Text from “Learn The Bangla Alphabet” at http://supriyosen.net

December 5, 2013 1

The Bangla Alphabet Vowels, Consonants, Vowel Diacritics, Compound Consonants

Supriyo Sen October 2013, Toronto, Canada

Table of Contents Preface  .......................................................................................................................................................................................  2  

Vowels  ........................................................................................................................................................................................  3  

Consonants  ..............................................................................................................................................................................  5  Sample  Bangla  Words  with  Vowels  &  Consonants  ..............................................................................................  10  

Vowel  and  Vowel  Signs  ....................................................................................................................................................  11  

Sample  Bangla  Words  with  Vowels  Signs  ...............................................................................................................  14  Compound  Consonants  ....................................................................................................................................................  17  

Sample  Bangla  Words  with  Compound  Consonants  ..........................................................................................  22  Alphabet  Review-‐sohoj  paTh  ........................................................................................................................................  23  

The  Bangla  Alphabet  &  English  Phonetic  Representation  ...............................................................................  34  

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December 5, 2013 2

Preface Bengali or Bangla (বাংলা) is an Indo-Aryan language of the eastern Indian subcontinent which evolved from the Magadhi Prakrit and Sanskrit languages circa 1000 AD. Bangla is native to the Indian state of West Bengal and the country, Bangladesh. People who speak this language are called বাঙািল (baNgali). There are nearly 230 million speakers of Bangla, according to a 2007 census, making it the sixth most used language in the world (after Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, English, Arabic and Hindi).

This eBook is written to teach the Bangla Alphabet to:

a. Children of Bengali parents who want to communicate with elderly relatives, b. Spouses and friends of Bengali speakers who want to participate in conversations, c. English speakers who want to learn some Bangla but are unable to invest significant effort in doing so.

The Phonetic English used in this book is the same as the scheme used in the companion website for writing Bangla (currently in the website http://supriyosen.net/). All Bangla content for this book was generated using this Phonetic Editor. An abbreviated version shown here will help you interactively see the formation of Bangla characters.

This eBook contains words in Bangla, their Phonetic representation and words in English. The color coding scheme used is as follows:

Source English Word

Bangla Word

Phonetic English

Part of Speech

Color Code Example

I আিম ami Pronoun

Thr color coding scheme is implemented on the online version.

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Vowels The Bangla alphabet has 11 vowels in common usage.

Two vowel sounds have short and long forms. For example, the normal "i" sound ই is called the short i (hroswo-i) and the letter ঈ is the long i (dIrgho-i). Similarly, the letters উ and ঊ represent the short and long "u" sound, respectively. These reflect Bangla's Sanskrit origin. In modern Bangla usage, the short and long forms have similar pronunciation. These vowels are shown here because they are still used in spelling Bangla words.

Non-native speakers may find that spelling of words becomes a challenge when choosing between the long and short forms of the "i" and "u" sounds as they are pronounced similarly in common modern usage.

• Pure Vowels

Bangla form

English Phonetic

Letter Name

Pronounced as in

Hear Sound

অ o aw awe In Online version আ a aah Aadvark In Online version ই i hroswo-i(short i) hit In Online version ঈ I dIrgho-i(long i) skiing In Online version উ u hroswo-u(short u) put In Online version ঊ U dIrgho-u(long u) vacuum In Online version

• Former Semi-Vowel

Bangla form

English Phonetic

Letter Name

Pronounced as in

Hear Sound

ঋ rri ree wring In Online version

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• Compound Vowels or Dipthongs

Bangla form

English Phonetic

Letter Name

Pronounced as in

Hear Sound

এ e eh bed In Online version ঐ OI oi going In Online version ও O o moat In Online version ঔ OU ou o+u In Online version

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Consonants There are 35 consonants and 4 consonant signs in common usage.

The consonant letters are pronounced as if they had "aw" (as in the sound of the English "awe") at the end. So the

letter ক (k) sounds like "kaw". There is a logic to the grouping of the letters, each set having a sound that emanates from the mouth with a different combination of the lips, tongue, palate and diaphragm.

• Gutturals - in the throat - ক খ গ ঘ ঙ (k kh g gh Ng).

The first and third letters are pronounced unaspirated, while the second and fourth are pronounced aspirated (as if with a puff of breath). The last letter is pronounced nasally.

