Characters Bengali alphabet

1 characters

1.1 vowels

1.1.1 notes


1.2 consonants

1.2.1 notes


1.3 consonant conjuncts

1.3.1 fused forms
1.3.2 approximated forms
1.3.3 compressed forms
1.3.4 abbreviated forms
1.3.5 variant forms
1.3.6 exceptions


1.4 compounds
1.5 diacritics , other symbols

1.5.1 notes


1.6 digits , numerals
1.7 punctuation marks
1.8 characteristics of bengali text

characters

the bengali script can divided vowels , vowel diacritics/marks, consonants , consonant conjuncts, diacritical , other symbols, digits, , punctuation marks.

vowels

the bengali script has total of 11 vowel graphemes, each of called স্বরবর্ণ sbôrôbôrnô vowel letter . sbôrôbôrnôs represent 6 of 7 main vowel sounds of bengali, along 2 vowel diphthongs. of them used in both bengali , assamese languages.

অ ô (স্বর অ shôrô ô, vocalic ô ) /ɔ/ sounds default inherent vowel entire bengali script.
even though open-mid front unrounded vowel /ɛ/ 1 of 7 main vowel sounds in standard bengali language, no distinct vowel symbol has been allotted in script since there no /ɛ/ sound in sanskrit, primary written language when script conceived. result, sound orthographically realised multiple means in modern bengali orthography, using combination of এ e (স্বর এ shôrô e, vocalic e ) /e/, অ , আ (স্বর আ shôrô a) /a/ , যফলা jôfôla (diacritic form of consonant grapheme য jô).
there 2 graphemes vowel sound [i] , 2 graphemes vowel sound [u]. redundancy stems time when script used write sanskrit, language had short , long vowels: ই (হ্রস্ব ই rôshshô i, short ) /i/ , ঈ ī (দীর্ঘ ঈ dirghô ī, long ī ) /iː/, , উ u (হ্রস্ব উ rôshshô u) /u/ , ঊ ū (দীর্ঘ ঊ dirghô ū) /uː/. letters preserved in bengali script traditional names despite fact no longer pronounced differently in ordinary speech. these graphemes serve etymological function, however, in preserving original sanskrit spelling in tôtsômô bengali words (words borrowed sanskrit).
the grapheme called ঋ ṛ (or হ্রস্ব ঋ rôshshô ri, short ri , used be) not represent vowel phoneme in bengali consonant-vowel combination রি /ri/. nevertheless, included in vowel section of inventory of bengali script. inconsistency remnant sanskrit, grapheme represents vocalic equivalent of retroflex approximant (possibly r-colored vowel). grapheme called ঌ ḷ (or হ্রস্ব ঌ rôshshô li used be) representing vocalic equivalent of dental approximant in sanskrit representing constant-vowel combination লি /li/ in bengali instead of vowel phoneme, included in vowel section unlike ঋ , discarded inventory since usage extremely limited in sanskrit.
when vowel sound occurs syllable-initially or when follows vowel, written using distinct letter. when vowel sound follows consonant (or consonant cluster), written diacritic which, depending on vowel, can appear above, below, before or after consonant. these vowel marks cannot appear without consonant , called কার kar.
an exception above system vowel /ɔ/, has no vowel mark considered inherent in every consonant letter. denote absence of inherent vowel [ɔ] following consonant, diacritic called হসন্ত hôsôntô (্) may written underneath consonant.
although there 2 diphthongs in inventory of script: ঐ oi (স্বর ঐ shôrô oi, vocalic oi ) /oi/ , ঔ ou (স্বর ঔ shôrô ou) /ou/, bengali phonetic system has, in fact, many diphthongs. diphthongs represented juxtaposing graphemes of forming vowels, in কেউ keu /keu/.
there used 2 long vowels: ৠ ṝ (দীর্ঘ ৠ dirghô rri, long rri ) , ৡ ḹ (দীর্ঘ ৡ dirghô lli), removed inventory during vidyasagarian reform of script due peculiarity sanskrit.

