What does "it" mean in Odia?
English "it" is the pronoun for a thing, an animal or an idea: "It is my book," "Put it on the table," "It is true that I was late." Odia has no single word with that job. Odia pronouns have no gender at all: ସେ (se) means both "he" and "she." When Odia refers to a thing, it uses its demonstratives, "this" and "that." Where English says "it," Odia says:
- ଏହା (ehā), literally "this," for a thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned - ତାହା (tāhā), literally "that," for a thing that is further off, or was mentioned earlier
So ଏହା ମୋର ବହି (ehā mora bahi) is "It (this) is my book," and ତାହା ବଡ଼ ଥିଲା (tāhā baṛa thilā) is "It (that) was big." English makes you choose between "it," "this" and "that." In Odia the choice between near and far is always made, and the plain "it" of English falls into one of the two.
ଏହା and ତାହା are the forms of written and careful Odia: books, newspapers, radio, the classroom. In everyday speech you will more often hear ଏଇଟା (eiṭā), "this one," and ସେଇଟା (seiṭā), "that one." They are built from the demonstratives ଏଇ (ei) and ସେଇ (sei) and the classifier ଟା (-ṭā), which marks a single, definite thing. Both registers appear in this lesson: the formal pair in Section A, and a mix of formal and spoken forms in the dialogue.
Like nouns, ଏହା and ତାହା take case endings: ଏହାକୁ (ehāku) "it" as object, ଏହାର (ehāra) "its," ଏହାଠାରୁ (ehāṭhāru) "than it, from it." For "in it" and "from it," Odia also has a special inanimate stem, ଏଥି- (ethi-) and ସେଥି- (sethi-), as in ଏଥିରେ (ethire) "in it" and ସେଥିପାଇଁ (sethipāiṁ) "for that reason, therefore."
English also uses an "empty" it that points at nothing: "it is raining," "it is ten o'clock." Odia has no equivalent. It says ବର୍ଷା ହେଉଛି (barṣā heuchhi), "rain is happening," and ଦଶଟା ବାଜିଲାଣି (daśaṭā bājilāṇi), "ten has struck." Section D explains this.
A note on the script. The word ଏହା is two letters: the independent vowel ଏ (e) and the consonant ହ (ha) carrying the vowel sign ା (ā). ତାହା is ତ (ta) with ା, then ହ with ା. The ତ of ତାହା is a dental t, with the tongue touching the back of the upper teeth. Keep it apart from the retroflex ଟ (ṭa) of ଏଇଟା, where the tongue curls back.
- Odia has no gendered or neuter "it"; it uses the demonstratives ଏହା (ehā, "this") and ତାହା (tāhā, "that") - Choose ଏହା for what is near or just mentioned, and ତାହା for what is further off or mentioned earlier - Spoken Odia prefers ଏଇଟା (eiṭā) and ସେଇଟା (seiṭā), "this one, that one" - The pronouns decline: ଏହାକୁ (it, as object), ଏହାର (its), ଏଥିରେ (in it), ଏହାଠାରୁ (than it, from it) - The pronoun ଏହା ("it, this") is different from the adjective ଏହି (ehi), "this (book)" - There is no "empty" it: "it is raining" is ବର୍ଷା ହେଉଛି, "rain is happening" - With a thing as subject, the verb is always third person singular and non-honorific: ଅଛି, ଥିଲା, ହେବ
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10.1a ଏହା it ମୋର my ବହି book
10.1b ehā (EH-haa) it/this-NOM mora (MO-raw) my-1SG.GEN bahi (BAW-hi) book
10.2a ତାହା it ବଡ଼ big ଥିଲା was
10.2b tāhā (TAA-haa) it/that-NOM baṛa (BAW-raw) big thilā (THI-laa) was-PST.3SG
10.3a ଏହା it ଏକ a ନଦୀ river ଅଟେ is
10.3b ehā (EH-haa) it/this-NOM eka (E-kaw) one=a nadī (NAW-dee) river aṭe (AW-te) is-COP.FORMAL.3SG
10.4a ତାହା it କଣ what
10.4b tāhā (TAA-haa) it/that-NOM kaṇa (KAW-naw) what-Q
10.5a ଏହାକୁ it ଧର hold
10.5b ehāku (EH-haa-ku) it/this-ACC dhara (DHAW-raw) hold-IMP.2.INFORMAL
10.6a ମୁଁ I ତାହାକୁ it ଟେବୁଲ table ଉପରେ on ରଖିଲି put
10.6b muṁ (mũ) I-1SG.NOM tāhāku (TAA-haa-ku) it/that-ACC ṭebula (TE-bu-law) table upare (U-paw-re) on-top-LOC rakhili (RAW-khi-li) put-PST.1SG
10.7a ଏହାର its ରଙ୍ଗ colour ନାଲି red