Bangla form

English Phonetic

Letter Name

Pronounced as in

Hear Sound

ক k kaw skin In Online version খ kh khaw khaki In Online version গ g gaw go In Online version ঘ gh ghaw ghetto In Online version ঙ Ng ungaw king In Online version

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• Palatals - on the palate - চ ছ জ ঝ ঞ (ch chh j jh NG).

The first and third letters are pronounced unaspirated, while the second and fourth are pronounced aspirated (as if with a puff of breath). The last letter is pronounced nasally.

Bangla form

English Phonetic

Letter Name

Pronounced as in

Hear Sound

চ ch chaw cheat In Online version ছ chh chhaw watch In Online version জ j borgiyo-jaw jingle In Online version ঝ jh jhaw jhansi In Online version ঞ NG ingaw gnome In Online version

• Cerebrals - with the tongue bent back on the roof of the mouth - ট ঠ ড ঢ ণ (T Th D Dh N).

The first and third letters are pronounced unaspirated, while the second and fourth are pronounced aspirated (as if with a puff of breath). The last letter is pronounced nasally.

Bangla form

English Phonetic

Letter Name

Pronounced as in

Hear Sound

ট T taw token In Online version ঠ Th ttaw whittle In Online version ড D daw dive In Online version ঢ Dh dhaw adhere In Online version ণ N moddheno-naw noise In Online version

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• Dentals - with the tongue on the teeth - ত থ দ ধ ন (t th d dh n).

The first and third letters are pronounced unaspirated, while the second and fourth are pronounced aspirated (as if with a puff of breath). The last letter is pronounced nasally.

Bangla form

English Phonetic

Letter Name

Pronounced as in

Hear Sound

ত t taw(soft) Wyeth In Online version থ th thaw(hard) think In Online version দ d daw Dostoevsky In Online version ধ dh dhaw sadhu In Online version ন n donte-naw no In Online version

• Labials - on the lips - প ফ ব ভ ম (p ph,f b,w bh,v m).

The first and third letters are pronounced unaspirated, while the second and fourth are pronounced aspirated (as if with a puff of breath). The last letter is pronounced nasally.

Bangla form

English Phonetic

Letter Name

Pronounced as in

Hear Sound

প p paw pauper In Online version ফ ph,f phaw cipher In Online version ব b,w baw boy In Online version ভ bh,v bhaw abhorrent In Online version ম m maw mother In Online version

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• Sibilants - s sounds as if hissing - শ ষ স (sh Sh s).

These letters sound similar (shaw) in common modern usage and are separately retained for historical reasons from Bangla's Sanskrit origin.

Bangla form

English Phonetic

Letter Name

Pronounced as in

Hear Sound

শ sh talibo-shaw show In Online version ষ Sh moddheno-shaw cash In Online version স s donte-shaw wish In Online version

• Semi-Vowels - letters sometimes used as vowels - য র ল হ য় ড় ঢ় (J,Y r l h y R Rh).

These letters are sometimes used as vowels especially when combined with other consonants. The three

"raws" র ড় ঢ় (r R Rh) sound similar in common modern usage and are separately retained for historical reasons from Bangla's Sanskrit origin.

Bangla form

English Phonetic

Letter Name

Pronounced as in

Hear Sound

য J,Y ontesto-jaw joy In Online version র r boye-sunno-raw right In Online version ল l law lady In Online version Bangla form

English Phonetic

Letter Name

Pronounced as in

Hear Sound

হ h haw hole In Online version য় y ontesto-aw happy In Online version ড় R doye-sunnyo-raw(hard r) rhythm In Online version ঢ় Rh ddhoye-sunnyo-raw (hard rh) arrhythmia In Online version

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• Consonant Signs - special consonants that are never used to form compound consonants - ৎ ◌ং ◌ঃ ◌ঁ (t^ ng,ng^ H^ n^).

These letters are used for special sounds and are generally not used in compound consonant clusters.

Bangla form

English Phonetic

Letter Name

Pronounced as in

Hear Sound

ৎ t^ khanda taw(short taw) nitwit In Online version ◌ং ng,ng^ sign anuswar Bengali In Online version ◌ঃ H^ sign bishorgo poof In Online version ◌ঁ n^ sign chondrobindu sand In Online version

Non-native speakers will need some practice to attain proficiency in differentialing between and pronouncing the non-aspirated and aspirated consonants shown above.

