C1 Honorifics & Register 1 min read Schwer

Formal Vocabulary & Phrases

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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Bengali uses three distinct levels of honorifics (Tumi, Tui, Apni) to define social distance and respect.

  • Use 'Apni' for strangers, elders, and formal settings: 'Apni kemon achen?'
  • Use 'Tumi' for friends, peers, and younger family: 'Tumi kemon acho?'
  • Use 'Tui' for intimate friends or children: 'Tui kemon achis?'
Pronoun (Apni/Tumi/Tui) + Verb Conjugation (Respect Level)

Verb Conjugation by Register (Verb: করা - to do)

Register Pronoun Verb Form (Present) Verb Form (Past)
Formal
আপনি (Apni)
করেন (koren)
করেছেন (korechen)
Neutral
তুমি (Tumi)
করো (koro)
করেছ (korecho)
Intimate
তুই (Tui)
করিস (koris)
করেছিস (korechis)

Meanings

The system of choosing pronouns and verb endings based on the social hierarchy and intimacy level between speakers.

1

Apni (Formal)

Used for respect, strangers, or professional hierarchy.

“আপনি কোথায় যাচ্ছেন?”

“আপনার নাম কী?”

2

Tumi (Neutral/Informal)

Used for friends, colleagues, and younger relatives.

“তুমি কী করছো?”

“তোমার বাড়ি কোথায়?”

3

Tui (Intimate)

Used for very close friends, siblings, or children.

“তুই কোথায় যাচ্ছিস?”

“তোর খবর কী?”

Reference Table

Reference table for Formal Vocabulary & Phrases
Form Structure Example
Formal
Apni + Verb-en
আপনি যান (Apni jan)
Neutral
Tumi + Verb-o
তুমি যাও (Tumi jao)
Intimate
Tui + Verb-is
তুই যাস (Tui jas)
Negative Formal
Apni + Verb-en + na
আপনি যান না (Apni jan na)
Question Formal
Apni + ki + Verb-en?
আপনি কি যান? (Apni ki jan?)
Question Neutral
Tumi + ki + Verb-o?
তুমি কি যাও? (Tumi ki jao?)
Question Intimate
Tui + ki + Verb-is?
তুই কি যাস? (Tui ki jasis?)

Formalitätsspektrum

Formell
আপনি কী করছেন?

আপনি কী করছেন? (General inquiry)

Neutral
তুমি কী করছো?

তুমি কী করছো? (General inquiry)

Informell
তুই কী করছিস?

তুই কী করছিস? (General inquiry)

Umgangssprache
কী করছিস?

কী করছিস? (General inquiry)

Bengali Honorific Hierarchy

Social Distance

Formal

  • Apni Respectful

Neutral

  • Tumi Familiar

Intimate

  • Tui Close
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Beispiele nach Niveau

1

আপনি কেমন আছেন?

How are you? (Formal)

2

তুমি কেমন আছো?

How are you? (Neutral)

3

তুই কেমন আছিস?

How are you? (Intimate)

4

আপনি কি চা খাবেন?

Would you like tea? (Formal)

1

আপনি কি কাজটা করেছেন?

Have you done the work? (Formal)

2

তুমি কি কাজটা করেছ?

Have you done the work? (Neutral)

3

তুই কি কাজটা করেছিস?

Have you done the work? (Intimate)

4

আপনি এখানে বসুন।

Please sit here. (Formal)

1

আপনার কি কোনো সাহায্য লাগবে?

Do you need any help? (Formal)

2

তোমার কি কোনো সাহায্য লাগবে?

Do you need any help? (Neutral)

3

তোর কি কোনো সাহায্য লাগবে?

Do you need any help? (Intimate)

4

আপনি কি কাল আসবেন?

Will you come tomorrow? (Formal)

1

আপনার মতামত কী?

What is your opinion? (Formal)

2

তোমার কী মনে হয়?

What do you think? (Neutral)

3

তোর কী মনে হয়?

What do you think? (Intimate)

4

আপনি কি এই বিষয়ে অবগত?

Are you aware of this matter? (Formal)

1

আপনার সদয় অবগতির জন্য জানাচ্ছি।

I am informing you for your kind notice. (Formal)

2

তুমি কি বিষয়টি ভেবে দেখেছ?