the table below shows vowels present in modern (since late nineteenth century) inventory of bengali alphabet:

the consonant ক (kô) along diacritic form of vowels অ, আ, ই, ঈ, উ, ঊ, ঋ, এ, ঐ, ও , ঔ.


notes


consonants

consonant letters called ব্যঞ্জনবর্ণ bænjônbôrnô consonant letter in bengali. names of letters typically consonant sound plus inherent vowel অ ô. since inherent vowel assumed , not written, letters names identical letter (the name of letter ঘ ghô, not gh).

some letters have lost distinctive pronunciation in modern bengali called more elaborate names. example, since consonant phoneme /n/ written both ন , ণ, letters not called nô; instead, called দন্ত্য ন dôntyô nô ( dental nô ) , মূর্ধন্য ণ murdhônyô nô ( retroflex nô ). once pronounced , written retroflex nasal ণ [ɳ] pronounced alveolar [n] (unless conjoined retroflex consonant such ট, ঠ, ড , ঢ) although spelling not reflect change.
although still named murdhônyô when being taught, retroflex consonants not exist in bengali , instead fronted postalveolar , alveolar equivalents.
the voiceless palato-alveolar sibilant phoneme /ʃ/ can written শ, (তালব্য শ talôbyô shô, palatal shô ), ষ (মূর্ধন্য ষ murdhônyô shô, retroflex shô ), or স (দন্ত্য স dôntyô sô, dental sô voiceless alveolar fricative), depending on word.
the voiced palato-alveolar affricate phoneme /dʒ/ can written in 2 ways, য (অন্তঃস্থ য ôntôsthô jô) or জ (বর্গীয় জ bôrgiyô jô). in many varieties of bengali, [z, dz] not distinct phoneme, speakers distinguish them may use letters য , জ contrast.
since nasals ঞ ñô /ẽɔ/ , ঙ ngô /ŋɔ/ cannot occur @ beginning of word in bengali, names not ñô , ngô respectively উঙ ungô (pronounced উম umô or উঁঅ ũô) , ইঞ iñô (pronounced নীয় niyô or ইঙ ingô) respectively.
similarly, since semivowel য় yô /e̯ɔ/ cannot occur @ beginning of bengali word (unlike sanskrit , other indic languages, bengali words cannot begin semi-vocalic phoneme), name not ôntôsthô yô অন্তঃস্থ অ ôntôsthô ô.
there difference in pronunciation of ড় ṛô (ড-এ শূন্য ড় ḍô-e shunyô ṛô, ṛô (as) ḍô 0 (the figure used analogous ring below diacritic bengali equivalent of devanagari nuqta, again analogous underdot) ) , ঢ় ṛhô (ঢ-এ শূন্য ঢ় ḍhô-e shunyô ṛhô) of র rô (sometimes called ব-এ শূন্য র bô-e shunyô rô distinguishing purpose) - similar other indic languages. true in parlance of western , southern part of bengal lesser on dialects of eastern side of padma river. ড় , ঢ় introduced inventory during vidyasagarian reform indicate retroflex flap in pronunciation of ড ḍô , ঢ ḍhô in middle or end of word. allophonic development in indic languages not present in sanskrit. yet in ordinary speech these letters pronounced same র in modern bengali.



notes


consonant conjuncts


the consonant ligature ndrô (ন্দ্র) : ন (nô) in green, দ (dô) in blue , র (rô) in maroon.

up 4 consonant clusters can orthographically represented typographic ligature called consonant conjunct (bengali: যুক্তাক্ষর/যুক্তবর্ণ juktakkhôr/juktôbôrnô or more যুক্তব্যঞ্জন). typically, first consonant in conjunct shown above and/or left of following consonants. many consonants appear in abbreviated or compressed form when serving part of conjunct. others take exceptional forms in conjuncts, bearing little or no resemblance base character.

often, consonant conjuncts not pronounced implied pronunciation of individual components. example, adding ল lô underneath শ shô in bengali creates conjunct শ্ল, not pronounced shlô slô in bengali. many conjuncts represent sanskrit sounds lost centuries before modern bengali ever spoken in জ্ঞ. combination of জ ǰô , ঞ ñô not pronounced ǰñô or jnô . instead, pronounced ggô in modern bengali. thus, conjuncts represent (combinations of) sounds cannot understood components, following descriptions concerned construction of conjunct, , not resulting pronunciation.