Spelling of words becomes a challenge when a number of sounds are similar, but have separate letters assigned to them. Specifically,

• 3 "shaw" sounds - শ স ষ (sh s Sh) referred to as talibo-shaw, donte-shaw and moddheno-shaw • 3 "raw" sounds - র ড় ঢ় (r R Rh) referred to as boye-sunno-raw, doye-sunno-raw and ddhoye-sunno-raw

because they look like a dot (sunno) was added to baw, daw and ddhaw • 2 "naw" sounds - ন ণ (n N) referred to as donte-naw and moddheno-naw • 2 "jaw" sounds - জ য (j J) referred to as borgiyo-jaw and ontesto-jaw

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Sample Bangla Words with Vowels & Consonants

Bangla Word Phonetic English Meaning POS অ + ◌ং + শ = অংশ ongsho part (n.)

আ + জ = আজ aj today (n.) ঈ + গ + ল = ঈগল Igol eagle (n.)

উ + ট = উট uT camel (n.) এ + ব + ◌ং = এবং ebong and (conj.) গ + র + ম = গরম gorom hot (adj.)

দ + ল = দল dol group (n.) ন + খ = নখ nokh nail (n.) প + থ = পথ poth way (n.) ব + উ = বউ bou wife (n.) ম + ত = মত moto like (prep.) র + ◌ং = রং rong colors (n.)

স + ম + য় = সময় somoy time (n.)

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Vowel and Vowel Signs When a Vowel sound follows a consonant, the Vowel is represented by a Vowel Sign rather than the original Vowel.

A vowel sound is sometimes used to modify a consonant. For example, the স sound may be modified by উ, to sound like "su". In this case, a diacritic form of the "u" letter is used to form s. Modified vowels are called "-Kars".

The vowel is always used in its original form at the beginning of a word. The diacritic or -kar form is only used to

modify the sound of a consonant. Let us consider the Bangla word for "I" which is আিম(ami). The "a" sound আ is followed by the "m" sound ম which is modified by the "i" sound ই. The diacritic for the "i" sound is ি◌ which is actually put on the left of the consonant it modifies. So the word ami would look not like আ ম ই but like আিম. Diacritics (or -kars) go to the left, right, above or below the consonant it modifies. The consonant 'গ' with the vowel sign '◌ু'. The result looks like g, which is a changed form of 'গ'.

Consonants with Vowel Diacritics

+ অ

+ আ ◌া

+ ই ি◌

+ ঈ ◌ী

+ উ ◌ু

+ ঊ ◌ূ

+ ঋ ◌ৃ

+ এ !◌

+ ঐ !◌

+ ও !◌া

+ ঔ !◌ৗ

ক ক কা িক কী k k কৃ !ক !ক !কা !কৗ খ খ খা িখ খী খ ু খ ূ খ ৃ !খ !খ !খা !খৗ গ গ গা িগ গী g গ ূ গ ৃ !গ !গ !গা !গৗ ঘ ঘ ঘা িঘ ঘী ঘ ু ঘ ূ ঘ ৃ !ঘ !ঘ !ঘা !ঘৗ ঙ ঙ ঙা িঙ ঙী ঙু ঙূ ঙ ৃ !ঙ !ঙ !ঙা !ঙৗ চ চ চা িচ চী চু চূ চ ৃ !চ !চ !চা !চৗ ছ ছ ছা িছ ছী ছু ছূ ছ ৃ !ছ !ছ !ছা !ছৗ জ জ জা িজ জী জ ুজ ূজ ৃ !জ !জ !জা !জৗ

