Assamese (অসমীয়া)

Assamese is an eastern Indo-Aryan language spoken by about 20 million people in the Indian states of Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh, and also spoken in Bangladesh and Bhutan. Assamese is closely related to Bengali and Odia.

Written Assamese

Assamese was first written with a version of the Brahmi script in 300 BC. From the 5th to the 13th century AD, it was written with the Kamarupi or Old Assamese alphabet, which developed from the Gupta script.

Assamese has a long literary tradition, and was used for edicts and other writings of medieval kings. The first printed book in Assamese was Atmaram Sarma's translation of the Bible, which published in 1813 by the Serampore English Missionary Press in Calcutta.

Since 1836 Assamese has been written with a version of the Bengali alphabet with a few extra letters.

Notable features

Assamese alphabet (অসমীয়া লিপি)

Assamese vowels and consonants

Assamese conjunct consonants, additional symbols and numerals

Sample text in Assamese

জন্মগতভাৱে সকলো মানুহ মৰ্য্যদা আৰু অধিকাৰত সমান আৰু স্বতন্ত্ৰ। তেওঁলোকৰ বিবেক আছে, বুদ্ধি আছে। তেওঁলোকে প্ৰত্যেকে প্ৰেত্যেকক ভ্ৰাতৃভাৱে ব্যৱহাৰ কৰা উচিত।

Transliteration

Zonmogotobhawe xokolü manuh moirjjoda aru odhikarot xoman aru sotontro. Teü̃lükor bibek ase, buddhi ase. Teü̃lüke proitteke proittekok bhratribhawe bebohar kora usit.

IPA transcription

/zɒnmɒɡɒtɒbʰaβɛ xɒkɒlʊ manuʱ mɔɪdʑdʑɒda aɹu ɔdʰikaɹɒt xɒman aɹu sɒtɒntɹɒ || tɛʊ̃lʊkɒɹ bibɛk asɛ buddʰi asɛ || tɛʊ̃lʊkɛ pɹɔɪttɛkɛ pɹɔɪttɛkɒk bʰɹatɹibʰaβɛ bɛβɒɦaɹ kɒɹa usit/

A recording of this text by Sagir Ahmed

Translation

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

Information about Assamese | Phrases | Numbers | Tower of Babel

Learn Assamese with uTalk

Assamese language resources on Amazon

Links

Information about the Assamese language
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assamese_language
http://oakokho.com

Assamese courses
http://www.langmaster.com/lmcom/com/web/en-gb/pages/assamese-courses-dictionaries-and-other-language-supplements.aspx
http://archive.org/details/anintensivecour00barugoog

Assamese phrases
http://learn101.org/assamese_phrases.php
http://www.outsourcingtranslation.com/resources/phrases/assamese-sentences.php
http://porhe.wordpress.com/
https://www.languageshome.com/English-Assamese.htm

Assamese dictionary
http://www.xobdo.org

Assamese poems
http://www.poetrytranslation.soas.ac.uk/poems/index.cfm?lang=15

The Sentinel - online news in English and Assamese
http://www.sentinelassam.com/

Indo-Aryan languages

Awadhi, Assamese, Bagri, Bengali, Bhili, Bishnupriya Manipuri, Braj, Chakma, Chhattisgarhi, Chittagonian, Desiya, Dhatki, Dhivehi, Dhundari, Fiji Hindi, Gawar Bati, Gujarati, Hajong, Halbi, Haryanvi, Hindi, Hindko, Kannauji, Khandeshi, Konkani, Kotia, Kumaoni, Kutchi, Lambadi, Marathi, Marwari, Mewari, Modi, Nimadi, Noakhailla, Odia, Parkari Koli, Punjabi, Rajasthani, Rajbanshi, Rangpuri, Rohingya, Saraiki, Sarnámi Hindustani, Sindhi, Sinhala, Sourashtra, Sugali, Sylheti, Tanchangya, Urdu

Languages written with the Eastern Nagari (Bengali) alphabet

Atong, Bengali, Bishnupriya Manipuri, Bodo, Bhumij, Chittagonian, Garo, Hajong, Karbi, Kharia, Khasi, Koch, Kokborok, Kurmali, Malto, Manipuri, Mundari, Noakhailla, Rangpuri, Sadri, Santali, Sylheti, Toto, Tanchangya

Page last modified: 13.04.23

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