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1 | Rohingya Multilingual Glossary NYU-TIES Longitudinal Team This glossary has been developed by and for the purposes of the NYU-TIES Longitudinal Prenatal and Birth Cohort Study in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. The words in this glossary were collected over several years from surveys, semi structured interview, free listing, key informant interviews, and training sessions. These words and their definitions are reflective of this study and thus may differ from general definitions. Where applicable, some sociocultural explanations are provided in the Notes column for words or concepts that need further explanation. This glossary also has a few limitations. Since the Rohingya language does not have a standard script of its own, we used both Latin and Bangla script for transliteration. However, these scripts do not capture all Rohingya phonemes (sounds) and its tonal system, which will hinder accurate pronunciation of the Rohingya translations. The Rohingya language also has many synonyms because the Rohingya language borrow many words from other languages; these borrowings are dependent on the socioeconomic background of the speaker. Here, we try to use terms that are mostly understood by our study's participants. This means we do not use highly Urdu-derived or Myanmar terms, which are often used by more educated members of the Rohingya community. Where possible, we try to use more colloquial Bangla terms as well (instead of highly erudite/formal Bangla), which our local enumerators may not be too familiar with. And lastly, this is a "live glossary", as in, we are expecting to expand the list according to the project's needs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2 | English | Rohingya (Latin script) | Rohingya (Bangla script) | Bangla language | Notes | ||||||||||||||||||||
3 | Caregiving & Caregiving Activities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
4 | Protection from cold | Tandattu hefazot takha | টানডাত্তু হেফাজত তাখা | ঠান্ডা / শীত থেকে সুরক্ষা | Winter weather is generally mild along the Arakan coast relative to New York standards. However, people all over South Asia are particularly anxious about the winter months. This is because it does indeed hit the low 50's at nighttime; non-insulated homes, coupled with cotton clothing and dense Himalayan fogs, actually make the experience quite terrible. These conditions are exacerabated in the camps, where flimsy tarp and bamboo shelters, sleeping on the ground, and inadequate clothing makes the winter season very worrying for parents of young children. | ||||||||||||||||||||
5 | Affection | Ador | আদর | আদর | This word can be used both as a noun and verb (“ador goron”). In Western cultures, parents/families do not often say “go give my baby some affection/love” or “while I cook, can you go love my child?”. However, in Rohingya culture, this is very common. | ||||||||||||||||||||
6 | Affectionate play | Ador gori kela diya | আদর গরী কেলা দিয়া | আদর করে খেলা করা | |||||||||||||||||||||
7 | Always be with a child | Bachar fuathi hamishkon takha | বাইচ্চার ফুয়ানথি হামিস্কন তাখা | বাচ্চার সাথে সবসময় থাকা | |||||||||||||||||||||
