A List of Assamese Idioms 


This is a collection of the phakaraa-jojanaa that appeared in the luitporia and assam mailing lists. I have collected them and put it in this list. Various people have contributed to the list. I have not marked the individual contributions. Contributors are Vijeet Sharma, Kamal C Sarma, Dilip K Deka, Abhi Barthakur, Puspadhar Das, Gitartha P Pathak, Rabin Deka, Roshmi Kakati, Chan Mahanta, Prakash Das, Muhammed R. Islam, Khanin Pathak, Ganesh Bora, Satyen Das , Rajen Barua , Ochintya Sharma, Ashraf Nazir Hussain. If I have missed anybody, please let me know. Some of the phakaraa-jojanaa has English translation or equivalent idiom. Others will be added whenever I get time. If anyone wants to help with that, please send me a mail. Enjoy the list. 

Some Definition from Hemkosh:

Phakara - niti sikoa ba kono kothar udaharan ba dristanta dekhua dui ba adhik pha(n)ki katha. e.g. Thai dibor gun, toptoponi sun. An adage, a maxim. 
Jojona - dristanta, patantar, upama, phakara. e.g. abujonok bujua dheruar thari sijoa. A proverb, an adage, a short sentence expressing a moral lesson. 

* "aache garu, nebai haal, whaatkoi nohowai bhaal" 
* "aadaak dekhi uthil gaa, keturiye bole moko kha" 
* "aagphale duaar daang, pisphaale dhobaang-baang" 
* "aahak baarikha, kaatak paat, rai jaa bhinihi, khaai jaa bhaat" 
* "aahil kona, gol kona, khagori katile tin kona" 
* "aajee uruka, kailoi bihu, mumae anibo tinta tihu" 
* "achin kathor thura nologaba" 
* "adeu dudeu lota nibor seu" 
* "aeer ghoroloi jaam, dui haate kham;
bidhotai bule moi piche piche jaam" 
* "aeer xoman hobo kun, nodir xoman bobo kun" 
* "aeghoror pat nad, aeghoror jori;
aeghore pani tule ghotong ghotong kori" 
* "ai xita pataloloi jaabo, kak nibo kak thobo" 
* "airu barta gangaru jatra" 
* "apun bhalei jogot bhal" 
* "athua chai theng meliba" 
* "ati dorpe hoto lanka" 
* "baahire rong chong bhitore konwaa-bhaaturi" 
* "baandore ki jaane naarikolor moal" 
* "baghe ghah nekhai" 
* "baghor aagtel khuwa" 
* "bajibo lagichil temi kotari, bajiche hachati" 
* "bali loi jipat, sugribaloio sipat" 
* "bandoror nej dighol hobo, nije pari bohibo" 
* "bashbari thaki beryl tia, shownar toopi mathath dia"(Goalporia)( Means the sun rising over the bamboo grove) 
* "bator kochu gaat ghoha" 
* "bauna hoi chandraloi hat melisha" 
* "bayanar gharar bodaio raag jore" 
* "bejir julunga mona, kutharor julunga nomona" 
* "bejor nakot khore khale" 
* "betir knong barhonit jora" 
* "betonit poril au, baxudebaie nomoh" 
* "bhaalere kole poka dhaneu baat die" 
* "bhalukor xangi" 
* "bhanga noukaat nidiba bhori, poisa lobo goni goni" 
* "bhat khaboloi dile anguli kai" 
* "bhator tita khabo pari, mator tita khabo nuwari" 
* "bhinhi maatee bechbaa paare, baai hhukhot aacche" 
* "bhinhi takla hoba pare, jor ase;
dali paina hoba pare, swad ase" 
* "bhini mati bikri korba pare, bai xukhot ase !!!;
dali paina hoba pare , swad ase !! 