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ঝ ঝ ঝা িঝ ঝী ঝু ঝূ ঝৃ !ঝ !ঝ !ঝা !ঝৗ ঞ ঞ ঞা িঞ ঞী ঞু ঞূ ঞৃ !ঞ !ঞ !ঞা !ঞৗ ট ট টা িট টী টু টূ ট ৃ !ট !ট !টা !টৗ ঠ ঠ ঠা িঠ ঠী ঠু ঠূ ঠ ৃ !ঠ !ঠ !ঠা !ঠৗ ড ড ডা িড ডী ডু ডূ ডৃ !ড !ড !ডা !ডৗ ঢ ঢ ঢা িঢ ঢী ঢু ঢূ ঢৃ !ঢ !ঢ !ঢা !ঢৗ ণ ণ ণা িণ ণী ণ ু ণ ূ ণ ৃ !ণ !ণ !ণা !ণৗ ত ত তা িত তী তু তূ ত ৃ !ত !ত !তা !তৗ থ থ থা িথ থী থ ু থ ূ থ ৃ !থ !থ !থা !থৗ দ দ দা িদ দী d দূ দ ৃ !দ !দ !দা !দৗ ধ ধ ধা িধ ধী ধ ু ধ ূ ধ ৃ !ধ !ধ !ধা !ধৗ ন ন না িন নী n ন ূ ন ৃ !ন !ন !না !নৗ প প পা িপ পী প ু প ূ প ৃ !প !প !পা !পৗ ফ ফ ফা িফ ফী ফু ফূ ফৃ !ফ !ফ !ফা !ফৗ ব ব বা িব বী ব ু ব ূ ব ৃ !ব !ব !বা !বৗ ভ ভ ভা িভ ভী ভু ভূ ভৃ !ভ !ভ !ভা !ভৗ ম ম মা িম মী ম ু ম ূ ম ৃ !ম !ম !মা !মৗ য য যা িয যী য ু য ূ য ৃ !য !য !যা !যৗ র র রা ির রী r r র ৃ !র !র !রা !রৗ ল ল লা িল লী ল ু ল ূ ল ৃ !ল !ল !লা !লৗ শ শ শা িশ শী ! শ ূ শ ৃ !শ !শ !শা !শৗ ষ ষ ষা িষ ষী ষ ু ষ ূ ষ ৃ !ষ !ষ !ষা !ষৗ স স সা িস সী s সূ স ৃ !স !স !সা !সৗ হ হ হা িহ হী h হূ h !হ !হ !হা !হৗ ড় ড় ড়া িড় ড়ী ড়ু ড়ূ ড়ৃ !ড় !ড় !ড়া !ড়ৗ

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ঢ় ঢ় ঢ়া িঢ় ঢ়ী ঢ়ু ঢ়ূ ঢ় ৃ !ঢ় !ঢ় !ঢ়া !ঢ়ৗ য় য় য়া িয় য়ী য় ু য় ূ য় ৃ !য় !য় !য়া !য়ৗ

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Sample Bangla Words with Vowels Signs

Bangla Word Phonetic English Meaning POS

অ + ন + !◌ + ক = অেনক onek many (adj.) আ + ক + ◌া + শ = আকাশ akash sky (n.) উ + প + র + !◌ = উপের upore above (prep.) এ + ক + ট + ◌ু = একটু ekoTu a little (adv.)

এ + খ + ন + !◌া = এখেনা ekhonO yet (conj.) ও + র + ◌া = ওরা Ora they (pr.)

ক + থ + ◌া + ব + ল + ◌া = কথা বলা

kotha bola

speak (v.)

ক + প + ◌া + ল = কপাল kopal forehead (n.) ক + র + ◌া = করা kora do (v.) ক + ল + ◌া = কলা kola banana (n.)

ক + ◌ু + ক + ◌ু + র = kkর kukur dog (n.) খ + ◌া + র + ◌া + প =

খারাপ kharap bad (adj.)

গ + র + ◌ু = গr goru cow (n.) ঘ + ◌া + স = ঘাস ghas grass (n.)

চ + ◌া + ম + ড় + ◌া = চামড়া

chamoRa skin (n.)

চ + ি◌ + ল = িচল chil kite (n.) ছ + ব + ি◌ = ছিব chhobi pictures (n.)

জ + ি◌ + ন + ি◌ + স = িজিনস

jinis thing (n.)

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ট + ◌ু + প + ি◌ = টুিপ Tupi hat (n.) ড + ি◌ + ম = িডম Dim egg (n.)

ত + ◌া + ড় + ◌া + ত + ◌া + ড় + ি◌ = তাড়াতািড়

taRataRi quickly (adv.)

থ + !◌ + ক + !◌ = !থেক theke from (prep.) দ + ◌া + দ + ◌া = দাদা dada elder brother (n.) ধ + ◌া + র + !◌ = ধাের dhare along (prep.)

ন + ◌া + ক = নাক nak nose (n.) ন + ◌া + চ + ◌া = নাচা nacha dance (v.)

প + র + !◌ = পের pore after (prep.) ফ + ◌ু + ল + ক + প + ি◌ =

ফুলকিপ phulokopi cauliflower (n.)

ব + ল + ◌া = বলা bola say (v.) ব + ◌া + ব + ◌া = বাবা baba father (n.)

ভ + ◌া + ই = ভাই bhai younger brother

(n.)

