Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Start speaking the language
• Part 2 of 3: Learning the basics of Bengali
• Part 3 of 3: Practice your Bengali
• Tips

The name Bengali comes from Bengali (Ben-gol / Ben-goli) people. Learning a new language can be a challenge, especially when you need to learn a completely new alphabet. However, there are common phrases you can start with. Whether you are traveling to Bangladesh and need to speak the Bengali language or if you just want to learn it for fun, here are some useful phrases you can master with a little practice.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Start speaking the language

1. Make a list of common words or phrases you would like to learn. Common phrases are useful and are a good way to get started if you ever want to be able to speak the language fluently. Start by looking at some common Bengali words along with their phonetic pronunciation in Dutch.
2. Learn greetings, pleasantries, and numbers. Learning these words is crucial to being polite. Learning numbers can come in handy so that you don't have to use your fingers to explain prices.
   • Hey: Salaam (for Muslims only) or "NawMoShkar" (for Hindus only)
   • Goodbye: "aabar dekha hobe" (this is similar to saying goodbye but means "we will meet again")
   • Please: "doya kore or onugroho"
   • Thank you: "dhon-no-baad"
   • Yes: "yee-in Bangladesh" "hañ" (everywhere)
   • No: (naa)
   • 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10: "ek, dui, toe, chaar, pañch, choy, saat, aat, noy, dos"
3. Learn words related to food. Food is a basic human need and you will undoubtedly have to talk about it at some point. Make sure you know the correct words so that you know what you are asking, even if it is very simple.
   • Food: "khaabaar"
   • Water: "paani-in Bangladesh" or "dinghy-in India"
   • Eat: খাও "khao" (informal) "khaan" (formal)
   • Tasty: "moja-in Bangladesh" or "Shu-shadu in India"
   • Good: "bhaalo"
4. Learn the basic questions. If you want to ask about something like the toilet or how someone puts it, you will have to learn certain basic words that will make this possible.
   • Where: "kothay?"
   • What ?: "ki?"
   • How do I do this: "ki bhabey korbo", "ami ki bhabhey korbo"
   • I have to go to the toilet: "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"
   • Did you know? : "Apne ki janen?"
   • How are you ?: "kemon acho" "kemon achis" (informal) "kemon achen" (formal)
5. Learn how to talk about yourself and others.
   • Me: "aami"
   • You: "tumi" (colloquial) "aapni" (formal) "tui" তুই "(colloquially used between close friends having a conversation among themselves)
   • He / she: "shey / o"
   • Come: "esho, ay" (informal) "aashun" (formal)
   • Stay here: "tumi jeo naa", "tui jabi na" (informal) "aapni jaben naa" (formal)
   • Who: "ke?"
   • Beautiful: "Shundor"
   • Love you: "Ami Tomake Bhalobashi"
   • Girl: "Meye"
   • Boy: "Chele"
6. Consult the alphabet if you are having difficulty. Think about the time when you were a small child and the teacher asked you to say certain sounds. With Bengali this is even more important. Since the alphabet is syllabic, it is a bit easier to pronounce the full word.
7. Don't be afraid to seek help. If you can't decide how to pronounce a word or if it sounds wrong, search the internet for the correct pronunciation. There are all kinds of short videos that can help you take a closer look at your pronunciation.
8. Get started! Learning a language is difficult, but starting with common sentences will get you started before you know it. This will also help you find your way around an area where this language is spoken. Start with the basics.

Part 2 of 3: Learning the basics of Bengali

1. Learn the alphabet. The Bengali alphabet is syllabic and all consonants have a vowel attached to them with two different pronunciations. It is important that you learn these if you want to learn to recognize the words and pronounce them correctly. Learn to write the alphabet while learning how to pronounce each letter. This will help identify the letter more easily. Try to learn the alphabet as you learned the Western alphabet as a child. Write down each letter and say the sound aloud as you do this. You will have to memorize them all.
2. Learn the basics of pronunciation. Study the sound of each letter, not just the way a letter works. Unlike Dutch, the letters can make multiple sounds. Try to master these sounds. For example, go through the alphabet and practice corresponding two-letter pronunciations in short words. This will give you an idea of ​​how to combine the letters. You will also want to understand certain statements that are different than in Dutch. For example, the sound of T is a soft T - like the T in Spanish.
3. Learn the basics of grammar. You should not become an expert, but recognize the differences with your own language. Understanding how a language works will give you a better understanding of what you are actually saying. Once you understand that, you will be better able to use common words in the right context. Bengali works with the order of a direct object, a subject and a verb against a subject, a verb and a direct object in English. Bengali does not always work with prepositions either. Just like in English, there is no grammatical gender - verbs do, however, indicate the person, the time and the situation.
4. Read. Find a book written in Bengali and start turning the pages. You don't have to understand the story or words, just try to recognize the letters and look for common words you already know. This will familiarize you with the words that are most often used. Try to find a youth book that is about numbers and food. You will probably want to master these words the most when you plan to travel.

Part 3 of 3: Practice your Bengali

1. Practice alone. Write down words and say them out loud. You can buy an exercise book if you want some extra support. There are also worksheets available online. You can consult all kinds of videos online for the correct pronunciation of words. Try to make sure you pronounce the things you say correctly. It doesn't matter if you know what the word means if no one understands you.
2. Practice Bengali online. If you don't have a Bengali friend to talk to you can always find someone online! Search “Speak Bengali to Anyone” online and you will find all kinds of sites that allow you to talk to someone on the internet. Even if you only share small pleasantries, this will be a good start.
3. Watch movies. Find a movie that speaks only Bengali. Even if you don't understand what is happening, this will give you an idea of ​​the rhythm of the language and how words are pronounced. You will be amazed to what extent this helps.

Tips

• Do you know Bengali / English?, say "Apni ki Bangla / Ingreji janen?"
• It is always helpful to have a Bengali friend. If so, try out your sentences on him or her.
• To avoid offending someone, always use formal language when talking to someone older than you, someone you don't know, or someone you meet for the first time. When in doubt, it is better to always speak formally.
• Make sure you can hear a difference between a soft and a loud "d" and "t".
• Aspiration (or a consonant followed by an "h" in the Western alphabet) makes a big difference. Make sure you pronounce this correctly.
• When we write "a" as in kade or "a" as in path, both words are written with an "a". Make sure you know which one it is before saying it.
• Don't be afraid to use a few English words in between Bengali when talking to a Bengali speaker - Bengali has a relatively large number of English loan words such as cup, table, glass, chair, bus, taxi, car, bike, cycle, etc.