(some graphemes may appear in form other mentioned form due font used)

fused forms

some consonants fuse in such way 1 stroke of first consonant serves stroke of next.

the consonants can placed on top of 1 another, sharing vertical line: ক্ক kkô গ্ন gnô গ্ল glô ন্ন nnô প্ন pnô প্প ppô ল্ল llô etc.
as last member of conjunct, ব bô can hang on vertical line under preceding consonants, taking shape of ব bô (includes বফলা bôfôla): গ্ব gbô ণ্ব ṇbô দ্ব dbô ল্ব lbô শ্ব shbô .
the consonants can placed side-by-side, sharing vertical line: দ্দ ddô ন্দ ndô ব্দ bdô ব্জ bǰô প্ট pṭô শ্চ shchô শ্ছ shchhô, etc.

approximated forms

some consonants written closer 1 indicate in conjunct together.

the consonants can placed side-by-side, appearing unaltered: দ্গ dgô দ্ঘ dghô ড্ড ḍḍô.
as last member of conjunct, ব bô can appear right of preceding consonant, taking shape of ব bô (includes বফলা bôfôla): ধ্ব dhbô ব্ব bbô হ্ব hbô .

compressed forms

some consonants compressed (and simplified) when appearing first member of conjunct.

as first member of conjunct, consonants ঙ ngô চ chô ড ḍô , ব bô compressed , placed @ top-left of following consonant, little or no change basic shape: ঙ্ক্ষ ngkṣô ঙ্খ ngkhô ঙ্ঘ ngghô ঙ্ম ngmô চ্চ chchô চ্ছ chchhô চ্ঞ chnô ড্ঢ ḍḍhô ব্‍ব bbô.
as first member of conjunct, ত tô compressed , placed above following consonant, little or no change basic shape: ত্ন tnô ত্ম tmô ত্ব tbô .
as first member of conjunct, ম mô compressed , simplified curved shape. placed above or top-left of following consonant: ম্ন mnô ম্প mpô ম্ফ mfô ম্ব mbô ম্ভ mbhô ম্ম mmô ম্ল mlô.
as first member of conjunct, ষ ṣô compressed , simplified oval shape diagonal stroke through it. placed top-left of following consonants: ষ্ক ṣkô ষ্ট ṣṭô ষ্ঠ ṣṭhô ষ্প ṣpô ষ্ফ ṣfô ষ্ম ṣmô.
as first member of conjunct, স sô compressed , simplified ribbon shape. placed above or top-left of following consonant: স্ক skô স্খ skhô স্ট sṭô স্ত stô স্থ sthô স্ন snô স্প spô স্ফ sfô স্ব sbô স্ম smô স্ল slô.

abbreviated forms

some consonants abbreviated when appearing in conjuncts , lose part of basic shape.

