Bengali Script Basics
Putting Letters Together
In the last lesson, we have learn the letters of the Bengali alphabet. However, we did not talk yet about how to put them together to actually form words. This lesson introduces the so-called matras of the vowels and we will also look at some examples of compound consonants.
1. Matras (মাতরা)
In Bengali, vowels can exist as standalone letters or as matras (মাতরা) when combined with consonants. This table shows the standalone vowels next to their respective matra:
| Vowel Letter | Matras Symbol | Example with ক (kô) |
|---|---|---|
| অ | None | ক (kô) |
| আ | া | কা (ka) |
| ই | ি | কি (ki) |
| ঈ | ী | কী (kī) |
| উ | ু | কু (ku) |
| ঊ | ূ | কূ (kū) |
| ঋ | ৃ | কৃ (kṛi) |
| এ | ে | কে (ke) |
| ঐ | ৈ | কৈ (koi) |
| ও | ো | কো (ko) |
| ঔ | ৌ | কৌ (kou) |
Sentence Example
Let’s see how matras change consonants in a sentence:
তুমি কি আম খাবে? (Tumi ki am khabe?, translation: Will you eat mangoes?)
-
- তুমি: ত (tô) + উ (u) + মি (mi) = You (informal)
- কি: ক (kô) + ি (i) = What?
- আম: আ (a) + ম (m) = Mango
- খাবে: খ (khô) + া (a) + ব (bô) + ে (e) = Will eat
2. Compound Consonants (যুক্তাক্ষর)
In Bengali, compound letters (যুক্তাক্ষর) are formed when two or more consonants combine to produce a single complex sound. These are common in Bengali writing and must be learned to read fluently. Don’t worry about learning these for now – first you should focus on learning the simple alphabet. When you know those already, you will start to recognize the letters “squeezed” into the compound consonants form in some cases, and you will learn the other compounds with time as they reappear in words and texts.
| Compound Letter | Components | Example Word |
|---|---|---|
| ক্ষ (kṣô) | ক (kô) + ষ (ṣhô) | শিক্ষা (śikkha - education) |
| জ্ঞ (gyô) | জ (jô) + ঞ (nyô) | জ্ঞান (gyan - knowledge) |
| ত্র (trô) | ত (tô) + র (rô) | ত্রিশূল (triśul - trident) |
| দ্র (drô) | দ (dô) + র (rô) | দ্রব্য (drôbbo - substance) |
| ব্র (brô) | ব (bô) + র (rô) | ব্রত (brôto - vow) |
| স্ত (stô) | স (sô) + ত (tô) | স্থান (sthan - place) |
| স্প (spô) | স (sô) + প (pô) | স্পষ্ট (spôṣṭô - clear) |
| স্ম (smô) | স (sô) + ম (mô) | স্মৃতি (smriti - memory) |
| গ্ন (gnô) | গ (gô) + ন (nô) | অগ্নি (ôgni - fire) |
| প্ল (plô) | প (pô) + ল (lô) | প্লাবন (plabon - flood) |
| ল্প (lpô) | ল (lô) + প (pô) | স্বল্প (śwôlpô - small) |
| ম্প (mpô) | ম (mô) + প (pô) | সম্পদ (sômpôd - wealth) |
With the knowledge you have now, you can read and write words! Now it’s time to practice. Here are some ideas on how to study Bengali reading ad writing:
- Write and Speak: Write a consonant and add different matras to see how the sound changes. Speak aloud for practice.
- Flashcards: Create flashcards with a consonant and its matra combinations to memorize.
- Read Words: Start reading simple Bengali words to recognize and understand the letters in context.
Happy learning and until the next lesson!