8 | Baby (crawling) | Hambuijja | হাম্বুইজ্জা | হামাগুড়ি দেওয়া শিশু | Hambuijja means ‘crawling’. This tends to be a relatively longer period in Rohingya childhood development, since due to undernutrition, children do not walk as fast. | ||||||||||||||||||||
9 | Baby (newborn) | Ledara | লেদারা | নবজাতক শিশু | Rohingya people divide infancy into three periods, and in each, the descriptor term for ‘baby’ changes (one would say “ledara fua” or “ledara baishsha”, though standalone “ledara” is also said). Ledara period extends from newborn to when the child is sitting. | ||||||||||||||||||||
10 | Baby (walking) | Aadhullah | আডুল্লাহ | ছোট শিশু যে কেবল হাঁটতে শুরু করেছে | Aadulla means “walking”, which in Western contexts would be “toddler”. This period would end when the child is running more steadily and is able to talk more coherently. | ||||||||||||||||||||
11 | Bathing (a child) | Gaa-gusol don | গা-গুসল দন | গোসল করা | |||||||||||||||||||||
12 | Breastfeeding | Bukor doot haba | বুকোর দুত হাবা | বুকের দুধ খাওয়ানো | |||||||||||||||||||||
13 | Child | Baishsha / Baichcha | বাইশা / বাইচ্চা | বাচ্চা / শিশু Bachcha / Shishu | Baishsha literally means “offspring”, but is generally used to mean child, especially one’s own child. Other terms are also commonly used, like “gura-fua”, which literally means “small boy” but used for all genders to mean child. Proper pronunciation of this word is important. The Rohingya pronunciation is very similar to the Bangla/Chittagonian word for “prostitute”, so some people are slowly transitioning to the more Chittagonian pronunciation “baichcha”. In Bangla, ‘shishu’ | ||||||||||||||||||||
14 | Cleaning (a child) | Saf-sutara gora | সাফ-সুতারা গরা | পরিষ্কার রাখা | |||||||||||||||||||||
15 | Comfortable | Aram | আরাম | আরামপ্রদ | |||||||||||||||||||||
16 | Depression | Fereshani | ফেরেশানি | বিষাদগ্রস্ততা | |||||||||||||||||||||
17 | Destroy | borbad | বরবাদ | ধ্বংসপ্রাপ্ত | |||||||||||||||||||||
18 | Discomfort | toklif | তকলিফ | অস্বচ্ছন্দতা / অসুবিধা | |||||||||||||||||||||
19 | Doll (term of endearment for child) | Futhu | ফুতু | পুতুল Putul | Rohingya lovingly call their young children “futhu”, meaning “doll”. Usage of this term of endearment is almost as ubiquitous as the general term “baishsha” when addressing their children. | ||||||||||||||||||||
20 | Dressing (a child) | Hor-swor fidhai diya | হর-সওয়র ফিদাই দিয়া | পোশাক পরা দেওয়া | |||||||||||||||||||||
21 | Carry/Hold (a child) | Kul | কুল | কোল Kol | This is a difficult term to translate into English largely because of vastly shifting sociocultural practices in the West when compared to more traditional cultures, in terms of child rearing. ‘Kul’ is to hold the baby, but in a more gentle and loving way. This is an extremely important ‘task’ that would be relegated to other family members if the mother is busy (for example, fathers or older siblings would take the baby in their ‘kul’ to comfort a child). Men and women hold “kul” differently, and this is quite important, as misgendering has social ramifications in Rohingya society. | ||||||||||||||||||||
22 | Feeding food | Hana haba | হানা হাবা | খাবার খাওয়া | |||||||||||||||||||||
23 | School admission | Ishkoolot borthi gora | ইশ্কুলত বর্তী গরা | স্কুলে ভর্তি করা | |||||||||||||||||||||