10.7b ehāra (EH-haa-raw) it/this-GEN raṅga (RAWNG-gaw) colour nāli (NAA-li) red
10.8a ତାହା it ବହୁତ very ପୁରୁଣା old ଘର house ଥିଲା was
10.8b tāhā (TAA-haa) it/that-NOM bahuta (BAW-hu-taw) very puruṇā (PU-ru-naa) old ghara (GHAW-raw) house thilā (THI-laa) was-PST.3SG
10.9a ମୁଁ I ଏହା it ବିଷୟରେ about କିଛି anything ଜାଣେ know ନାହିଁ not
10.9b muṁ (mũ) I-1SG.NOM ehā (EH-haa) it/this-OBL biṣayare (BI-shaw-yaw-re) subject-LOC=about kichhi (KI-chhi) anything jāṇe (JAA-ne) know-PRES.1SG nāhiṁ (NAA-hĩ) not-NEG
10.10a ଏଥିରେ in-it ଚିନି sugar ଅଛି is କି Q
10.10b ethire (E-thi-re) it/this-INAN.OBL-LOC cini (CHI-ni) sugar achhi (AW-chhi) is-EXIST.3SG ki (ki) Q-PARTICLE
10.11a ଏହା it ସତ true ଯେ that ମୁଁ I ଡେରିରେ late ଆସିଲି came
10.11b ehā (EH-haa) it/this-NOM sata (SAW-taw) true je (je) that-COMP muṁ (mũ) I-1SG.NOM ḍerire (DE-ri-re) delay-LOC=late āsili (AA-si-li) came-PST.1SG
10.12a ତାହା it ଖାଇବା eating ପାଇଁ for ନୁହେଁ is-not ତାହା it ଦେଖିବା looking ପାଇଁ for
10.12b tāhā (TAA-haa) it/that-NOM khāibā (KHAA-i-baa) eat-VN pāiṁ (PAA-ĩ) for-POSTP nuheṁ (NU-hẽ) is-not-NEG.COP.3SG tāhā (TAA-haa) it/that-NOM dekhibā (DE-khi-baa) see-VN pāiṁ (PAA-ĩ) for-POSTP
10.13a ମା mother ଚିଠିଟି the-letter ପଢ଼ିଲେ read ଓ and ତାହାକୁ it ଯତ୍ନରେ carefully ସାଇତି preserving ରଖିଲେ kept
10.13b mā (MAA) mother ciṭhiṭi (CHI-thi-ti) letter-CLF.DEF paṛhile (PAW-rhi-le) read-PST.3.HON o (o) and tāhāku (TAA-haa-ku) it/that-ACC jatnare (JAT-naw-re) care-LOC sāiti (SAA-i-ti) preserve-CVB rakhile (RAW-khi-le) keep-PST.3.HON
10.14a ଏହି this ନଦୀ river ପାହାଡ଼ରୁ from-the-hills ବାହାରେ comes-out ଏବଂ and ଏହାର its ପାଣି water ବହୁତ very ଥଣ୍ଡା cold
10.14b ehi (E-hi) this-DEM.ADJ nadī (NAW-dee) river pāhāṛaru (PAA-haa-raw-ru) hill-ABL bāhāre (BAA-haa-re) come-out-PRES.3SG ebaṃ (E-bawng) and ehāra (EH-haa-raw) it/this-GEN pāṇi (PAA-ni) water bahuta (BAW-hu-taw) very thaṇḍā (THAWN-daa) cold
10.15a ଯାହା what ତୁମେ you ଖୋଜୁଛ are-looking-for ତାହା it ଏହି this ଘରେ in-house ନାହିଁ is-not
10.15b jāhā (JAA-haa) what-REL tume (TU-me) you-2.INFORMAL khojuchha (KHO-ju-chhaw) search-PROG.2.INFORMAL tāhā (TAA-haa) it/that-CORREL ehi (E-hi) this-DEM.ADJ ghare (GHAW-re) house-LOC nāhiṁ (NAA-hĩ) not-exist-NEG.EXIST
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10.1 ଏହା ମୋର ବହି। (ehā mora bahi.) It is my book.
10.2 ତାହା ବଡ଼ ଥିଲା। (tāhā baṛa thilā.) It was big.
10.3 ଏହା ଏକ ନଦୀ ଅଟେ। (ehā eka nadī aṭe.) It is a river.
10.4 ତାହା କଣ? (tāhā kaṇa?) What is it?
10.5 ଏହାକୁ ଧର। (ehāku dhara.) Hold it.
10.6 ମୁଁ ତାହାକୁ ଟେବୁଲ ଉପରେ ରଖିଲି। (muṁ tāhāku ṭebula upare rakhili.) I put it on the table.
10.7 ଏହାର ରଙ୍ଗ ନାଲି। (ehāra raṅga nāli.) Its colour is red.
10.8 ତାହା ବହୁତ ପୁରୁଣା ଘର ଥିଲା। (tāhā bahuta puruṇā ghara thilā.) It was a very old house.
10.9 ମୁଁ ଏହା ବିଷୟରେ କିଛି ଜାଣେ ନାହିଁ। (muṁ ehā biṣayare kichhi jāṇe nāhiṁ.) I know nothing about it.
10.10 ଏଥିରେ ଚିନି ଅଛି କି? (ethire cini achhi ki?) Is there sugar in it?
10.11 ଏହା ସତ ଯେ ମୁଁ ଡେରିରେ ଆସିଲି। (ehā sata je muṁ ḍerire āsili.) It is true that I came late.
10.12 ତାହା ଖାଇବା ପାଇଁ ନୁହେଁ, ତାହା ଦେଖିବା ପାଇଁ। (tāhā khāibā pāiṁ nuheṁ, tāhā dekhibā pāiṁ.) It is not for eating; it is for looking at.
10.13 ମା ଚିଠିଟି ପଢ଼ିଲେ ଓ ତାହାକୁ ଯତ୍ନରେ ସାଇତି ରଖିଲେ। (mā ciṭhiṭi paṛhile o tāhāku jatnare sāiti rakhile.) Mother read the letter and kept it safe with care.
10.14 ଏହି ନଦୀ ପାହାଡ଼ରୁ ବାହାରେ, ଏବଂ ଏହାର ପାଣି ବହୁତ ଥଣ୍ଡା। (ehi nadī pāhāṛaru bāhāre, ebaṃ ehāra pāṇi bahuta thaṇḍā.) This river comes down from the hills, and its water is very cold.
10.15 ଯାହା ତୁମେ ଖୋଜୁଛ, ତାହା ଏହି ଘରେ ନାହିଁ। (jāhā tume khojuchha, tāhā ehi ghare nāhiṁ.) What you are looking for is not in this house.
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10.1 ଏହା ମୋର ବହି।
10.2 ତାହା ବଡ଼ ଥିଲା।
10.3 ଏହା ଏକ ନଦୀ ଅଟେ।
10.4 ତାହା କଣ?
