Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
boss
Bengali translation:
oporwala, monib, korta
Added to glossary by
Anna Konar
Aug 5, 2008 17:13
15 yrs ago
3 viewers *
English term
Russian Federation
Agro, Eco, Food, Biotech, Genetics
Native in: Russian (Variant: Standard-Russia)
Works in: English to Russian, Russian
boss
English to Bengali
Other
Other
in my bengali text-book it is said that boss in bangla is korta, but some bengali people said that korta is not boss, but husband. one of them said that boss is saheb, the other one said that boss is boss. i doubt very much about saheb. and boss - is an english variant. so what is bengali variant for boss and what is used in modern colloquial bengali for boss?
Proposed translations
(Bengali)
| 4 | oporwala, monib, korta |
Santanu Mukhopadhyay
|
| 5 | boss, ostad |
Rabeya Akhter
|
| 5 | Malik/probhu |
keshab
|
Proposed translations
3 hrs
Santanu Mukhopadhyay
India
India
Native in Bengali
India
Translating Words & Spirit
Native in: Bengali 
Works in: English to Bengali, Bengali to English
Related KudoZ points
:
20
Selected
oporwala, monib, korta
'boss' means - oporwala(superior at office), monib(employer/master), korta(owner)
Now it is interesting to note that the head of the family or the husband is also sometimes referred to as 'korta'. Basically any man of authority or someone having a bossy attitude may be referred to as 'korta'. So it is no wonder that the husband who is usually the head of the family is referred to as the 'korta'. God is also reffered to as 'korta' as He is the head of the universe.
Just like the way some people may address their superior or boss as 'Sir', in a similarly manner 'Saheb' is used in bengali. But 'Saheb' is not the meaning of 'Boss'. It originated when the British officers started ruling India and were addressed as 'Saheb' by Indian workers employed by them. 'Saheb' means a foreigner or a white skinned male but to my knowledge does not have any racist connotation.
Anyways, coming back to the topic at hand The actual meaning of 'boss' in Bengali is 'monib'. But this word is hardly used nowadays. Even while speaking in Bengali we use 'Boss' to mean 'Boss'. However, if you press me for a Bengali variant, I would say that it is 'oporwala'(ওপোর্ওলা)।
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Note added at 11 hrs (2008-08-06 04:57:24 GMT)
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Please, do not get confused. Even in the english language sometimes the same meaning may be conveyed through different words. For example 'going crazy' may be written as 'going mad' or 'going insane'.
I shall try to explain the exact meanings to help you understand the subtle nuances.
In Bengal, 'ostad' means 'master'(in any art) or music teacher. But maybe used also to mean a leader or someone who has special skills.
'Malik' means owner or proprietor and is also used refer to the 'Lord', governor, master.
Now, the 'Malik' may be called the 'boss' by people working under him but as far as my understanding goes, 'Malik' does not mean 'Boss'.
On the other hand 'oporwala' means someone who is your superior in position and from whom you take orders or in other words 'Boss'.
Now it is interesting to note that the head of the family or the husband is also sometimes referred to as 'korta'. Basically any man of authority or someone having a bossy attitude may be referred to as 'korta'. So it is no wonder that the husband who is usually the head of the family is referred to as the 'korta'. God is also reffered to as 'korta' as He is the head of the universe.
Just like the way some people may address their superior or boss as 'Sir', in a similarly manner 'Saheb' is used in bengali. But 'Saheb' is not the meaning of 'Boss'. It originated when the British officers started ruling India and were addressed as 'Saheb' by Indian workers employed by them. 'Saheb' means a foreigner or a white skinned male but to my knowledge does not have any racist connotation.
Anyways, coming back to the topic at hand The actual meaning of 'boss' in Bengali is 'monib'. But this word is hardly used nowadays. Even while speaking in Bengali we use 'Boss' to mean 'Boss'. However, if you press me for a Bengali variant, I would say that it is 'oporwala'(ওপোর্ওলা)।
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 11 hrs (2008-08-06 04:57:24 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Please, do not get confused. Even in the english language sometimes the same meaning may be conveyed through different words. For example 'going crazy' may be written as 'going mad' or 'going insane'.
I shall try to explain the exact meanings to help you understand the subtle nuances.
In Bengal, 'ostad' means 'master'(in any art) or music teacher. But maybe used also to mean a leader or someone who has special skills.
'Malik' means owner or proprietor and is also used refer to the 'Lord', governor, master.
Now, the 'Malik' may be called the 'boss' by people working under him but as far as my understanding goes, 'Malik' does not mean 'Boss'.
On the other hand 'oporwala' means someone who is your superior in position and from whom you take orders or in other words 'Boss'.
Note from asker:
| i'm going crazy - ostad? malik? oporwala? are we all talking about the same language? now i understand absolutely nothing |
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "thank you"
45 mins
Rabeya Akhter
Singapore
Singapore
Native in Bengali
Singapore
Qualified and Experienced
Native in: Bengali
Works in: English to Bengali, Bengali to English, English, and 2 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
boss, ostad
Boss means someone superior to you. In colloquial Bengali we simply call it "boss". Another colloquial word for boss is "ostad". And the formal version of boss is "sir".
55 mins
Malik/probhu
In general, "boss" is the chief of an office, factory, workplace etc. 'Boss' can also be used in many other aspects. "Malik" is the most common Bengali form of boss.
few examples:
he is the boss of this factory= se ei karkhanar malik
He is the boss of his own = se nejei nijer malik
you are the boss of us= apni amader malik.
"Probhu" is the synonim of malik. But it comes in "sadhu" language.
But as I said earlier, still now sadhu language is used in written language. So you can use "probhu" also.
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Note added at 1 hr (2008-08-05 18:42:18 GMT)
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Hmmmm...I didn't use this example...it is far better to say "amar office-er boss".
It has two reasons:
1. Like any other living language, Bengali has a power to grasp words from other languages and boss becomes colloquial in modern Bengali.
2. Office and boss- these ideas came in colonial period.So these are used as it is and everybody understand it.
There is another word which is used widely for office boss- baro karta. like: amar office-er borokorta.
don't mix it with "karta" which means "head of the family"
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Note added at 1 hr (2008-08-05 18:55:48 GMT)
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Oh yes, you should guess it from context. please look at the speaker: is he/she a office personnel or member belongs to a family?
Boss can be karta in the sense of "head of the family". But husband? no way.
few examples:
he is the boss of this factory= se ei karkhanar malik
He is the boss of his own = se nejei nijer malik
you are the boss of us= apni amader malik.
"Probhu" is the synonim of malik. But it comes in "sadhu" language.
But as I said earlier, still now sadhu language is used in written language. So you can use "probhu" also.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2008-08-05 18:42:18 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Hmmmm...I didn't use this example...it is far better to say "amar office-er boss".
It has two reasons:
1. Like any other living language, Bengali has a power to grasp words from other languages and boss becomes colloquial in modern Bengali.
2. Office and boss- these ideas came in colonial period.So these are used as it is and everybody understand it.
There is another word which is used widely for office boss- baro karta. like: amar office-er borokorta.
don't mix it with "karta" which means "head of the family"
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2008-08-05 18:55:48 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Oh yes, you should guess it from context. please look at the speaker: is he/she a office personnel or member belongs to a family?
Boss can be karta in the sense of "head of the family". But husband? no way.
Note from asker:
| so what's better to use about my office boss - ostad or malik (in colloquial bengali)? |
| that's the point - how to understand is it's about boss or a head of a family (husband in my text-book)? is there any difference in spelling or so? |
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