Bengali · Food & Drink
পানি
pani
Water
Beginnernoun
Definition
The liquid of life; pani in Bangladesh, jol in West Bengal.
Example
এক গ্লাস পানি দিন।
A glass of water, please.
Etymology
The word 'পানি' (pani) is borrowed from the Sanskrit 'पान' (pāna), meaning water, and has retained this meaning across various Indo-Aryan languages.
How & Where It’s Used
Used in both formal and informal settings, 'পানি' is prevalent in everyday spoken and written Bengali, essential for discussions about food and drink.
Literary Heritage
The term 'পানি' appears in many Bengali folk songs and poetry, often symbolizing life and purity.