10.5 ଏହାକୁ ଧର।
10.6 ମୁଁ ତାହାକୁ ଟେବୁଲ ଉପରେ ରଖିଲି।
10.7 ଏହାର ରଙ୍ଗ ନାଲି।
10.8 ତାହା ବହୁତ ପୁରୁଣା ଘର ଥିଲା।
10.9 ମୁଁ ଏହା ବିଷୟରେ କିଛି ଜାଣେ ନାହିଁ।
10.10 ଏଥିରେ ଚିନି ଅଛି କି?
10.11 ଏହା ସତ ଯେ ମୁଁ ଡେରିରେ ଆସିଲି।
10.12 ତାହା ଖାଇବା ପାଇଁ ନୁହେଁ, ତାହା ଦେଖିବା ପାଇଁ।
10.13 ମା ଚିଠିଟି ପଢ଼ିଲେ ଓ ତାହାକୁ ଯତ୍ନରେ ସାଇତି ରଖିଲେ।
10.14 ଏହି ନଦୀ ପାହାଡ଼ରୁ ବାହାରେ, ଏବଂ ଏହାର ପାଣି ବହୁତ ଥଣ୍ଡା।
10.15 ଯାହା ତୁମେ ଖୋଜୁଛ, ତାହା ଏହି ଘରେ ନାହିଁ।
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These are the grammar rules for "it" in Odia:
1. No gender, two distances. Odia pronouns do not mark gender. For people, the third person is ସେ (se, "he, she"). For things, Odia uses the demonstrative pronouns:
- ଏହା (ehā): "this, it." Use it for something near the speaker, something just mentioned, or something about to be explained. - ତାହା (tāhā): "that, it." Use it for something further away, something mentioned earlier, or something the listener has in mind.
In writing, ଏହା is the usual "it" when a sentence picks up the subject of the one before it: "The river rises in the hills. It (ଏହା) is very cold."
2. The case forms. Both pronouns take the ordinary case endings, added directly to the word:
- Nominative (subject): ଏହା (ehā), ତାହା (tāhā) - Accusative/dative (object): ଏହାକୁ (ehāku), ତାହାକୁ (tāhāku) - Genitive ("its"): ଏହାର (ehāra), ତାହାର (tāhāra) - Instrumental ("by it"): ଏହା ଦ୍ୱାରା (ehā dwārā), ତାହା ଦ୍ୱାରା (tāhā dwārā) - Locative ("in it"): ଏଥିରେ (ethire) or ଏହାରେ (ehāre); ସେଥିରେ (sethire) or ତାହାରେ (tāhāre) - Ablative ("from it, than it"): ଏହାଠାରୁ (ehāṭhāru) or ଏଥିରୁ (ethiru); ତାହାଠାରୁ (tāhāṭhāru) or ସେଥିରୁ (sethiru)
The stems ଏଥି- (ethi-) and ସେଥି- (sethi-) are used only of things, never of people. They also appear in fixed expressions: ଏଥିପାଇଁ (ethipāiṁ), "for this"; ସେଥିପାଇଁ (sethipāiṁ), "for that reason, therefore"; ସେଥିରେ (sethire), "in that, thereupon."
In front of a postposition such as ବିଷୟରେ (biṣayare, "about") the bare form is common: ଏହା ବିଷୟରେ (ehā biṣayare), "about it" (10.9).
3. Plural. For "they" referring to things: ଏଗୁଡ଼ିକ (eguṛika), "these (things)," and ସେଗୁଡ଼ିକ (seguṛika), "those (things)." Speech also uses ଏସବୁ (esabu) and ସେସବୁ (sesabu), "all these, all those."
4. The spoken forms. In conversation, ଏଇଟା (eiṭā) and ସେଇଟା (seiṭā), "this one, that one," replace ଏହା and ତାହା. They decline in the same way: ଏଇଟାକୁ (eiṭāku), "it (object)"; ସେଇଟାର (seiṭāra), "its." The classifier ଟା (-ṭā) is the everyday one; ଟି (-ṭi) is its gentler, more polite partner (compare ଚିଠିଟି, "the letter," in 10.13).
5. Pronoun and adjective. ଏହା and ତାହା stand alone, in place of a noun. When "this" or "that" comes in front of a noun, Odia uses the adjectives ଏହି (ehi) and ସେହି (sehi): ଏହି ନଦୀ (ehi nadī), "this river," but ଏହାର ପାଣି (ehāra pāṇi), "its water" (10.14).
6. Agreement. A thing is never honorific. The verb stays in the third person singular, non-honorific form:
- Present: ଏହା ଅଛି (ehā achhi), "it is (there)"; ଏହା ଚାଲୁଛି (ehā cāluchhi), "it is running" - Past: ତାହା ଥିଲା (tāhā thilā), "it was"; ତାହା ହେଲା (tāhā helā), "it happened, it became" - Future: ଏହା ହେବ (ehā heba), "it will be"; ଏହା ଦେଖାଯିବ (ehā dekhājiba), "it will look"
The honorific forms in -ନ୍ତି (-nti) and -ଲେ (-le), such as ଅଛନ୍ତି (achhanti), are for respected persons and never for things.
7. "It is …" and the copula. In the present, a sentence that says what something is needs no verb: ଏହା ମୋର ବହି (ehā mora bahi), "It is my book." Formal Odia may add ଅଟେ (aṭe), "is" (10.3). "Is not" is ନୁହେଁ (nuheṁ) (10.12). "Is there / is not there" is ଅଛି (achhi) / ନାହିଁ (nāhiṁ) (10.10, 10.15).
8. No empty "it." Where English uses "it" as a placeholder, Odia builds the sentence round the event itself:
- ବର୍ଷା ହେଉଛି (barṣā heuchhi): "It is raining" (rain is happening) - ଥଣ୍ଡା ଲାଗୁଛି (thaṇḍā lāguchhi): "It feels cold" (cold is striking [me]) - ଦଶଟା ବାଜିଲାଣି (daśaṭā bājilāṇi): "It is ten o'clock" (ten has already struck) - ଡେରି ହେଲାଣି (ḍeri helāṇi): "It is getting late" (lateness has come)
9. "It" pointing forward. Where English says "It is true that…," Odia uses ଏହା followed by ଯେ (je), "that": ଏହା ସତ ଯେ … (10.11). Where English says "What you seek, it is not here," Odia pairs the relative ଯାହା (jāhā) with the correlative ତାହା (tāhā): ଯାହା … ତାହା … (10.15). This relative–correlative pairing (ଯେ … ସେ, ଯାହା … ତାହା) is basic Odia sentence structure.