ম + ◌া = মা ma mother (n.) য + ◌া + ও + য় + ◌া =

যাওয়া JaOya go (v.)

র + ◌া + খ + ◌া = রাখা rakha put (v.) ল + ◌া + ল = লাল lal red (adj.)

শ + র + ◌ী + র = শরীর shorIr body (n.) স + ক + ◌া + ল = সকাল sokal morning (n.) হ + ল + দ + !◌ = হলেদ holode yellow (adj.)

হ + ◌া + ত = হাত hat hand (n.)

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হ + ◌া + র + ◌া + ন + !◌া = হারােনা

haranO lose (v.)

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Compound Consonants When two consonant sounds, like ন (n) and ত (t) are used together, the compound letter looks like n (nt) and is called a "juktakkhor" or compound letter.

The letter form of the compound consonants may look quite different than the original forms of the constituent consonants.

A complete set of compound consonants is shown below.

2- letter Compound Consonants

ক খ গ ঘ ঙ চ ছ জ ঝ ঞ ট ঠ ড ঢ ণ ত থ দ ধ ন প ফ ব ভ ম য র ল শ ষ স হ ড় ঢ় য়

ক k k k ক" k k k k খ খ" ! গ g g গ" g g ঘ ঘ" ! ঙ ŋ ŋ ŋ চ ! ! চ" ছ ! ছ" জ j j j জ" j ঝ ঝ" ঞ ! ! ! ট T ট" T ঠ ঠ" ড D ড" D ঢ ঢ" ণ N N !ণ ণ" ত t t t t t ত" t

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থ থ" ! দ d d d d d দ" d ধ ! ধ" ! ন !ট !ঠ !ড n !থ n n n n n n ন" n প p p p p প" p p p ফ !ট ফ" ! ! ব b b b b ব" b b ভ ভ" ! ! ম m m m m m ম" m m য য" র ক" খ" গ" ঘ" চ" ছ" জ" ঝ" ট" ঠ" ড" ঢ" ণ" ত" থ" দ" ধ" ন" প" ফ" ব" ভ" ম" য" ল" শ" ষ" স" হ" ল l l l l l !দ l l l l l ল" ল" l শ ! ! ! ! ! ! শ" ! ! ষ ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ষ" ষ" স s s s s s s s s s স" s s হ h h h h h h h ড় ড়" ঢ় !

য

য় য়"

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3- letter Compound Consonants

ন + ত + র = nt স + ত + র = st

The most common Compound Consonants are shown here.

• য-ফলা J-phola

Consonant য (J). It adds a "yaw" sound (rather than a "jaw" sound as you would expect). Pronunciation is a Sanskrit artifact.

ক + য = ক" খ + য = খ" গ + য = গ" ত + য = ত"

• র-ফলা r-phola

Consonant র(r). Adds a "raw" sound.

ক + র = k খ + র = ! গ + র = g ত + র = t দ + র = d

• ল-ফলা l-phola

Consonant ল (l). Adds a "law" sound.

ক + ল = k গ + ল = g প + ল = p

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ম + ল = m

• ব-ফলা b-phola

Consonant ব (b). Adds a "bo" or "wo" sound.

জ + ব = j শ + ব = ! স + ব = s

• ণ-ফলা N-phola

Consonant ণ (N). Adds a "naw" sound.

ণ + ণ = !ণ ষ + ণ = !

• ন-ফলা n-phola

Consonant ন (n). Adds a "naw" sound.

গ + ন = g ত + ন = t ন + ন = n ম + ন = m

• ম-ফলা m-phola

Consonant ম (m). Adds a "maw" sound.

ত + ম = t দ + ম = d ন + ম = n ম + ম = m

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• !রফ reph

Consonant র (r) before a Consonant. Adds the "raw" sound before a consonant.

র + ক = ক" র + গ = গ" র + ঘ = ঘ" র + জ = জ"

Other Miscellaneous Consonants include 2 and 3 letter conjuncts A few examples.

ক + ক = k ন + দ + র = nd ন + ধ + য = n" ম + প + র = mp

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Sample Bangla Words with Compound Consonants Bangla Unicode fonts have a special feature for compound consonants. The Hosonto sign ( ◌্ ) used between two consonants causes them to form the compound consonant in Bangla Unicode fonts. The suborNo Phonetic method and the software on this site will form the compound consonants automatically.

Bangla Word Phonetic English Meaning POS অn onYo other (adj.)

