Buzz
Discover the art of counting to twenty in Bengali (Bangla). Bengali, an Indo-European language with roots in Sanskrit, is spoken by the people of Bengal, commonly known as Bengalis. It is predominantly spoken in Bangladesh, West Bengal, and other regions of India. If you're delving into the Bengali language and wish to grasp counting from one to twenty, here's your guide!
Step-by-Step Guide
One - Ek (এক). Pronounced as ack!
Two - Du-i (দুই). In Bengali, the letter 'd' has two distinct sounds. This one is softer - do-ee.
Three - Tin (তিন). Bengali features 3 distinct 't' sounds. This version is soft, sounding like 'teen'.
Four - Char (চার). Pronounced similarly to the English word 'char'.
Five - Pa(n)ch (পাঁচ). Incorporates the nasal 'n' sound reminiscent of certain French words.
Six - Chhoy (ছয়). Bengali offers two distinct sounds for 'ch'. One resembles the pronunciation in English words like 'church' and 'child'. The other is softer.
Seven - Shaat (সাত). In Bengali, there are 3 variations of the 's' sound. This one closely resembles 'sh'.
Eight - Aat (আট). Pronounced akin to the English word 'art' but omitting the 'r' sound.
Nine - Noy (নয়). Its pronunciation bears resemblance to the English word 'boy'.
Ten - Dosh (দশ). Pronounced with a gentle 'd' sound.
Eleven - Ey-ga-ro (এগারো).
Twelve - Ba-ro (বারো).
Thirteen - Te-ro (তেরো). Pronounced softly with a 't' sound.
Fourteen - Choud-do (চৌদ্দ). Both 'ch' and 'd' are gentle in pronunciation here.
Fifteen - Po-ne-ro (পনেরো).
Sixteen - Sho-lo (ষোলো).
Seventeen - Sho-te-ro (সতেরো). The 't' should be pronounced softly.
Eighteen - Aa-tha-ro (আঠারো). The 'th' should be pronounced as in words like turmeric and ten.
Nineteen - U-nish (উনিশ).
Twenty - Bish (বিশ). Additionally, the word 'Ku-ree - কুঁড়ি' also means twenty, although it's less frequently used.
Pro Tips
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If you make a mistake, don't fret. Simply inform the locals that Bengali isn't your native tongue.
Cautionary Notes
- Avoid imitating accents from the Indian subcontinent as they can be perceived as amusing to Westerners and disrespectful by some Indians.
- Always exercise caution when pronouncing words in other languages as similar-sounding words may carry vastly different meanings, or even be considered offensive.