10. Dropping "it." Odia leaves a pronoun out wherever context makes it clear. "Did you eat it?" "Yes, I ate it" is simply ଖାଇଲ କି? ହଁ, ଖାଇଲି (khāila ki? haṁ, khāili), with no "it" at all. Use ଏହା and ତାହା when you need contrast, emphasis or clarity.
Common Mistakes:
- Using ସେ (se) for a thing in careful writing. ସେ is the pronoun for people. Write ଏହା or ତାହା for objects. (In casual speech ସେ is heard of animals.) - Using the adjective ଏହି as a pronoun. Incorrect: ଏହି ମୋର ବହି. Correct: ଏହା ମୋର ବହି, "It is my book." - Adding an English-style empty subject. Incorrect: ଏହା ବର୍ଷା ହେଉଛି ("it is raining"). Correct: ବର୍ଷା ହେଉଛି. - Giving a thing an honorific verb. Incorrect: ଏହା ଅଛନ୍ତି. Correct: ଏହା ଅଛି. - Confusing the dental ତ of ତାହା with the retroflex ଟ of ଏଇଟା, in speech or in writing.
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Two registers. Odia has a noticeable gap between the written standard and everyday speech, and the pronouns for "it" show it clearly. ଏହା and ତାହା belong to the page and the podium: textbooks, newspapers, government notices, the news on radio and television. In the kitchen and the market you will hear ଏଇଟା and ସେଇଟା, or ଏଟା and ସେଟା, and often no pronoun at all. A learner who speaks only ଏହା and ତାହା will be understood everywhere, but will sound as though reading aloud.
The newspaper "it." Odia journalism opens many sentences with ଏହା. A common formula for adding a fact is ଏହା ଉଲ୍ଲେଖଯୋଗ୍ୟ ଯେ … (ehā ullekhajogya je …), "It is worth mentioning that …." When you start reading Odia newspapers, this sentence type is one of the first you will recognise.
Useful expressions built on "it":
- ସେଥିପାଇଁ (sethipāiṁ): "for that reason, that is why" - ତାହାହେଲେ (tāhāhele): "in that case, then" (literally "if it is so") - ଏହା ସତ୍ତ୍ୱେ (ehā sattwe): "in spite of this, nevertheless" - ଏହାପରେ (ehāpare): "after this, next" - ଏଥିରୁ ଜଣାପଡ଼େ (ethiru jaṇāpaṛe): "from this it appears"
The old forms. Older literary Odia, including the classic Bible translation cited in Section F, has further forms on the same ta- stem: ତହିଁ (tahiṁ), "that, there," with ତହିଁରେ (tahiṁre), "thereupon," and ତହୁଁ (tahuṁ), "from that, then." You will meet them in older prose and verse. Modern writers use ସେଥିରେ and ତାପରେ instead.
Regional variety. Western Odisha (Sambalpuri-Koshli) and the southern districts have their own pronoun and demonstrative forms. This course teaches the standard coastal Odia of Cuttack, Puri and Bhubaneswar, which is the language of schools and the press.
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From the Odia Bible, ଆଦି ପୁସ୍ତକ (Ādi Pustaka, Genesis) 1:3–5, in the Odia Old Version (re-edited) of the Bible Society of India (© 2014 The Bible Society of India). The Odia Bible descends from the translation first printed at the Serampore Mission in the early nineteenth century. It is one of the oldest sustained prose texts in modern Odia, and its style shaped the written language. The passage is the first day of creation. In verse 4 God sees the light, and the text says ତାହା ଉତ୍ତମ (tāhā uttama), "it (was) good": ତାହା is our headword, "it," referring to a thing. The two linking words ତହିଁରେ (tahiṁre) and ତହୁଁ (tahuṁ) are old case forms of the same pronoun.
3a ଅନନ୍ତର thereafter ପରମେଶ୍ଵର God କହିଲେ said ଦୀପ୍ତି light ହେଉ let-be ତହିଁରେ thereupon ଦୀପ୍ତି light ହେଲା came-to-be
3b anantara (AW-nawn-taw-raw) thereafter parameśwara (PAW-raw-mesh-waw-raw) God kahile (KAW-hi-le) said-PST.3.HON dīpti (DEEP-ti) light heu (HE-u) be-IMP.3=let-there-be tahiṁre (TAW-hĩ-re) that-OBL-LOC=thereupon dīpti (DEEP-ti) light helā (HE-laa) became-PST.3SG
4a ଆଉ and ପରମେଶ୍ଵର God ଦୀପ୍ତିକି the-light ଦେଖିଲେ saw ଯେ that ତାହା it ଉତ୍ତମ good ତହୁଁ then ପରମେଶ୍ଵର God ଅନ୍ଧକାରରୁ from-the-darkness ଦୀପ୍ତିକି the-light ଭିନ୍ନ separate କଲେ made
