What to Say in Odia When Asking for Directions
When asking for directions in Odia, use the complete station-route question to ask which way to go. Treat left, near, and station as useful vocabulary rather than complete requests. To understand the reply, recognise the instructions for turning left, going right, or turning left near a park.
Start with these expressions
| English | Transliteration | Native script |
|---|---|---|
| Left | bama | ବାମ |
| Near | pakhare | ପାଖରେ |
| Turn left | bamaku bulantu | ବାମକୁ ବୁଲନ୍ତୁ |
| Go right | dahanaku jaantu | ଡାହାଣକୁ ଯାଆନ୍ତୁ |
| Turn left near the park | parka pakhare bamaku bulantu | ପାର୍କ ପାଖରେ ବାମକୁ ବୁଲନ୍ତୁ |
| Station | stesana | ଷ୍ଟେସନ୍ |
| Which is the way to the station? | stesanaku jiba rasta keunti? | ଷ୍ଟେସନକୁ ଯିବା ରାସ୍ତା କେଉଁଟି? |
Separate direction words from usable route sentences
The most useful distinction is between a word that labels something and an expression that performs a direction task. “Left” names a side or direction; the dictionary records that meaning directly [1]. “Near” identifies a location relationship, and the dictionary gives “near” or “at hand” as its meaning [2]. “Station” names a destination, with the dictionary documenting a railway or other passenger station [3]. None of these English meanings, by themselves, asks another person for a route.
For a real question, choose the complete example whose meaning asks which route leads to the station. Once someone gives directions, use the complete instruction meaning “turn left,” “go right,” or “turn left near the park” as the relevant model. The landmark version is especially useful when a park helps identify where the turn happens. This prevents a common mistake: saying only the destination label when you intend to ask for directions.
[1] Source: dsal.uchicago.edu.
[2] Source: dsal.uchicago.edu.
[3] Source: dsal.uchicago.edu.
Try it
You are beside a road and need to ask someone which way leads to the station. Which example should you choose?
Choose your answer before reading on.
Check your answer:
Use expression 7 in the table above.
Choose the example whose meaning is a question about the route to the station. The station-only item supplies the destination label, but it does not express the act of asking which way to go.
Practise the station-route question first. Then review the three complete route instructions and match each one to a left turn, a rightward movement, or a park landmark.
Practise speaking with Bhol. Learn words and sentences written in English letters.