* "bhokotexe bogobonto" 
* "bhonga xobahot urulee dia" 
* "bhukute kol pokuwa" 
* "bhurukat hatee bharua" 
* "bidhotar likhon najai khondon" 
* "bina meghe borjopaat huwa" 
* "bohbarombhe loghu kriya" 
* "bohibo janile matiye piraa, khaabo jaanile chaule chiraa" 
* "bohibo paale xubo bichora" 
* "bohu tator patot choku alibatot" 
* "bojalei ka(n)h pital bhaga bhal sini;
xakkhi kolei sini lok koto dur gyani" 
* "bobar xatru nai" 
* "bor lukor pitolor kharu" 
* "bujak bujaba thawore chiware, nubujak bujaba dhora chapore" 
* "bukaat podum phulil" 
* "bure poti xeleku" 
* "chalonie bule beji tur murot phuta" 
* "chapori juwake kuja boole" 
* "chika maari haat gundhuwa" 
* "chokrobot poriborte dukhani cho shukhani cho" 
* "choruk xudhi chaul nobohai" 
* "chunga chai xupa dia" 
* "churehe churor theng dekhe" 
* "churok mure pale" 
* "dahu anguliye khai, burhai hechukilehe jai" 
* "dekhaak dekhi uthil gaa, keturiye bole moko kha" 
* "dekhak dekhi kukureu kore akadexi" 
* "dhura xapor phusphusaniei xar" 
* "dui naawat dui bhori" 
* "dumor logot mare chitol, moriyar logot khunde pitol" 
* "duroro rou borali uchoror puthi kholihona" 
* "e ghar thaki o ghar jung, puthi maas ta phele jung"(Goalporia) (Means spitting - In the earlier houses in Assam when you go from one house to another in the central courtyard you generally spit out (especially after `saada' or tamul or out of sheer habit (does not apply here and can be regarded as a unhygienic habit but some do chew tobacco here which is not that bad). 
* "ebaar xape khaale lezuloiko bhoi" 
* "eeyate mareele tipaa, gargaaon palegoi xipaa" 
* "ek gulit dui sikar" 
* "elekor pelek, kukura soaar bhaaginiyek" 
* "endure ki xenduror mul buje" 
* "eneye burhee naachonee, taate natiniyekor biyaa" 
* "epaat taal okole nebaaje"( It takes two to tango) 
* "epachi kochut eta jalook" 
* "ga ikhan ga xikhan ga nepau juti;
jaluk buli gal marilu tit kochu guti" 
* "gaakheerote mohor khooti" 
* "gaalo baalo khola guteer taal"(All the work proved good for nothing) 
* "gaat naai saal baakoli, doi khaii tini tekeli"( Living beyond one's means) 
* "gayonor ghorot bundayu raag diye" 
* "gelate tenga dia" 
* "ghar xatru bibhixon" 
* "ghate ghate pani, dexe dexe bani" 
* "ghoror goru aru barir ghahe rahijura nahe" 
* "goch nuhuwa thait era gochei bor goch" 
* "gochhot garu uthaa, hoaloangaare kaan binddhoawaa" 
* "gochot kothal uthot tel, nou kautei chel bel" 
* "gohhaai ghorot koan ou, boale moi kol khowa naai" 
* "gorhgoya mitiror bhao, mukhe bole thak thak bhorire hesuke nou" 
* "gorjaa meghe borohhoon nidiye"(lot of talk can mean little action) 
* "goruoo moril, puku xoril" 
* "gorur aagot tokaari baai, kaan jokaari ghah khai" 
* "guboror khorahit pitolor bau" 
* "gujei gojali mela" 
* "hah churor murot paakhi;
kothal churor ethai xakhi" 
* "harot bon gojil" 
* "hatir kopalot khuchiba, mitiror agot koba" 