4b āu (AA-u) and parameśwara (PAW-raw-mesh-waw-raw) God dīptiki (DEEP-ti-ki) light-ACC.ARCHAIC dekhile (DE-khi-le) saw-PST.3.HON je (je) that-COMP tāhā (TAA-haa) it/that-NOM uttama (UT-taw-maw) good tahuṁ (TAW-hũ) that-OBL-ABL=thereupon parameśwara (PAW-raw-mesh-waw-raw) God andhakāraru (AWN-dhaw-kaa-raw-ru) darkness-ABL dīptiki (DEEP-ti-ki) light-ACC.ARCHAIC bhinna (BHIN-naw) separate kale (KAW-le) did-PST.3.HON
5a ପୁଣି and-again ପରମେଶ୍ଵର God ଦୀପ୍ତିର of-the-light ନାମ name ଦିବସ day ଓ and ଅନ୍ଧକାରର of-the-darkness ନାମ name ରାତ୍ରି night ଦେଲେ gave ତହୁଁ then ସନ୍ଧ୍ୟା evening ଓ and ପ୍ରାତଃକାଳ morning ହୋଇ having-come ପ୍ରଥମ first ଦିବସ day ହେଲା was
5b puṇi (PU-ni) and-again parameśwara (PAW-raw-mesh-waw-raw) God dīptira (DEEP-ti-raw) light-GEN nāma (NAA-maw) name dibasa (DI-baw-saw) day o (o) and andhakārara (AWN-dhaw-kaa-raw-raw) darkness-GEN nāma (NAA-maw) name rātri (RAA-tri) night dele (DE-le) gave-PST.3.HON tahuṁ (TAW-hũ) that-OBL-ABL=thereupon sandhyā (SAWN-dhyaa) evening o (o) and prātaḥkāḷa (PRAA-taw-kaa-law) morning hoi (HO-i) become-CVB prathama (PRAW-thaw-maw) first dibasa (DI-baw-saw) day helā (HE-laa) became-PST.3SG
ଅନନ୍ତର ପରମେଶ୍ଵର କହିଲେ, ଦୀପ୍ତି ହେଉ; ତହିଁରେ ଦୀପ୍ତି ହେଲା। ଆଉ ପରମେଶ୍ଵର ଦୀପ୍ତିକି ଦେଖିଲେ ଯେ ତାହା ଉତ୍ତମ; ତହୁଁ ପରମେଶ୍ଵର ଅନ୍ଧକାରରୁ ଦୀପ୍ତିକି ଭିନ୍ନ କଲେ। ପୁଣି ପରମେଶ୍ଵର ଦୀପ୍ତିର ନାମ ଦିବସ ଓ ଅନ୍ଧକାରର ନାମ ରାତ୍ରି ଦେଲେ। ତହୁଁ ସନ୍ଧ୍ୟା ଓ ପ୍ରାତଃକାଳ ହୋଇ ପ୍ରଥମ ଦିବସ ହେଲା।
Then God said, "Let there be light"; and thereupon there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; then God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. Then evening and morning came, and it was the first day.
ଅନନ୍ତର ପରମେଶ୍ଵର କହିଲେ, ଦୀପ୍ତି ହେଉ; ତହିଁରେ ଦୀପ୍ତି ହେଲା। ଆଉ ପରମେଶ୍ଵର ଦୀପ୍ତିକି ଦେଖିଲେ ଯେ ତାହା ଉତ୍ତମ; ତହୁଁ ପରମେଶ୍ଵର ଅନ୍ଧକାରରୁ ଦୀପ୍ତିକି ଭିନ୍ନ କଲେ। ପୁଣି ପରମେଶ୍ଵର ଦୀପ୍ତିର ନାମ ଦିବସ ଓ ଅନ୍ଧକାରର ନାମ ରାତ୍ରି ଦେଲେ। ତହୁଁ ସନ୍ଧ୍ୟା ଓ ପ୍ରାତଃକାଳ ହୋଇ ପ୍ରଥମ ଦିବସ ହେଲା।
ଯେ ତାହା ଉତ୍ତମ (je tāhā uttama), "that it (was) good." This clause contains the whole lesson in three words. ତାହା is the pronoun "it," standing for ଦୀପ୍ତି (dīpti), "light," a thing. The translator uses the distal ତାହା, not ଏହା, because the light was named in the previous verse and is now being looked back on. There is no copula: "it good," exactly as in ଏହା ମୋର ବହି (10.1). The clause is introduced by ଯେ (je), "that," the same complementiser as in 10.11. A more recent Odia translation of this verse also keeps ତାହା ଉତ୍ତମ, which shows how firmly this pattern is fixed.
ତହିଁରେ (tahiṁre) and ତହୁଁ (tahuṁ). These are old oblique forms of the "that/it" pronoun: ତହିଁ + ରେ (locative, "in that") and ତହୁଁ ("from that"). The translator uses them where modern Odia would say ସେଥିରେ (sethire) or ତା'ପରେ (tā'pare), "after that." Here "it" does the work of a conjunction and links event to event: God speaks, in that there is light; God sees, from that he divides. Modern ସେଥିପାଇଁ (sethipāiṁ), "therefore," is built the same way.
ଦୀପ୍ତିକି (dīptiki). The object ending here is -କି (-ki), an older and dialectal variant of standard -କୁ (-ku). Modern prose would write ଦୀପ୍ତିକୁ.
Honorific verbs for God. Every verb with ପରମେଶ୍ଵର as subject is honorific: କହିଲେ, ଦେଖିଲେ, କଲେ, ଦେଲେ. Every verb with a thing as subject is plain third person singular: ଦୀପ୍ତି ହେଲା, "light came to be"; ପ୍ରଥମ ଦିବସ ହେଲା, "the first day was." This is rule 6 of Section D in action.
Script note. This edition spells ପରମେଶ୍ଵର with the letter ଵ (va). Most modern Odia printing and typing writes ପରମେଶ୍ୱର, with ୱ (wa). The pronunciation is the same. The quotation keeps the edition's spelling.
Style. The vocabulary is heavily Sanskrit (ଦୀପ୍ତି, ଉତ୍ତମ, ଅନ୍ଧକାର, ପ୍ରାତଃକାଳ, ଦିବସ). This is the high register of nineteenth-century Odia prose. Everyday Odia would say ଆଲୁଅ (ālua) for "light," ଭଲ (bhala) for "good" and ଦିନ (dina) for "day."
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A customer in an antique shop in Cuttack. The shopkeeper uses the formal ଏହା; the customer begins with the spoken ଏଇଟା and ସେଇଟା.