Have you thought about the matter? (Neutral)

3

তুই কি বিষয়টা ভেবে দেখেছিস?

Have you thought about the matter? (Intimate)

4

আপনার উপস্থিতি আমাদের অনুপ্রাণিত করেছে।

Your presence has inspired us. (Formal)

1

আপনার সুচিন্তিত মতামত একান্ত কাম্য।

Your well-thought-out opinion is highly desired. (Formal)

2

তোমার এই আচরণের কারণ কী?

What is the reason for this behavior? (Neutral)

3

তোর এই আচরণের কারণ কী?

What is the reason for this behavior? (Intimate)

4

আপনার মহত্ত্ব আমাদের চিরঋণী করে রাখল।

Your greatness has left us forever indebted. (Formal)

Leicht verwechselbar

Formal Vocabulary & Phrases vs. Tumi vs Tui

Both are informal, but Tui is much more intimate.

Formal Vocabulary & Phrases vs. Apni vs Tumi

Both can be used for 'you', but Apni is formal.

Formal Vocabulary & Phrases vs. Verb Suffixes

Mixing suffixes like -en with Tumi.

Häufige Fehler

✗

Tui kemon achen?

✓

Apni kemon achen?

Mixing Tui (intimate) with achen (formal).
✗

Apni kemon achis?

✓

Apni kemon achen?

Mixing Apni with achis (intimate).
✗

Tumi kemon achen?

✓

Tumi kemon acho?

Mixing Tumi with achen (formal).
✗

Apni kemon acho?

✓

Apni kemon achen?

Mixing Apni with acho (neutral).
✗

Tui ki koren?

✓

Tui ki korish?

Register mismatch.
✗

Apni ki korish?

✓

Apni ki koren?

Register mismatch.
✗

Tumi ki koren?

✓

Tumi ki koro?

Register mismatch.
✗

Using Tui with a new colleague.

✓

Use Apni.

Socially inappropriate.
✗

Using Apni with a younger sibling.

✓

Use Tumi or Tui.

Creates unnecessary distance.
✗

Using Tui with a teacher.

✓

Use Apni.

Highly disrespectful.
✗

Inconsistent register shifting.

✓

Maintain one register.

Confuses the listener.
✗

Using Tui in a formal speech.

✓

Use Apni.

Inappropriate register.
✗

Using Apni in a casual text.

✓

Use Tumi.

Sounds robotic.
✗

Ignoring the Tui/Tumi distinction.

✓

Use based on intimacy.

Misses social nuance.

Satzmuster

আপনি কি ___?

তুমি কি ___?

তুই কি ___?

আপনার ___ আমার খুব ভালো লেগেছে।

Real World Usage

Job Interview constant

আপনি কি এই পদের জন্য যোগ্য?

Texting a friend very common

তুমি কখন আসবে?

Talking to a child common

তুই কি খাবি?

Social Media common

আপনার পোস্টটি খুব ভালো লাগল।

Ordering food common

আপনি কি মেনুটা দেবেন?

Travel occasional

আপনি কি টিকিট কেটেছেন?

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💡

When in doubt, Apni

If you are unsure of the relationship, always use 'Apni'. It is better to be too polite than rude.
⚠️

Avoid mixing

Never mix 'Apni' with 'Tui' verb endings. It sounds very strange to native speakers.
🎯

Observe others

Watch how native speakers address each other in movies or public settings to learn the nuances.
💬

Relationship shifts

Relationships can move from 'Apni' to 'Tumi' over time. Don't rush it.

Smart Tips

Always start with Apni.

Tumi kemon acho? → Apni kemon achen?

Use Tui for warmth.

Apni kemon achen? → Tui kemon achis?

Use Tumi for friendship.

Apni kemon achen? → Tumi kemon acho?

Stick to Apni.

Tumi ki mone koro? → Apni ki mone koren?

Aussprache

koren vs koro

Vowel harmony

The vowel in the verb suffix often changes to match the root vowel.

Question intonation

Apni ki janen? ↑

Rising pitch at the end indicates a question.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

A-T-T: Apni (Above), Tumi (Together), Tui (Tiny/Tight).

