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"

Compiled by Dipankar Talukdar, 1997

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