10.16a ଗ୍ରାହକ customer ଏଇଟା this-one କଣ what
10.16b grāhaka (GRAA-haw-kaw) customer eiṭā (E-i-taa) this-CLF=this-one kaṇa (KAW-naw) what-Q
10.17a ଦୋକାନୀ shopkeeper ଏହା it ଏକ a ପୁରୁଣା old ଘଣ୍ଟା clock ଆଜ୍ଞା sir
10.17b dokānī (DO-kaa-nee) shopkeeper ehā (EH-haa) it/this-NOM eka (E-kaw) one=a puruṇā (PU-ru-naa) old ghaṇṭā (GHAWN-taa) clock ājñā (AAG-yaa) sir-POLITE
10.18a ଗ୍ରାହକ customer ଏହା it ଚାଲୁଛି is-running କି Q
10.18b grāhaka (GRAA-haw-kaw) customer ehā (EH-haa) it/this-NOM cāluchhi (CHAA-lu-chhi) run-PROG.3SG ki (ki) Q-PARTICLE
10.19a ଦୋକାନୀ shopkeeper ହଁ yes ଏହା it ଠିକ୍ right ସମୟ time ଦେଖାଏ shows
10.19b dokānī (DO-kaa-nee) shopkeeper haṁ (hõ) yes ehā (EH-haa) it/this-NOM ṭhik (THIK) correct samaya (SAW-maw-yaw) time dekhāe (DE-khaa-e) show-PRES.3SG
10.20a ଗ୍ରାହକ customer ଏହାର its ଦାମ price କେତେ how-much
10.20b grāhaka (GRAA-haw-kaw) customer ehāra (EH-haa-raw) it/this-GEN dāma (DAA-maw) price kete (KE-te) how-much
10.21a ଦୋକାନୀ shopkeeper ଏହାର its ଦାମ price ପାଞ୍ଚ five ହଜାର thousand ଟଙ୍କା rupees
10.21b dokānī (DO-kaa-nee) shopkeeper ehāra (EH-haa-raw) it/this-GEN dāma (DAA-maw) price pāñca (PAAN-chaw) five hajāra (HAW-jaa-raw) thousand ṭaṅkā (TAWNG-kaa) rupee(s)
10.22a ଗ୍ରାହକ customer ଏତେ so-much ଏହା it ତ indeed ବହୁତ very ମହଙ୍ଗା expensive
10.22b grāhaka (GRAA-haw-kaw) customer ete (E-te) so-much ehā (EH-haa) it/this-NOM ta (taw) EMPH bahuta (BAW-hu-taw) very mahaṅgā (MAW-hawng-gaa) expensive
10.23a ଦୋକାନୀ shopkeeper ଏହା it ମୋ my ଜେଜେବାପାଙ୍କ grandfather's ସମୟର of-the-time ସେଥିପାଇଁ that-is-why ଏତେ so-much ଦାମ price
10.23b dokānī (DO-kaa-nee) shopkeeper ehā (EH-haa) it/this-NOM mo (mo) my-1SG.GEN.SHORT jejebāpāṅka (JE-je-baa-paang-kaw) grandfather-GEN.HON samayara (SAW-maw-yaw-raw) time-GEN sethipāiṁ (SE-thi-paa-ĩ) that-INAN.OBL-for=therefore ete (E-te) so-much dāma (DAA-maw) price
10.24a ଗ୍ରାହକ customer ଆଉ and ସେଇଟା that-one କଣ what
10.24b grāhaka (GRAA-haw-kaw) customer āu (AA-u) and seiṭā (SE-i-taa) that-CLF=that-one kaṇa (KAW-naw) what-Q
10.25a ଦୋକାନୀ shopkeeper ସେଇଟା that-one ଗୋଟିଏ a ଆଇନା mirror ତାହା it ଏହାଠାରୁ than-this ଶସ୍ତା cheap
10.25b dokānī (DO-kaa-nee) shopkeeper seiṭā (SE-i-taa) that-CLF=that-one goṭie (GO-ti-e) one-CLF=a āinā (AA-i-naa) mirror tāhā (TAA-haa) it/that-NOM ehāṭhāru (EH-haa-thaa-ru) it/this-ABL=than-this śastā (SHAWS-taa) cheap
10.26a ଗ୍ରାହକ customer ଠିକ୍ right ଅଛି is ମୁଁ I ଏହାକୁ it ନେବି will-take
10.26b grāhaka (GRAA-haw-kaw) customer ṭhik (THIK) correct achhi (AW-chhi) is-EXIST.3SG muṁ (mũ) I-1SG.NOM ehāku (EH-haa-ku) it/this-ACC nebi (NE-bi) take-FUT.1SG
10.27a ଦୋକାନୀ shopkeeper ମୁଁ I ଏହାକୁ it କାଗଜରେ in-paper ଗୁଡ଼ାଇ wrapping ଦେଉଛି am-giving
10.27b dokānī (DO-kaa-nee) shopkeeper muṁ (mũ) I-1SG.NOM ehāku (EH-haa-ku) it/this-ACC kāgajare (KAA-gaw-jaw-re) paper-LOC guṛāi (GU-raa-i) wrap-CVB deuchhi (DE-u-chhi) give-PROG.1SG=for-you
10.28a ଗ୍ରାହକ customer ଏହାକୁ it ଚାବି key ଦେବାକୁ to-give ପଡ଼େ must କି Q
10.28b grāhaka (GRAA-haw-kaw) customer ehāku (EH-haa-ku) it/this-DAT cābi (CHAA-bi) key debāku (DE-baa-ku) give-VN-DAT paṛe (PAW-re) fall-PRES.3SG=must ki (ki) Q-PARTICLE
10.29a ଦୋକାନୀ shopkeeper ହଁ yes ସପ୍ତାହରେ in-a-week ଥରେ once ଏହାକୁ it ଚାବି key ଦିଅନ୍ତୁ please-give
10.29b dokānī (DO-kaa-nee) shopkeeper haṁ (hõ) yes saptāhare (SAWP-taa-haw-re) week-LOC thare (THAW-re) once ehāku (EH-haa-ku) it/this-DAT cābi (CHAA-bi) key diantu (DI-awn-tu) give-IMP.HON
10.30a ଗ୍ରାହକ customer ଧନ୍ୟବାଦ thank-you ଏହା it ମୋ my ଘରେ in-house ଭଲ good ଦେଖାଯିବ will-look
10.30b grāhaka (GRAA-haw-kaw) customer dhanyabāda (DHAW-nyaw-baa-daw) thanks ehā (EH-haa) it/this-NOM mo (mo) my-1SG.GEN.SHORT ghare (GHAW-re) house-LOC bhala (BHAW-law) good dekhājiba (DE-khaa-ji-baw) look-PASS-FUT.3SG
10.16 ଗ୍ରାହକ: "ଏଇଟା କଣ?" (grāhaka: "eiṭā kaṇa?") Customer: "What's this?"
