useful for requesting a cup of চা.Tatoeba #11888294 by robingaspi, translation #843018 by J_S
- দয়া করে একটা চা দিন।Please give me a tea.
- আপনি কি চা পান করেন?Do you drink tea?
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Anirban and Ishani are sitting in a small cafe.
- ইশানি Ishaniচায়ে কি চিনি আছে?chāye ki chinī āche?Is there sugar in the tea?
- অনির্বাণ Anirbanনা, আমি চা চিনি ছাড়া তৈরি করেছি।nā, āmi chā chinī chārā toirī korechi.No, I made the tea without sugar.
- ইশানি Ishaniঠিক আছে, চা খুব ভালো হয়েছে।ṭhik āche, chā khub bhālo hoyeche.That's fine, the tea is very good.
- অনির্বাণ Anirbanধন্যবাদ, তুমি কি আরও চা খাবে?dhonyobād, tumi ki āro chā khābe?Thank you, will you have more tea?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tea” translations and entries চা, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries চা, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