উtর !দওয়া uttor deOya reply (v.) িকnু kintu but (conj.)

িচnা করা chinta kora worry (v.) !চ#া করা cheShTa kora try (v.) জnােনা jonmanO born (v.) ঠা#ডা ThanDa cold (adj.)

দিkণ িদক dokShiN dik south (n.) দক#ার হওয়া dorkar hoOya need (v.) পির$ার করা poriShkar kora clean (v.)

pিত proti to (prep.) বn করা bondho kora shut (v.)

বা#া bachcha child (n.) িবিk করা bikri kora sell (v.)

রk rokto blood (n.) সn#া sondhYa evening (n.) সpাহ soptaho week (n.) সূয$ sUrJo sun (n.) stী strI wife (n.)

sামী swamI husband (n.)

Text from “Learn The Bangla Alphabet” at http://supriyosen.net

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Alphabet Review-sohoj paTh Here is the introduction to Rabindranath Tagore's সহজ পাঠ (sohoj paTh) with illustrations by Nandalal Basu.

বণ#মালা - Garland of Letters

Vowels

অ আ o a

!ছাট !খাকা বেল অ আ chhOTo khOka bole o a little boy says awe ah,

!শেখিন !স কথা কওয়া । shekheni se kotha koOya . he has not yet learnt to speak words. Sound In Online version

Text from “Learn The Bangla Alphabet” at http://supriyosen.net

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ই ঈ i I

hs ই দীঘ$ ঈ hroswo i dIrgho I hroshwo (short) i, dIrgho (long) I,

বেস খায় kীর খই । bose khay kShIr khoi . sit and eat condensed milk and parched rice. Sound In Online version

উ ঊ u U

hs উ দীঘ$ ঊ hroswo u dIrgho U hroshwo (short) u, dIrgho (long) U,

ডাক ছােড় !ঘউ !ঘউ । Dak chhaRe gheu gheu . yell out gheu gheu. Sound In Online version

Text from “Learn The Bangla Alphabet” at http://supriyosen.net

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ঋ rri

ঘন !মঘ বেল ঋ ghon megh bole rri 'dark clouds', says rri,

িদন বড় িব#ী । din boRo bishrI . 'the day is ugly'. Sound In Online version

এ ঐ e OI

বািট হােত এ ঐ baTi hate e OI bowl in hand, eh OI,

হাঁক !দয় !দ !দ । han^k dey de dOI . yell out 'give me yoghurt'. Sound In Online version

Text from “Learn The Bangla Alphabet” at http://supriyosen.net

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ও ঔ O OU

ডাক পােড় ও ঔ Dak paRe O OU call out O OU,

ভাত আেনা বড় !বৗ । bhat anO boRo bOU . 'bring rice, eldest daughter-in-law.' Sound In Online version

Text from “Learn The Bangla Alphabet” at http://supriyosen.net

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Consonants

ক খ গ ঘ k kh g gh

ক খ গ ঘ গান !গেয় k kh g gh gan geye singing, 'kaw khaw gaw ghaw',

!জেল িডিঙ চেল !বেয় । jele DiNgi chole beye . the fisherman rows his boat. Sound In Online version

ঙ Ng

চের বেস রাঁেধ ঙ chore bose ran^dhe Ng as iNgaw cooks on the sandy beach,

!চােখ তার লােগ !ধাঁয়া । chOkhe tar lage dhOn^ya . smoke gets in its eyes. Sound In Online version

Text from “Learn The Bangla Alphabet” at http://supriyosen.net

December 5, 2013 28

চ ছ জ ঝ ch chho j jh

চ ছ জ ঝ দেল দেল ch chho j jh dole dole in a group, chaw chhaw jaw jhaw,

!বাঝা িনেয় হােট চেল । bOjha niye haTe chole . are going to the market, with their bags. Sound In Online version

ঞ NG

িkেদ পায় খকুী ঞ kShide pay khukI NG little girl, uNGaw, is hungry,

!েয় কাঁেদ িকেয়া ঁিকেয়া ঁ। shuye kan^de kiyOn^ kiyOn^ . she lies down and cries 'kiyo kiyo'. Sound In Online version

Text from “Learn The Bangla Alphabet” at http://supriyosen.net

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ট ঠ ড ঢ T Th D Dh

ট ঠ ড ঢ কের !গাল T Th D Dh kore gOl Taw Thaw Daw Dhaw make noise,

কাঁেধ িনেয় ঢাক !ঢাল । kan^dhe niye Dhak DhOl . with drums on their shoulder. Sound In Online version