10.17 ଦୋକାନୀ: "ଏହା ଏକ ପୁରୁଣା ଘଣ୍ଟା, ଆଜ୍ଞା।" (dokānī: "ehā eka puruṇā ghaṇṭā, ājñā.") Shopkeeper: "It is an old clock, sir."
10.18 ଗ୍ରାହକ: "ଏହା ଚାଲୁଛି କି?" (grāhaka: "ehā cāluchhi ki?") Customer: "Does it work?"
10.19 ଦୋକାନୀ: "ହଁ, ଏହା ଠିକ୍ ସମୟ ଦେଖାଏ।" (dokānī: "haṁ, ehā ṭhik samaya dekhāe.") Shopkeeper: "Yes, it keeps the right time."
10.20 ଗ୍ରାହକ: "ଏହାର ଦାମ କେତେ?" (grāhaka: "ehāra dāma kete?") Customer: "How much is it?"
10.21 ଦୋକାନୀ: "ଏହାର ଦାମ ପାଞ୍ଚ ହଜାର ଟଙ୍କା।" (dokānī: "ehāra dāma pāñca hajāra ṭaṅkā.") Shopkeeper: "Its price is five thousand rupees."
10.22 ଗ୍ରାହକ: "ଏତେ? ଏହା ତ ବହୁତ ମହଙ୍ଗା।" (grāhaka: "ete? ehā ta bahuta mahaṅgā.") Customer: "That much? It's very expensive."
10.23 ଦୋକାନୀ: "ଏହା ମୋ ଜେଜେବାପାଙ୍କ ସମୟର, ସେଥିପାଇଁ ଏତେ ଦାମ।" (dokānī: "ehā mo jejebāpāṅka samayara, sethipāiṁ ete dāma.") Shopkeeper: "It dates from my grandfather's time; that's why it costs so much."
10.24 ଗ୍ରାହକ: "ଆଉ ସେଇଟା କଣ?" (grāhaka: "āu seiṭā kaṇa?") Customer: "And what's that one?"
10.25 ଦୋକାନୀ: "ସେଇଟା ଗୋଟିଏ ଆଇନା। ତାହା ଏହାଠାରୁ ଶସ୍ତା।" (dokānī: "seiṭā goṭie āinā. tāhā ehāṭhāru śastā.") Shopkeeper: "That one is a mirror. It's cheaper than this."
10.26 ଗ୍ରାହକ: "ଠିକ୍ ଅଛି, ମୁଁ ଏହାକୁ ନେବି।" (grāhaka: "ṭhik achhi, muṁ ehāku nebi.") Customer: "All right, I'll take it."
10.27 ଦୋକାନୀ: "ମୁଁ ଏହାକୁ କାଗଜରେ ଗୁଡ଼ାଇ ଦେଉଛି।" (dokānī: "muṁ ehāku kāgajare guṛāi deuchhi.") Shopkeeper: "I'm wrapping it in paper for you."
10.28 ଗ୍ରାହକ: "ଏହାକୁ ଚାବି ଦେବାକୁ ପଡ଼େ କି?" (grāhaka: "ehāku cābi debāku paṛe ki?") Customer: "Does it have to be wound?"
10.29 ଦୋକାନୀ: "ହଁ, ସପ୍ତାହରେ ଥରେ ଏହାକୁ ଚାବି ଦିଅନ୍ତୁ।" (dokānī: "haṁ, saptāhare thare ehāku cābi diantu.") Shopkeeper: "Yes, please wind it once a week."
10.30 ଗ୍ରାହକ: "ଧନ୍ୟବାଦ। ଏହା ମୋ ଘରେ ଭଲ ଦେଖାଯିବ।" (grāhaka: "dhanyabāda. ehā mo ghare bhala dekhājiba.") Customer: "Thank you. It will look good in my house."
10.16 ଗ୍ରାହକ: "ଏଇଟା କଣ?"
10.17 ଦୋକାନୀ: "ଏହା ଏକ ପୁରୁଣା ଘଣ୍ଟା, ଆଜ୍ଞା।"
10.18 ଗ୍ରାହକ: "ଏହା ଚାଲୁଛି କି?"
10.19 ଦୋକାନୀ: "ହଁ, ଏହା ଠିକ୍ ସମୟ ଦେଖାଏ।"
10.20 ଗ୍ରାହକ: "ଏହାର ଦାମ କେତେ?"
10.21 ଦୋକାନୀ: "ଏହାର ଦାମ ପାଞ୍ଚ ହଜାର ଟଙ୍କା।"
10.22 ଗ୍ରାହକ: "ଏତେ? ଏହା ତ ବହୁତ ମହଙ୍ଗା।"
10.23 ଦୋକାନୀ: "ଏହା ମୋ ଜେଜେବାପାଙ୍କ ସମୟର, ସେଥିପାଇଁ ଏତେ ଦାମ।"
10.24 ଗ୍ରାହକ: "ଆଉ ସେଇଟା କଣ?"