* "hhokolo choraiye maachh khaay, maachh roakaar naam jaay" 
* "hobo choli, bulibo baap, tehe gucchibo, monor taap" 
* "hola gochot bagi kuthar mora" 
* "iyate marilu tipa;
gargaon palegoi xipa" 
* "iaabat chandrabati taabat khatiya ;
bidhaataar bilamban naajaai kaatiyaa" 
* "iaar naai baanh, taar naai saah"( This demonstrates the economic significance of bamboo in rural Assam ) 
* "iene kukoor, tene taangoan"(also"kukoor chaai taangoan") 
* "ii mula barhiba tar dupatote sin" 
* "iimane lao dangor nohouk pator tol" 
* "iola jueet ghiu dhala" 
* "iome nileu niya juwa'ye nileu niya" 
* "iote baghar bhai tate rati hai" 
* "iuroru jur pabho jur;
moi kankota toi chur" 
* "kaakno bulibaa kokaa, aataaire daari suli pokaa"( They are all the same) 
* "kaako poril, taalo hhoril"(matter of sheer coincidence) 
* "kailoi ram roja hobo, aaji adhibax;
kunenu janichil ram jabo banobax" 
* "kaloru kaal biporit kaal, horine cheleke baghor gaal" 
* "kerelatkoi guti dighol" 
* "keri gur eta, bhauna kare nota" 
* "kerketuai tamul khai, neulok bandhi kilai" 
* "khai karxola dalot uthil, kaathichelekar moron milil" 
* "khorika barire porbat heshuka" 
* "kina hahor thutoloike mongoh" 
* "kochu pator pani" 
* "kol khai bakoli dia" 
* "kolar aagot bubai koi, kolai bule hoi hoi" 
* "koliaborot poyek moril, dheki diute monot poril" 
* "kona haahok potan dia" 
* "konar lakhuti" 
* "kor pora ahila kot dila bhori;
chutalkhon phati gol cher cher kori" 
* "kotaa joaa naak, khaaroni di dhaak" 
* "kulartu eri petortu chinta kora" 
* "kutharar jalanga namana, bejir jalanga mana" 
* "lejut dhora bol nidia" 
* "longkaloi jeye jai xeye rabon hoi" 
* "luitehe jane botha kimanoloi bohe" 
* "lukoloi buli hul puti, nije more phuti" 
* "lukor burie pindo pai;
aminu kiyo thaku chai" 
* "lukor katha nusuniba, batot nangal nuchuchiba" 
* "lukor pithare bihu kora" 
* "maachor chikun muwa, tuponi chikun puwa" 
* "maachor telere maach bhoja" 
* "maak jutuli putuli, putek soaka tekela" 
* "maake chai mukholoi, ghoinie chai hatoloi" 
* "maanile dhaan, naamaanile potaan"(it is an individual's viewpoint) 
* "mache goroka pacholi khaba;
xahue goroka buwari baba" 
* "maghor aag puhar xeh;
tehe janiba jaror thehn" 
* "mahantar chin mahonit, bura gorur chin ghahonit" 
* "mahor mar dekhi, tile bet melile" 
* "maj murat nai chuli, poyeke mate rupahi buli" 
* "mak bhalei jiek jati, dheki thurai bote paji" 
* "manooh-toye poti mon-toa, dhaan-toye poti kon-toa" 
* "meeya bibi raji, ki koribo kaji" 
* "micha kothar theng chuti" 
* "miri bhaatou aaru koawaa, ei tinita ahhoi nopoaa" 
* "mon korilei chon, bakori matito dhon" 
* "more uduli punga, more poduli sunga;
more olop panir maach, more nodir kanor gash" 
* "mullar dour majidoloi" 
* "murhot thole oakonie khaai, maatit thole poroowaai khaai" 
* "naachibo najaane, koy chhotaal-khon bekaa" 
* "naai momaat-koi konaa moaai bhaal" 
* "nador bhekuli" 