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a staircase: Apni is at the top (respect), Tumi is on the middle step (eye-level), Tui is at the bottom (sitting together on the floor).

Rhyme

Apni is polite, Tumi is light, Tui is for those who are super tight.

Story

You meet a professor (Apni), talk to a classmate (Tumi), and whisper to your best friend (Tui).

Word Web

ApniTumiTuiRespectIntimacySocial DistanceConjugation

Herausforderung

Write three sentences saying 'How are you?' using all three registers.

Kulturelle Hinweise

Very strict adherence to Apni/Tumi/Tui hierarchy.

Similar, but Tumi is often used more broadly among peers.

Dialectal variations exist, but the core 3-tier system remains.

Derived from Sanskrit roots, evolved through Middle Bengali.

Gesprächseinstiege

“

আপনি আজ কী করেছেন?

“

তুমি আজ কী করেছ?

“

তুই আজ কী করলি?

“

আপনি কি মনে করেন এই পরিবর্তনটি প্রয়োজনীয়?

Tagebuch-Impulse

Describe your teacher using formal language.
Write a letter to a friend about your day.
Write a diary entry as if talking to your best friend.
Discuss the importance of respect in Bengali culture.

Häufige Fehler

Incorrect

Richtig

Incorrect

Richtig

Incorrect

Richtig

Incorrect

Richtig

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Test Yourself

Choose the correct pronoun. Multiple Choice

___ কেমন আছেন?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Apni
Achen is formal.
Fill in the verb.

তুমি কী ___?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: করো
Tumi takes -o.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Apni ki korish?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Apni ki koren?
Apni requires -en.
Change to formal. Sentence Transformation

Tumi kemon acho?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Apni kemon achen?
Formal requires Apni + achen.
Match pronoun to verb. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Apni-koren, Tumi-koro, Tui-koris
Correct register matching.
Which is most intimate? Multiple Choice

Which pronoun is most intimate?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tui
Tui is for close friends.
Fill in the verb.

তুই কী ___?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: করিস
Tui takes -is.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Tumi ki koren?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tumi ki koro?
Tumi requires -o.

Score: /8

Ubungsaufgaben

8 exercises
Choose the correct pronoun. Multiple Choice

___ কেমন আছেন?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Apni
Achen is formal.
Fill in the verb.

তুমি কী ___?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: করো
Tumi takes -o.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Apni ki korish?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Apni ki koren?
Apni requires -en.
Change to formal. Sentence Transformation

Tumi kemon acho?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Apni kemon achen?
Formal requires Apni + achen.
Match pronoun to verb. Match Pairs

Match: Apni, Tumi, Tui with koren, koro, koris.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Apni-koren, Tumi-koro, Tui-koris
Correct register matching.
Which is most intimate? Multiple Choice

Which pronoun is most intimate?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tui
Tui is for close friends.
Fill in the verb.

তুই কী ___?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: করিস
Tui takes -is.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Tumi ki koren?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tumi ki koro?
Tumi requires -o.

Score: /8

FAQ (8)

To reflect social hierarchy and intimacy.

Yes, but it creates distance.

Yes, if used with strangers.

Assess age and relationship.

Yes, they conjugate for each.

Similar, but with a third level.

Apologize and switch.

Yes, formal writing uses Apni.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

Tú vs Usted

Bengali has three levels, Spanish has two.

French moderate

Tu vs Vous

Bengali's 'Tui' is more intense.

German moderate

Du vs Sie

Bengali has a third tier.

Japanese partial

Omae/Anata/Kimi

Japanese honorifics are status-based, Bengali is distance-based.

Arabic low

Anta/Antum

Bengali uses specific honorific pronouns.

Chinese partial

Ni vs Nin

Bengali has three distinct levels.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Advanced Honorific Verb Endings
Next
Register Shifts in Discourse

Related Grammar Rules

C1

Advanced Honorific Verb Endings
B1

Honorific Verb Conjugations
B1

Honorific Nouns & Titles (যেমন: জনাব - jonab, মহাশয় - mohashoy)
B1

Choosing the Right Register
B1

Levels of Politeness: Tui, Tumi, Apni (তুই, তুমি, আপনি)
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