10.25 ଦୋକାନୀ: "ସେଇଟା ଗୋଟିଏ ଆଇନା। ତାହା ଏହାଠାରୁ ଶସ୍ତା।"
10.26 ଗ୍ରାହକ: "ଠିକ୍ ଅଛି, ମୁଁ ଏହାକୁ ନେବି।"
10.27 ଦୋକାନୀ: "ମୁଁ ଏହାକୁ କାଗଜରେ ଗୁଡ଼ାଇ ଦେଉଛି।"
10.28 ଗ୍ରାହକ: "ଏହାକୁ ଚାବି ଦେବାକୁ ପଡ଼େ କି?"
10.29 ଦୋକାନୀ: "ହଁ, ସପ୍ତାହରେ ଥରେ ଏହାକୁ ଚାବି ଦିଅନ୍ତୁ।"
10.30 ଗ୍ରାହକ: "ଧନ୍ୟବାଦ। ଏହା ମୋ ଘରେ ଭଲ ଦେଖାଯିବ।"
Register in conversation. The customer opens with the spoken ଏଇଟା (10.16) and ସେଇଟା (10.24), pointing at things on the shelf. The shopkeeper replies with the more careful ଏହା, as a polite seller would, and from 10.18 the customer uses it too, going back to the spoken ସେଇଟା only to point at something new (10.24). In a real shop both speakers might stay with ଏଇଟା throughout. Both are correct; they differ only in formality.
"It" as subject, object and possessor. The dialogue uses ଏହା in all its main functions: subject (10.17, 10.18, 10.19, 10.22, 10.30), object with -କୁ (10.26, 10.27), indirect object with -କୁ (10.28, 10.29: ଏହାକୁ ଚାବି ଦେବା, "to give it the key," the Odia idiom for winding a clock), genitive ଏହାର, "its" (10.20, 10.21), and ablative of comparison ଏହାଠାରୁ, "than this" (10.25).
Near and far. In 10.25 the shopkeeper uses both pronouns in one sentence: ତାହା (the mirror, further away) is cheaper than ଏହାଠାରୁ (the clock, in the customer's hands). Here the difference between near and far does real work.
ସେଥିପାଇଁ (10.23), "that is why," is the inanimate stem ସେଥି- with ପାଇଁ, "for": "for that (reason)." It is one of the most frequent connectives in Odia.
Particles. ତ (ta) in 10.22 gives emphasis ("it's really expensive"). କି (ki) at the end turns a statement into a yes/no question (10.18, 10.28). ଆଜ୍ଞା (ājñā), literally "command," is a polite "sir" or "yes, sir."
Verb forms with a thing as subject. ଚାଲୁଛି "is running," ଦେଖାଏ "shows," ପଡ଼େ "falls (= must)," ଦେଖାଯିବ "will look": all third person singular, non-honorific. The persons in the dialogue get their own forms: ନେବି (1SG future), ଦେଉଛି (1SG progressive), and ଦିଅନ୍ତୁ, the honorific imperative that the shopkeeper uses to the customer.
No copula. ଏହାର ଦାମ କେତେ? (10.20), "its price how-much?"; ଏହା ତ ବହୁତ ମହଙ୍ଗା (10.22), "it indeed very expensive." In the present tense, a sentence that describes or identifies needs no verb "is."
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
Respelling key. In this lesson, capitals mark the syllable to stress lightly (Odia stress is weak and usually falls on the first syllable). "aw" is the Odia inherent vowel ଅ [ɔ], as in English law. "aa" is ଆ [aː], as in father. A tilde (õ, ĩ, ũ, ẽ) marks a nasal vowel, written with the candrabindu ଁ.
The headwords:
- ଏହା (ehā) [ehaː]: two clear syllables, "EH-haa." Pronounce the h; do not run the two vowels together - ତାହା (tāhā) [t̪aːhaː]: "TAA-haa," with a dental t (tongue against the upper teeth) - ଏହାକୁ (ehāku) [ehaːku], ଏହାର (ehāra) [ehaːɾɔ] - ଏଥିରେ (ethire) [et̪ʰiɾe]: an aspirated dental th, not English "th" as in thin - ସେଥିପାଇଁ (sethipāiṁ) [set̪ʰipaːĩ]: final nasal vowel - ଏଇଟା (eiṭā) [eiʈaː], ସେଇଟା (seiṭā) [seiʈaː]: retroflex ʈ, tongue curled back - ତହିଁରେ (tahiṁre) [t̪ɔhĩɾe], ତହୁଁ (tahuṁ) [t̪ɔhũ]
Sounds absent from English:
- The final inherent vowel. Unlike Hindi, Odia pronounces the inherent vowel at the end of most words: ଏହାର is [ehaːɾɔ], not ehār; ଘର (ghara) is [ɡʱɔɾɔ]. This gives Odia its rounded, vowel-final sound. - Dental vs retroflex. ତ / ଥ / ଦ / ଧ are dental (tongue on the teeth); ଟ / ଠ / ଡ / ଢ are retroflex (tongue tip curled back). ତାହା and ଏଇଟା contain one of each. - The flap ଡ଼ (ṛa) [ɽ], in ବଡ଼, ପାହାଡ଼, ଗୁଡ଼ାଇ: a quick flick of the curled tongue, between English r and d. - Aspiration. ଖ, ଘ, ଛ, ଥ, ଧ, ଭ are pronounced with a strong puff of breath: ଥଣ୍ଡା [t̪ʰɔɳɖaː], ଭଲ [bʱɔlɔ]. - Nasal vowels. ମୁଁ [mũ], ନାହିଁ [naːhĩ], ହଁ [hɔ̃]: the vowel itself is nasal; no full n is sounded. - ଜ୍ଞ in ଆଜ୍ଞା is pronounced [ɡj] in Odia: [aːɡjaː], "AAG-yaa."
Intonation. Yes/no questions with କି rise slightly on the particle: ଏହା ଚାଲୁଛି କି? Questions with କଣ ("what") fall at the end: ଏଇଟା କଣ?
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
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Course Index: [latinum.substack.com/p/index](https://latinum.substack.com/p/index)