ণ N

বেল মdূ$n ণ, bole mUrddhonYo N, says murdhonya Naw,

চুপ কর কথা !শান । chup koro kotha shOn . be quiet and listen to my words. Sound In Online version

Text from “Learn The Bangla Alphabet” at http://supriyosen.net

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ত থ দ ধ to th d dh

ত থ দ ধ বেল, ভাই to th d dh bole, bhai taw thaw daw dhaw say, 'brother,

আম পািড় চল যাই । am paRi chol Jai . let us go pick mangoes'. Sound In Online version

ন n

!রেগ বেল দn# ন rege bole dontYo n angrily says dontyo naw,

যাব না !তা কkেনা । Jabo na tO kokShonO . 'I will never go'. Sound In Online version

Text from “Learn The Bangla Alphabet” at http://supriyosen.net

December 5, 2013 31

প ফ ব ভ p ph b bh

প ফ ব ভ যায় মােঠ p ph b bh Jay maThe paw phaw baw bhaw go to the field,

সারািদন ধান কােট । saradin dhan kaTe . all day they cut rice stalks. Sound In Online version

ম m

ম চালায় !গাr-গািড় m chalay gOru-gaRi maw drives a bullock cart,

ধান িনেয় যায় বািড় । dhan niye Jay baRi . takes the rice and goes home. Sound In Online version

Text from “Learn The Bangla Alphabet” at http://supriyosen.net

December 5, 2013 32

য র ল ব J r l b

য র ল ব বেস ঘের J r l b bose ghore Jaw raw law baw sit at home,

এক মেন পড়া কের । ek mone poRa kore . and concentrate on reading books. Sound In Online version

শ ষ স sh Sh s

শ ষ স বাদল িদেন sh Sh s badol dine on a rainy day, shaw Shaw saw,

ঘের যায় ছাতা িকেন । ghore Jay chhata kine . buy umbrellas and go home. Sound In Online version

Text from “Learn The Bangla Alphabet” at http://supriyosen.net

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হ k h kSh

শাল মিুড় িদেয় হ k shal muRi diye h kSh wrapped in a shawl, haw and kaw+Shaw

!কােণ বেস কােশ খ k । kONe bose kashe kh kSh . sit in the corner and cough 'khaw kshaw'. Sound In Online version

Text from “Learn The Bangla Alphabet” at http://supriyosen.net

December 5, 2013 34

The Bangla Alphabet & English Phonetic Representation

In English, the name of the letter is not necessarily an indication of how it is pronounced in a word. For example, the letter "C" can be pronounced with an "S" sound as in "cease" or with a "K" sound as in "cash".

In Bangla, the letters are pronounced in exactly the same way as they are named. This makes it easy to write Bangla letters and words phonetically.

Guide for সুবর্ণ suborNo Bangla Phonetic Transliteration Each Bangla letter is represented by a sequence of 1 to 3 English letters, closely representing the phonetic sound of the Bangla letter. Note that upper and lower case English letters are used. You must use the letters exactly as specified. For example, you must use the lower case "p" to form the Bangla letter প.

Example: To write আমার নাম sিpয়, you would enter amar nam supriyo.

Usage Notes

1. Vowels and Vowel Signs (-kar) When a Consonant is followed by a Vowel, the diacritic version of the Vowel (or -kar) will be shown. e.g. ki will be shown as িক.

2. Compound Consonants When a Consonant is followed by a Consonant, a Combined Consonant (or juktakkhor) will be formed. e.g. pr produces প+র=p.

3. Negation of Automatic Juktakkhor Sometimes, you may have 2 Consonants next to each other, but you don't want them to be automatically combined. Insert an "o" between the

Consonants to override automatic juktakkhor. e.g. kr would have produced the compound letter ক+র=k. The letter "o" does not create a character but is used to break an automatic juktakkhor. If you want to write কর, you will want to break the automatic juktakkhor formed by kr. So you would enter "kor" to get the desired result.

4. Virtual Vowel "o" All Bangla Consonants end with the "awe" sound, as in "kawe" or "ko" for the Bangla consonant ক. The letter "o" can be thought of as a virtual letter, and can be used at the end of a word to make the phonetic word more aesthetic. e.g.to produce কর, you can write "kor" or "koro".