The Bengali Alphabet and Script
Start reading Bengali, or Bangla, in its own script. Meet the alphabet, hear the difference between aspirated and unaspirated sounds, and spot the English words borrowed into Bengali.
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Reading Bengali 📜
Bengali, or Bangla, is written in its own **script**, not the Latin alphabet. This module helps you start to **read** it. Each Bengali example is shown with a simple way to say it in brackets, like this: **হাসপাতাল (haspatal)**, which means hospital. The meanings and tips are all in English.
Words to know 🔑
Four ideas run through this module:
A puff of air 💨
Bengali has pairs of consonants that sound almost the same, except one is said with a puff of air. Hearing the difference matters for listening.
Match each word to its meaning 🔗
- হাসপাতাল (haspatal)
- বাস (bas)
- স্কুল (skul)
- টেলিফোন (telifon)
- hospital
- bus
- school
- telephone
Spot the loanword 🏥
Bengali often borrows English words. Which English word does হাসপাতাল (haspatal) come from?
- Hospital
- Hostel
- Capital
- Postal
Train your ear 👂
Here is a skill examiners test in listening: telling **aspirated** and **unaspirated** consonants apart. খ (kh) is just ক (k) said with a puff of air, and ফ (ph) is প (p) with a puff. Mixing them up can change a word, so train your ear to catch that little puff.
Which have the puff? ✅
Select the TWO aspirated consonants, the ones said with a puff of air.
- খ (kh)
- ফ (ph)
- ক (k)
- প (p)
Match each sound 🔤
- ক (k)
- খ (kh)
- প (p)
- ফ (ph)
- A plain k, with no puff of air
- A k said with a puff of air
- A plain p, with no puff of air
- A p said with a puff of air
Sound it out 🪜
An interactive activity.
The script in words 🧩
Bengali is written in its own _____, not the Latin alphabet. Each consonant carries a built-in _____. A consonant said with a puff of air is called _____. Bengali borrows many words from English, called _____. The word haspatal means _____.
Spot the true statements 🖍️
An interactive activity.
Read the sign 🧭
An interactive activity.
Explain the script ✍️
An interactive activity.