24 | Stroll while holding a baby | Kulot loi bera | কুলত লৈ বেরা | কোলে নিয়ে ঘোরাফেরা করা | |||||||||||||||||||||
25 | Safety | Hefazot raka | হেফাজত রাখা | নিরাপত্তা | |||||||||||||||||||||
26 | Keeping watch | Sukei-sukei rakha | সুকেসুকে রাখা | চোখেচোখে রাখা | |||||||||||||||||||||
27 | Kids | fuain | ফুয়াইন | বাচ্চা Bachcha | This is just the plural of “fua” (boy/child), but used more informally to mean ‘kids’. | ||||||||||||||||||||
28 | Physical play | Keladula goron | কেলাদুলা গরণ | খেলাধুলা করা Kheladula kora | |||||||||||||||||||||
29 | Play | Kela | কেলা | খেলা Khela | The Rohingya language is tonal (which itself is pretty unusual for an Indic language). Kela, with emphasis on the “e”, means “play”. But when the emphasis is on the “a”, it means “banana”. | ||||||||||||||||||||
30 | Pretend play | Ban dora-dorir kela | বান দরা-দরির কেলা | কাল্পনিক খেলা | |||||||||||||||||||||
31 | Play (with a child) | Kela diya | কেলা দিয়া | বাচ্চার সাথে খেলা | |||||||||||||||||||||
32 | Pray for the child | Fualla dua fora | ফুয়াল্লা দুআ ফরা | বাচ্চার জন্য দুআ পড়া | |||||||||||||||||||||
33 | Protect children from illness | Biyaramoththu basai raka | বিয়ারামথ্থু বাসায় রাকা | শিশুকে অসুস্থতা থেকে রক্ষা করা | |||||||||||||||||||||
34 | Provide clothes | Horsuwor aani diya | হরসুবর আনি দিয়া | জামা-কাপড় এনে দেওয়া | |||||||||||||||||||||
35 | Provide food timely | Taim-mozin hana diya | টাইম মোজিন হানা দিয়া | সময়মত খাবার প্রদান করা | |||||||||||||||||||||
36 | Provide snacks | Sahath ani diya | সাহাত আনি দিয়া | জলখাবার / নাশতা প্রদান করা | |||||||||||||||||||||
37 | Snacks | Sahath | সাহাত | জলখাবার / নাশতা | |||||||||||||||||||||
38 | Put to sleep | Ghum niya | ঘুম নিয়া | ঘুম পাড়ানো | |||||||||||||||||||||
39 | Rattle (toy) | Zunzuni | জুনজুনি | ঝুমঝুমি Jhumjhumi | |||||||||||||||||||||
40 | Recite a poem | Kabbiya gaa | কাব্বিয়া গা | কবিতা পড়া | |||||||||||||||||||||
41 | Recite verse of Koran | Quran'or aayath fora | কোরআনর আয়াত ফরা | কোরআনের আয়াত পড়া | |||||||||||||||||||||
42 | Sing Lullaby | Ooli diya | ওলি দিয়া | ঘুমপাড়ানি গান গাওয়া | |||||||||||||||||||||
43 | Play with a ball | Bol di khela | বল দি কেলা | বল দিয়ে খেলা | |||||||||||||||||||||
44 | Watch videos on phone | Mobailoth vidiyu sa | মোবাইলত ভিডিও সা | মোবাইলে ভিডিও দেখা | |||||||||||||||||||||
45 | Cradle | Duloin | ডোলইন | দোলনা Dolona | Generally, Rohingya parents don’t have a standing crib for a baby. They keep babies in portable swings/cradle, which can be simply made of a fabric or study wooden material. Keeping an eye of the child in a baby swing is a common task during child rearing, particularly when the mother goes back to doing daily tasks and the father/family/siblings are in charge of the baby. | ||||||||||||||||||||
46 | Take to a hospital | Dattahana loijon | ডাট্টাহানা লৈজন | হাসপাতালে নিয়ে যাওয়া | |||||||||||||||||||||
47 | To visit family | Egana-guishshi hase beraito zon | এগানা-গুইশশি হাসে বেরাইত জন | পরিবার পরিদর্শন করা | |||||||||||||||||||||
48 | To visit friends | Fuaiñjja hase beraito zon | ফুয়াইজ্জা হাসে বেরাইত জন | বন্ধুদের সাথে দেখা করা | |||||||||||||||||||||
49 | Teach social morals | Adob-kaida shika | আদব-কায়দা শিকা | আদব কায়দা শেখানো | |||||||||||||||||||||
50 | Tell stories | Kissa huwa | কিস্সা হুয়া | গল্প বলা | |||||||||||||||||||||
