Catalog / Bengali Language Essentials Cheatsheet
Bengali Language Essentials Cheatsheet
A concise reference guide to Bengali (Bangla) language basics, covering pronunciation, grammar, common phrases, and useful vocabulary for beginners and travelers.
Pronunciation and Script
Vowels
|
অ (ô) |
Like 'uh' in 'about' |
|
আ (a) |
Like 'ah' in 'father' |
|
ই (i) |
Like 'ee' in 'see' |
|
ঈ (ee) |
Longer 'ee' sound |
|
উ (u) |
Like 'oo' in 'moon' |
|
ঊ (oo) |
Longer 'oo' sound |
|
এ (e) |
Like 'ay' in 'say' |
|
ঐ (oi) |
Like 'oi' in 'boil' |
|
ও (o) |
Like 'o' in 'go' |
|
ঔ (ou) |
Like 'ow' in 'cow' |
Consonants (Examples)
|
ক (kô) |
Like 'k' in 'kite' |
|
খ (khô) |
Aspirated 'k' sound |
|
গ (gô) |
Like 'g' in 'go' |
|
ঘ (ghô) |
Aspirated 'g' sound |
|
ঙ (ngô) |
Like 'ng' in 'sing' |
|
চ (chô) |
Like 'ch' in 'chat' |
|
ট (ţô) |
Retroflex 't' sound |
|
ত (tô) |
Like 't' in 'top' |
Key Pronunciation Notes
|
Bengali has a phonetic script; pronunciation generally matches the spelling. |
Basic Grammar
Sentence Structure
|
Bengali typically follows Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) word order. |
Nouns and Pronouns
|
আমি (ami) |
I |
|
তুমি (tumi) |
You (informal) |
|
আপনি (apni) |
You (formal) |
|
সে (shey/se) |
He/She/It |
|
আমরা (amra) |
We |
|
তোমরা (tomra) |
You (plural, informal) |
|
আপনারা (apnara) |
You (plural, formal) |
|
তারা (tara) |
They |
|
এটা (eta) |
This |
|
ওটা (ota) |
That |
Verbs (Basic Conjugation)
|
Bengali verbs conjugate based on tense and person. |
Useful Phrases
Greetings
|
নমস্কার (nomoshkar) |
Hello/Greetings (formal) |
|
কেমন আছেন? (kemon আছেন?) |
How are you? (formal) |
|
কী খবর? (kee khobor?) |
What's up?/What's the news? |
|
ভালো আছি (bhalo achi) |
I am fine. |
|
শুভ সকাল (shubho shokal) |
Good morning |
|
শুভ রাত্রি (shubho ratri) |
Good night |
Basic Interactions
|
আপনার নাম কি? (apnar naam ki?) |
What is your name? (formal) |
|
আমার নাম ... (amar naam ...) |
My name is ... |
|
ধন্যবাদ (dhonnobad) |
Thank you |
|
স্বাগতম (shagotom) |
Welcome |
|
মাপ করবেন (map করবেন) |
Excuse me/Sorry |
|
আমি বুঝতে পারছি না (ami bujhte parchi na) |
I don't understand |
Essential Questions
|
এটা কি? (eta ki?) |
What is this? |
|
এটা কত? (eta koto?) |
How much is this? |
|
কোথায়? (kothay?) |
Where? |
|
কখন? (kokhon?) |
When? |
|
কেন? (keno?) |
Why? |
|
কীভাবে? (kivabe?) |
How? |
Basic Vocabulary
Food & Drink
|
ভাত (bhat) |
Rice |
|
পানি (pani) |
Water |
|
চা (cha) |
Tea |
|
ডিম (dim) |
Egg |
|
মাছ (machh) |
Fish |
|
মাংস (mangsho) |
Meat |
|
সবজি (sobji) |
Vegetables |
Numbers
|
এক (ek) |
One |
|
দুই (dui) |
Two |
|
তিন (tin) |
Three |
|
চার (char) |
Four |
|
পাঁচ (pঁach) |
Five |
|
ছয় (chhoy) |
Six |
|
সাত (shat) |
Seven |
|
আট (aţ) |
Eight |
|
নয় (noy) |
Nine |
|
দশ (dosh) |
Ten |
Common Adjectives
|
ভালো (bhalo) |
Good |
|
খারাপ (kharap) |
Bad |
|
বড় (bôŗo) |
Big |
|
ছোট (chhoţo) |
Small |
|
নতুন (notun) |
New |
|
পুরানো (purano) |
Old |
|
সুন্দর (shundor) |
Beautiful |