Meaning
Speaking with uncertainty or stuttering
Cultural Background
In rural Bangladesh, 'আমতা আমতা করা' is often seen as a sign of respect when talking to village elders, as being too direct can be perceived as arrogance. In the intellectual circles of Kolkata, this phrase is often used mockingly to describe a politician who cannot answer a journalist's question. In modern Dhaka offices, 'আমতা আমতা' is a red flag during project updates, indicating that a task is behind schedule. Famous authors like Humayun Ahmed often used this phrase to describe the 'innocent but guilty' nature of their middle-class protagonists.
Use it for shyness
Don't just use it for lies! It's a great way to describe a shy person trying to talk to their crush.
Avoid with superiors
Telling your boss 'You are doing amta amta' is very rude. Use 'itostoto' instead.
Meaning
Speaking with uncertainty or stuttering
Use it for shyness
Don't just use it for lies! It's a great way to describe a shy person trying to talk to their crush.
Avoid with superiors
Telling your boss 'You are doing amta amta' is very rude. Use 'itostoto' instead.
The 'Kora' rule
Always remember to conjugate 'kora'. 'Amta amta korchi' (I am), 'korche' (he is).
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the idiom.
সে সত্য বলতে গিয়ে ______ করছে।
The context of 'trying to tell the truth' implies hesitation, making 'আমতা আমতা' the correct choice.
Which situation best fits the phrase 'আমতা আমতা করা'?
In which scenario would you use this phrase?
Being caught doing something wrong usually leads to guilty hesitation.
Complete the dialogue.
মা: তুমি কি গ্লাসটা ভেঙেছ? ছেলে: না... মানে... আমি... মা: ______ করো না, সত্যি বলো!
The mother is asking the son to stop hesitating and tell the truth.
Match the Bengali phrase with its English equivalent.
Match the following:
আমতা আমতা করা matches 'Hem and haw'.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesসে সত্য বলতে গিয়ে ______ করছে।
The context of 'trying to tell the truth' implies hesitation, making 'আমতা আমতা' the correct choice.
In which scenario would you use this phrase?
Being caught doing something wrong usually leads to guilty hesitation.
মা: তুমি কি গ্লাসটা ভেঙেছ? ছেলে: না... মানে... আমি... মা: ______ করো না, সত্যি বলো!
The mother is asking the son to stop hesitating and tell the truth.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
আমতা আমতা করা matches 'Hem and haw'.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, it's a nonsense sound used only in this idiom to mimic hesitation.
It's better to use 'ইতস্তত করা' (itostoto kora) in formal writing.
Not always. It can also mean they are very nervous or shy.
You can say 'আমতা আমতা করা বন্ধ করো' (Amta amta kora bondho koro).
Yes, it is equally common in both regions.
Yes, it's very common to describe a child's guilty hesitation.
The opposite is 'স্পষ্টভাবে বলা' (to speak clearly).
No, it's a standard idiom, though it's informal.
Yes, but 'amta amta korche' is much more natural.
Bengali uses reduplication to show continuous action or intensity.
Related Phrases
ইতস্তত করা
synonymTo hesitate
কথা ঘুরানো
similarTo change the subject
স্পষ্ট কথা
contrastClear/Direct speech
তোতলামি করা
specialized formTo stutter (medical)
