How to Speak Common Bengali Words

Bengali refers to the people and language of Bengal (Ben-gol/Ben-goli). Learning a new language is a challenge, especially when you have to learn an entirely different alphabet. However, you can still begin by learning common phrases. Whether you're traveling to Bangladesh and need to speak Bengali or simply want to learn for fun, with just a bit of effort, you can master some basic phrases in this language.

Create a list of common words or phrases you want to learn. Common phrases are often useful and a great starting point if you want to become fluent in just one day. Start by reviewing popular words in Bengali and their phonetic pronunciation based on the English phonetic system.

Learn how to greet, use polite expressions, and count numbers. These words are crucial because they enable you to speak politely. Learning to count is equally important so you don’t have to use your fingers to show numbers.

• Hello: Salaam (used for Muslims) or "NawMoShkar" (used for Hindus)
• Goodbye: "aabar dekha hobe" (a way of saying goodbye with the meaning we will meet again)
• Please…: "doya kore or onugroho"
• Thank you: "dhon-no-baad"
• Yes: "jee" – used in Bangladesh, "hañ" – used everywhere else
• No: "naa"
• 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10: "ek, dui, teen, chaar, pañch, choy, saat, aat, noy, dos"

Learn vocabulary related to food and drinks. Food is a basic necessity, and you will surely need to discuss it at some point. Hence, knowing the proper terms for food is essential, even if just the basics.

• Food: "khaabaar"
• Water: "paani" – used in Bangladesh or "jol" – used in India
• Eat: খাও"khao" (informal) "khaan" (formal)
• Tasty: "moja" – used in Bangladesh or "Shu-shadu" – used in India
• Good: "bhaalo"

Learn some basic questions. If you need to ask where the restroom is or check on someone, you can learn a few essential phrases to help in these situations.

• Where?: "kothay?"
• What?: "ki?"
• How should I do this?: "ki bhabey korbo", "ami ki bhabhey korbo"
• I want to use the restroom: "Ami Toilet e Jabo"
• What are you doing?: "Tumi ki korcho?", "tui ki korchis", "apni ki korchen"
• Where are you going?: "Apne kun jagay jajchen?"
• I don’t know: "Ami jani na"
• Do you know?: "Apne ki janen?"
• How are you?: "kemon acho", "kemon achis" (informal), "kemon achen" (formal)

Learn how to talk about yourself and others.

• I: "aami"
• You: "tumi" (informal), "aapni" (formal), "tui" (informal, often used between close friends)
• He/She: "shey/o"
• Come: "esho,ay" (informal) "aashun" (formal)
• Don’t go: "tumi jeo naa", "tui jabi na" (informal) "aapni jaben naa" (formal)
• Who is that?: "ke?"
• Beautiful: "Shundor"
• I love you: "Ami Tomake Bhaloi"
• Girl: "Meye"
• Boy: "Chele"

Review the alphabet if you find it difficult. Do you remember how teachers helped you with pronunciation when you were younger? In Bengali, this is even more crucial. Since the alphabet is syllabic, it makes it easier to pronounce words accurately.

Don't hesitate to ask for help. If you're unsure about how to pronounce a word or if you're mispronouncing it, look up the correct pronunciation online. There are many short videos available that can help you with checking the accuracy of your pronunciation.

Keep going! Learning any language is challenging, but starting with common phrases is a great way to begin your journey. It will also help you when navigating places where Bengali is spoken. Start with the basics of the language to lay a solid foundation.

Learn the alphabet. The Bengali alphabet is syllabic, and the consonants are paired with vowels that have two different pronunciations. To recognize and pronounce common words correctly, it's crucial to learn the alphabet. Make sure to learn how to write the letters alongside their pronunciation. This will make it easier to recognize characters. Try learning the alphabet in the same way you did with the English alphabet when you were a child: write each letter and try to pronounce it as you write. Gradually, you'll memorize the alphabet.

Learn basic pronunciation. It's essential to learn how to pronounce each letter in addition to understanding how to combine letters. Unlike English, some Bengali characters have multiple pronunciations. Try to master these sounds. For example, you could look at the alphabet and practice combining letter sounds to form short words. This way, you'll understand how to blend the characters together. You'll also notice some differences in pronunciation compared to English. For instance, the letter T is pronounced softly, similar to Spanish.

Learn basic grammar. You don’t need to be a grammar expert, just recognize the differences between Bengali and your native language. Understanding the grammar rules of Bengali will give you a clearer idea of what you're saying. Once you grasp the basics, you’ll be able to use common words more appropriately within different contexts. Bengali grammar follows a subject-object-verb structure, similar to English's subject-verb-object order. However, in Bengali, prepositions typically come after the noun, unlike in English. Like English, Bengali has no gendered grammar, but verbs do conjugate according to person, tense, and social status.

Practice reading. Pick up a Bengali book and skim through the pages. You don't need to understand the content or words right away, just try to recognize characters and spot any common words you already know. This will familiarize you with frequently used terms. If possible, find children's books related to numbers and food. You’ll likely want to master these words if you're preparing for travel.

Practice on your own. Write down words and read them aloud. You can purchase books for further guidance or search for lessons online. Additionally, you'll find many videos online that can help you with accurate pronunciation. Make an effort to pronounce the words correctly. However, if you understand a word but others don’t quite get what you're saying, that's okay.

Practice Bengali online. If you don’t have a friend to practice speaking Bengali with, you can always find someone else online! Search for "Speak with a Bengali speaker" and you'll discover plenty of websites that connect you with Bengali speakers. Even exchanging basic pleasantries is a great way to start.

Watch movies. Find a film that's entirely in Bengali. Even if you don't fully understand the plot, this will help you get a feel for the language's tone and how words are pronounced. You’ll be amazed at the benefits you’ll gain from watching movies.

• Ask Do you know Bengali/English? using the phrase "Apni ki Bangla/Ingreji janen?"
• It’s better if you have Bengali friends. If you have Bengali friends, try chatting with them.
• To avoid causing offense, use formal language when speaking to older people, strangers, or those you meet for the first time. If you're unsure about the person, it's safest to use formal language.
• Be able to distinguish between the heavy/light pronunciation of the 'd' and 't' sounds.
• The breathy sound (or consonants with an 'h' after them, in Latin script) creates many differences. Don’t skip over this part of pronunciation.
• When writing in Latin script, the 'aw' sound in 'awesome' (great) and the 'a' sound in 'smart' (intelligent) are both written as 'a'. Be sure to know which sound it is before pronouncing it.