* "nai bulile xapotu bix nai" 
* "nai momaitkoi kona momayei bhal" 
* "negur kati bagh chungot mela" 
* "nibuka chabun goo khuwar jom" 
* "nichinaa kaathor nologabaa khori, ghor baari jaabo joli puri" 
* "nichluke uchho pod pai ;
teriakoi pun maari ghuri ghuri picholoi chai" 
* "nijor naak kaati, hhotineer jatraa bhongo" 
* "nogar chang tolehe bat" 
* "nokoi koboloi hol;
lun bhar thoi pani bhar anile banij behaboloi gol" 
* "nomota garu goo khoawaar naame kaal" 
* "nudhoou gaa dhoowali, nekhaau bhat khoowali, nigiloo kikoro kor" 
* "nuxunu kane, noujoni biya korai ekedun dhane" 
* "obhyaxor nor, kornopothe kore xor" 
* "obujonok bujuwa aru dheruwar thari xijuwa eke kotha" 
* "odhik barhoit gur dhemena hoi" 
* "odhik bhokti soror lokhyon" 
* "odhik machat bogoli kona" 
* "ohi nokul xombandho" 
* "okora moit uthil" 
* "olpo bidya bhoyongkori" 
* "pachu anguli nohoi xaman" 
* "par pai jubowai bukot mare lathi" 
* "parar pale zorar gare khai" 
* "parhai, parhe, rue pan;
ei tiniye nisine aan" 
* "phota houk chita houk pator tongali;
bhal houk beya houk bhuyar puwali" 
* "pu bhalei buwari bhal" 
* "pu naati dhare aati, jee naati jopona kaati" 
* "raije sor bulile medhio sor" 
* "raije nokh jukarile noi boi" 
* "ramayon koi hhehh korilo, hhodhe ram noa hhita-ar koan" 
* "ramu nai ojudyao nai" 
* "rojai bhalpai jaak, hatee ghurau nelage tak" 
* "rokkhokai bhokkhok" 
* "ronor xexot, bhujor aagot" 
* "ronot pori kolia, tel naikia phoporia" 
* "rou borali xari gol, puthi kholihona jake jake rol" 
* "saakat nakhai lon, pitikat tinigun" 
* "sondhir baanh buddhire kaatibaa"( This is a Daakor Boson ) 
* "sor gole buddhi, boroxun gole jaapi" 
* "sor gole buddhi, boroxun gole saati" 
* "tej dhule ute, mongoh dhule nute" 
* "telir murot tel" 
* "tik bolodha ulai mati, mak bhalei jiek jati" 
* "tiltuke talto kora" 
* "toolohheer logot kolpotuwaar mukti"(being a tag-along ) 
* "tuku nai deeuta, muku nai neeuta" 
* "twomare barir bah` gaj;
takeni korisw khorisa,;
twomake besi dhandwon loisw;
kothatw mon korisa" 
* "udok bheta rokhia kora" 
* "upakarik ajagore khai" 
* "uporoloi thutkuriale nijor mukhotei pore" 
* "urohor khong bhogaa dhaarit xaaraa"( Find a scapegoat ) 
* "ustador maar xex raati" 
* "xaat ghator chengeli" 
* "xajile kachile bandoriu xundari hoi" 
* "xajilu kachilu kunubai nie buli;
kuneu ninile maaj dangor buli" 
* "xakot nekhai lun, pitikat jai tinigun" 
* "xakti chai bhokti" 
* "xap mari negurot bix nothoba" 
* "xapu moril lathioo nebhangil" 
* "xatur xatur nij bahu bole, xaturibo najanile jaa roxatole" 
* "xogunor xaot bura goru nomore" 
* "xomoyor xor xomoyot mariba" 
* "xubhoichyo chighrom" 
* "xui thakak joguwabo pari, tuponir bhau dhorak joguwabo nuwari" 
* "xui thoka xiwale hah dhoribo nuware" 

Back to Assamese Language page 

Dipankar Talukdar
Dept of Electrical and Computer Engineering
talukdar@acsu.buffalo.edu