51 | To educate (general) | Elom shika | এলোম শিকা | শিক্ষা দেত্তয়া | |||||||||||||||||||||
52 | To educate (school) | Fonna shika | ফোননা শিকা | পড়ালেখা শেখানো | |||||||||||||||||||||
53 | To teach language | Bhasha shika | ভাষা শিকা | ভাষা শেখানো | |||||||||||||||||||||
54 | To read a book | Kitab foron | কিতাব ফোরণ | বই পড়া | |||||||||||||||||||||
55 | To look at pictures (in a book) | Kitabot saaba son | কিতাবৎ সাবা সন | বইয়ের ছবি দেখা | |||||||||||||||||||||
56 | Toy | Kelona | কলোনা | খেলনা Khelna | |||||||||||||||||||||
57 | Talisman | Tabees | তাবীস | তাবিজ | Talismans are an important part of Rohingya spirituality; they are commonly seen put on children by their parents or grandparents to ward off any malevolent spirits (jinns), the evil eye (nozor), and black-magic (zadu-tuna). | ||||||||||||||||||||
58 | Family & Familial Roles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
59 | Brother | Bhai | ভাই | ভাই Bhai | Same as sisters, “brother” is also dependent on age. Older brothers are called “bhaiya” or “bodda”. Younger brothers are just called by their personal names. | ||||||||||||||||||||
60 | Daughter (female child) | Maiya zer-fua | মাইয়া জের-ফু'আ | মেয়ে Meye | These are two widely used terms for daughter. | ||||||||||||||||||||
61 | Daughter-in-law | Fuar Bou | ফু'আর বউ | বউ Bou | |||||||||||||||||||||
62 | Father (dad) | Baaf | বাফ | বাবা Baba | |||||||||||||||||||||
63 | Father-in-law | Oor | ওওর | শ্বশুর Shoshur | |||||||||||||||||||||
64 | Grandfather | Dada Nana | দাদা নানা | দাদা / Dada নানা / Nana | Paternal grandfather Maternal grandfather | ||||||||||||||||||||
65 | Grandmother | Dadi Nani | দাদি নানী | দাদি / Dadi নানী / Nani | The word for grandparents are dependent on whether they are paternal or maternal. Paternal grandmother Maternal grandmother | ||||||||||||||||||||
66 | Husband | Beda / Morod / Zamai | বেডা / মরদ / জামাই | স্বামী Shami | There are various ways of saying one's husband, depending on the woman's socioeconomic background. "Beda" is seen as the most colloquial, morod and zamai are higher registers | ||||||||||||||||||||
67 | Mother (mom) | Maa | মা | মা Maa | |||||||||||||||||||||
68 | Mother-in-law | Oori | ওওরি | শাশুড়ি Shashuri | Explain all familial relations, perhaps in a chart | ||||||||||||||||||||
69 | Sister | Boin | বৈন | বোন Bon | There are different words for siblings depending on their age (whether they are older or younger). You would call an older sister “afa” (in Rohingya) and “apa” (in Bangla). Younger sisters are just called by their personal names. | ||||||||||||||||||||
70 | Sister-in-law (brother's wife or husband's brother's wife) | Bhabi | ভাবী | ভাবী | In English, sister-in-law can many many different relations. These different relations each have different terms in Rohingya (and Bangla). | ||||||||||||||||||||
71 | Sister-in-law (husband’s brother’s wife) | Zal | জাল | জা Jaa | |||||||||||||||||||||
72 | Sister-in-law (husband’s sister) | Nonon | নোনন | ননদ Nonod | |||||||||||||||||||||
73 | Sister-in-law (wife’s sister) | Aali | আ'লি | শালী Shalee | |||||||||||||||||||||
74 | Son (male child) | Fua | ফু'আ | ছেলে Chele | The word ‘fua’ is sometimes generally used to mean ‘child’, especially when coupled with ‘gura’ (i.e., ‘gura fua’ meaning small boy (child)). | ||||||||||||||||||||
