Three Levels of Respect

FoundationsSounds Like ādara kē tīna darajā

Bhojpuri has three words for you, each with its own verb forms.

How It Works

Choose the word for you by how close and how respectful you want to be.

WordUse withVerb
तेंsmall children, very close familycommand, the bare stem: बइठ, पढ़
तूfriends, siblings, younger familyजालऽ (to a man), जालू (to a woman); command बइठऽ, पढ़ऽ
रउआelders, strangers, customersजाइले; command बइठीं, पढ़ीं

With तू the verb also shows whether the person spoken to is a man or a woman. With रउआ it does not.

Keep one form per pair of speakers. A grandchild says रउआ to a grandfather and a grandfather says तू back.

As a learner, use रउआ when unsure. It is never rude. तें is for recognition: you will hear it in families and in songs, but do not use it with people you do not know well.

Examples (5)

  1. बबुआ, तें बइठ के पढ़।

    Little one, sit down and study.

    A command with तें is the bare stem: पढ़.

  2. नेहा, तू चाय पियेलू?

    Neha, do you drink tea?

    तू to a woman ends in -लू.

  3. राहुल, तू कहाँ जालऽ?

    Rahul, where do you go?

    तू to a man ends in -लऽ.

  4. रउआ कहाँ जाइले?

    Where do you go?

    रउआ takes the हम-shaped verb.

  5. रउआ तनी बइठीं।

    Please sit down for a moment.

    बइठीं is the respectful command.

Common Mistakes

  • Using तें with someone you do not know well.

    तें कहाँ बाड़े?
    रउआ कहाँ बानी?

    तें sounds rude to a stranger; use रउआ.

How It Connects

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Three Levels of RespectFoundations

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Words in This Pattern

तेंतूरउआ