Choosing the Right Register
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Bengali uses three levels of 'you' based on social distance and respect: Tui (intimate), Tumi (familiar), and Apni (formal).
- Use 'Tui' for close friends, children, or God (e.g., Tui kemon achis?).
- Use 'Tumi' for peers, younger relatives, or casual acquaintances (e.g., Tumi kemon acho?).
- Use 'Apni' for elders, strangers, or professional settings (e.g., Apni kemon achen?).
Verb Conjugation by Register (Verb: Kora - To Do)
| Register | Pronoun | Verb Form | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Intimate
|
Tui
|
Kor-is
|
Tui kor-is
|
|
Familiar
|
Tumi
|
Kor-o
|
Tumi kor-o
|
|
Formal
|
Apni
|
Kor-en
|
Apni kor-en
|
Meanings
The system of selecting the correct second-person pronoun and corresponding verb conjugation based on the social relationship between the speaker and the listener.
Tui (Intimate)
Used for very close friends, younger siblings, children, or sometimes in anger/contempt.
“Tui ki korchis?”
“Tui ekhane aye.”
Tumi (Familiar)
Standard form for friends, colleagues of equal status, and younger people you respect.
“Tumi ki korcho?”
“Tumi kothay jachho?”
Apni (Formal)
Used for elders, superiors, strangers, and in professional environments.
“Apni ki korchen?”
“Apni kothay jachhen?”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Pronoun + Verb
|
Apni janen
|
|
Negative
|
Pronoun + Verb + na
|
Apni janen na
|
|
Question
|
ki + Pronoun + Verb
|
Apni ki janen?
|
|
Intimate
|
Tui + Verb
|
Tui janis
|
|
Familiar
|
Tumi + Verb
|
Tumi jano
|
|
Formal
|
Apni + Verb
|
Apni janen
|
Formalitätsspektrum
Apni kemon achen? (Greeting)
Tumi kemon acho? (Greeting)
Tui kemon achis? (Greeting)
Ki khobor? (Greeting)
The Honorific Hierarchy
Intimate
- Tui Close friend/Child
Familiar
- Tumi Peer/Younger
Formal
- Apni Elder/Stranger
Beispiele nach Niveau
Apni kemon achen?
How are you? (Formal)
Tumi ki khao?
What do you eat? (Familiar)
Tui ki korchis?
What are you doing? (Intimate)
Apni bhalo.
You are good. (Formal)
Apni ki cha khaben?
Will you have tea? (Formal)
Tumi ki ekhane thako?
Do you live here? (Familiar)
Tui ekhane aye.
Come here. (Intimate)
Apni ki jaben?
Are you going? (Formal)
Apni ki amar sathe jaben?
Will you go with me? (Formal)
Tumi ki kal asbe?
Will you come tomorrow? (Familiar)
Tui ki bhat kheyechis?
Have you eaten rice? (Intimate)
Apni ki eita dekhechen?
Have you seen this? (Formal)
Apni jodi ashten, tobe bhalo hoto.
If you had come, it would have been good. (Formal)
Tumi ki mone korcho je ami jani na?
Do you think I don't know? (Familiar)
Tui ki ekhono ghumachhis?
Are you still sleeping? (Intimate)
Apni ki eishob kotha bhabchen?
Are you thinking about these things? (Formal)
Apni jodi anugraha kore ekti bar bolten.
If you would kindly say it once. (Formal)
Tumi ki jano na je ami tomake bhalobashi?
Don't you know that I love you? (Familiar)
Tui ki bhabchis tui amake thakate parbi?
Do you think you can stop me? (Intimate)
Apni ki eishob bishoye obhiggo?
Are you experienced in these matters? (Formal)
Apni jodi eishob bishoye amake sahajyo korten, tobe ami kritoggo thaktam.
If you would help me in these matters, I would be grateful. (Formal)
Tumi ki amake ekhono chine uthte paro ni?
Can you still not recognize me? (Familiar)
Tui ki bhabchis tui shob kichu janish?
Do you think you know everything? (Intimate)
Apni ki eishob bishoye kono siddhanto niyechhen?
Have you reached any decision regarding these matters? (Formal)
Leicht verwechselbar
Learners often use Tumi for everyone.
Learners use Tui too early.
Mixing endings.
Häufige Fehler
Apni kor-is
Apni kor-en
Tui kemon achen?
Tui kemon achis?
Apni jao
Apni jan
Tumi ki korchen?
Tumi ki korcho?
Satzmuster
___ ki ___?
___ ___ na.
___ ___ kothay?
___ ki ___ kheyechhen?
Real World Usage
Apni ki eishob bishoye obhiggo?
Tumi kothay?
Apni ki cha khaben?
Tumi khub bhalo.
Apni ki ekhane thaken?
Tui ki korchis?
Default to Apni
Avoid Tui
Watch the verb
Listen to others
Smart Tips
Always start with Apni.
Use Tumi for peers.
Use Tui for intimacy.
Default to Apni.
Aussprache
Verb endings
Ensure the nasalization in 'en' is clear.
Question
Apni ki jaben? ↑
Rising intonation for polite questions.
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
Tui is for Two (you and me, close), Tumi is for Team (peers), Apni is for Above (elders).
Visuelle Assoziation
Imagine a ladder. Tui is at the bottom (sitting on the floor with a friend), Tumi is on the middle rung (shaking hands), Apni is at the top (bowing to a teacher).
Rhyme
Tui is for the one you know, Tumi is for the friend you show, Apni is for the elder you bow.
Story
I met a stranger and used 'Apni'. We became friends, so I switched to 'Tumi'. After years of friendship, I finally called him 'Tui'.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Write three sentences about your day, one for each register.
Kulturelle Hinweise
Very strict about Apni for elders.
Similar, but Tumi is often used more broadly.
God is often addressed as Tui.
Derived from Sanskrit roots for pronouns.
Gesprächseinstiege
Apni ki koren?
Tumi ki korcho?
Tui ki korchis?
Apni ki eishob bishoye bhabchen?
Tagebuch-Impulse
Häufige Fehler
Test Yourself
___ ki kemon achen?
Tumi ki ___?
Find and fix the mistake:
Apni ki korchis?
Tui + kora + question
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Which pronoun is most formal?
Find and fix the mistake:
Tumi ki jaben?
Tui ki ___?
Score: /8
Ubungsaufgaben
8 exercises___ ki kemon achen?
Tumi ki ___?
Find and fix the mistake:
Apni ki korchis?
Tui + kora + question
Tui - ?, Tumi - ?, Apni - ?
Which pronoun is most formal?
Find and fix the mistake:
Tumi ki jaben?
Tui ki ___?
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
No, it is better to use Apni.
People will understand, but it might be awkward.
No, it's intimate with friends.
Yes, they do.
Wait for the other person to lead.
Mostly, yes.
Yes, it's very polite.
It reflects social values.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Tu/Usted
Bengali has a third tier (Tui).
Tu/Vous
Bengali verb conjugation is more complex.
Du/Sie
Bengali includes an intimate tier.
Desu/Masu
Bengali uses pronouns too.
Anta/Antum
Bengali uses specific verb endings.
Ni/Nin
Bengali conjugates verbs.