75 | Son-in-law | Zamai | জামাই | জামাই Jamai | |||||||||||||||||||||
76 | Wife | Bedi / Bibi / Bou | বেডি / বিবি / বউ | স্ত্রী Stree | Similar to how a woman might say her husband, a man's socioeconomic standing will determine how he calls his wife. "Bedi" is lower register, whereas "bibi" and "bou" are higher. | ||||||||||||||||||||
77 | Mental Health and Functioning | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
78 | Mediation in arguments | Hoijja no di bolla modoth gora | হইজ্জা ন দি বললা মদথ গরা | ঝগড়া না করার জন্য সাহায্য করা | |||||||||||||||||||||
79 | Sudden, sharp mental shock | Demak sho'ot oi za goi | দেমাক শো'অট ওই জা গৈ | হটাৎ তীব্র মানসিক ধাক্কা | |||||||||||||||||||||
80 | Suicide | Nizore nize marifelon | নিজরে নিজে মারিফেলন | আত্মহত্যা | Rohingya language does not have a singular term to define suicide. We translated it here with "to kill one's self". English too doesn't have a singular term - it borrows from Latin. | ||||||||||||||||||||
81 | Active suicidal thoughts | Nizore marifelabolla kushish goron | নিজরে মারিফেলাবোল্লা কুশিস গরণ | নিয়ত আত্মঘাতী চিন্তা | |||||||||||||||||||||
82 | Passive suicidal thoughts | Nizore marifelabolla atikka baafon | নিজরে মারিফেলাবোল্লা আতিক্কা বাফন | অনিয়মিত আত্মঘাতী চিন্তা | |||||||||||||||||||||
83 | Tell family to stay clean | Foribarore saaf-sutara taibolla hon | ফরিবাররে সাফ-সুতারা তাইবোল্লা হন | পরিবারকে পরিষ্কার-পরিচ্ছন্ন থাকতে বলা | |||||||||||||||||||||
84 | Angry with people | Manush loi Guishsha | মানুষ লই গুইশা | মানুষের উপর রাগ | |||||||||||||||||||||
85 | Anxiety | Fereshani | ফেরেশানি | উদ্বেগ | |||||||||||||||||||||
86 | Attending Quranic education (home-based for women) | Talim’ot zon | তালিমৎ জন | তালিমে যাওয়া | |||||||||||||||||||||
87 | To blame one's self | Nizor uore duish diya | নিজর উওরে দুইশ দিয়া | নিজেকে দোষারোপ করা | |||||||||||||||||||||
88 | Physical ailment | Gaar oshanthi | গার অশান্তি | শারীরিক অসুস্থতা | |||||||||||||||||||||
89 | Brainwash | Oinno zonor mon-dilore hota-batra diore bodolai don | অন্য জনর মন-দিলরে হতা-বাত্রা হয়রে বদলায় দন | মগজ ধোলাই | |||||||||||||||||||||
90 | Bringing firewood | Dargua ana | দারগুয়া আনা | লাকড়ি আনা | |||||||||||||||||||||
91 | Bringing rations | Raishon ana | রাইশন আনা | রেশন নিয়ে আসা | |||||||||||||||||||||
92 | Bringing the gas tank | Gas ana | গ্যাস আনা | গ্যাসের ট্যাঙ্ক আনা | |||||||||||||||||||||
93 | Bullying | Dhaunk don | দোঁক ডন | গুন্ডামি / তর্জন | |||||||||||||||||||||
94 | Cleaning the floor | Ghor kusa | ঘর কুসা | মেঝে পরিষ্কার করা | |||||||||||||||||||||
95 | Cleaning the house | Ghor-duwar saaf goron | ঘর-দ্বার সাফ গরা | বাসাটি পরিষ্কার কর | |||||||||||||||||||||
96 | Cooking hygienically | Forishkar gori rana-bara gora | ফরিশকারগরি রানা-বারা গরা | স্বাস্থ্যসম্মতভাবে রান্না করা | |||||||||||||||||||||
97 | Confiscation | Bolazuri gori lofelon | বোলাজুরি গরি লফেলন | বাজেয়াপ্ত করা | |||||||||||||||||||||
98 | Crying easily | Asaanor sathe handa | আসানর সাথে হাঁদা | সহজে কাঁদে | |||||||||||||||||||||
99 | Conversing with others | Moshuwara gora | মশুয়ারা গরা | অন্যদের সাথে আলোচনা | |||||||||||||||||||||
100 | Dizziness | Matha Gurani | মাথা গুরানী | মাথা ঘোরা | |||||||||||||||||||||