as first member of conjunct, জ ǰô can lose final down-stroke: জ্জ ǰǰô জ্ঞ ǰñô জ্ব jbô .
as first member of conjunct, ঞ ñô can lose bottom half: ঞ্চ ñchô ঞ্ছ ñchhô ঞ্জ ñǰô ঞ্ঝ ñǰhô.
as last member of conjunct, ঞ ñô can lose left half (the এ part): জ্ঞ ǰñô .
as first member of conjunct, ণ ṇô , প pô can lose down-stroke: ণ্ঠ ṇṭhô ণ্ড ṇḍô প্ত ptô প্স psô.
as first member of conjunct, ত tô , ভ bhô can lose final upward tail: ত্ত ttô ত্থ tthô ত্র trô ভ্র bhrô.
as last member of conjunct, থ thô can lose final upstroke, taking form of হ hô instead: ন্থ nthô স্থ sthô ম্থ mthô
as last member of conjunct, ম mô can lose initial down-stroke: ক্ম kmô গ্ম gmô ঙ্ম ngmô ট্ম ṭmô ণ্ম ṇmô ত্ম tmô দ্ম dmô ন্ম nmô ম্ম mmô শ্ম shmô ষ্ম ṣmô স্ম smô .
as last member of conjunct, স sô can lose top half: ক্স ksô.
as last member of conjunct ট ṭô, ড ḍô , ঢ ḍhô can lose matra: প্ট pṭô ণ্ড ṇḍô ণ্ট ṇṭô ণ্ঢ ṇḍhô.
as last member of conjunct ড ḍô can change shape: ণ্ড ṇḍô

variant forms

some consonants have forms used regularly within conjuncts.

as first member of conjunct, ঙ ngô can appear loop , curl: ঙ্ক ngkô ঙ্গ nggô.
as last member of conjunct, curled top of ধ dhô replaced straight downstroke right, taking form of ঝ ǰhô instead: গ্ধ gdhô দ্ধ ddhô ন্ধ ndhô ব্ধ bdhô.
as first member of conjunct, র rô appears diagonal stroke (called রেফ ref) above following member: র্ক rkô র্খ rkhô র্গ rgô র্ঘ rghô, etc.
as last member of conjunct, র rô appears wavy horizontal line (called রফলা rôfôla) under previous member: খ্র khrô গ্র grô ঘ্র ghrô ব্র brô, etc.

in fonts, conjuncts রফলা rôfôla appear using compressed (and simplified) form of previous consonant: জ্র ǰrô ট্র ṭrô ঠ্র ṭhrô ড্র ḍrô ম্র mrô স্র srô.
in fonts, conjuncts রফলা rôfôla appear using abbreviated form of previous consonant: ক্র krô ত্র trô ভ্র bhrô.


as last member of conjunct, য jô appears wavy vertical line (called যফলা jôfôla) right of previous member: ক্য kyô খ্য khyô গ্য gyô ঘ্য ghyô etc.

in fonts, conjuncts যফলা jôfôla appear using special fused forms: দ্য dyô ন্য nyô শ্য shyô ষ্য ṣyô স্য syô হ্য hyô .



exceptions

when followed র rô or ত tô, ক kô takes on same form ত tô addition of curl right: ক্র krô, ক্ত ktô.
when preceded abbreviated form of ঞ ñô, চ chô takes shape of ব bô: ঞ্চ ñchô
when preceded ট ṭô, ট reduced leftward curl: ট্ট ṭṭô.
when preceded ষ ṣô, ঞ ñô appears 2 loops right: ষ্ণ ṣñô.
as first member of conjunct, or when @ end of word , followed no vowel, ত tô can appear ৎ: ৎস tsô ৎপ tpô ৎক tkô etc.
when preceded হ hô, ন nô appears curl right: হ্ন hnô .
certain combinations must memorised: ক্ষ kṣô হ্ম hmô .

certain compounds

when serving vowel mark, উ u, ঊ u, , ঋ ri take on many exceptional forms.

উ u

when following গ gô or শ shô, takes on variant form resembling final tail of ও o: গু gu শু shu.
when following ত tô part of conjunct প pô, ন nô or স sô, fused ত resemble ও o: ন্তু ntu স্তু stu প্তু ptu.
when following র rô, , in many fonts following variant রফলা rôfôla, appears upward curl right of preceding consonant opposed downward loop below: রু ru গ্রু gru ত্রু tru থ্রু thru দ্রু dru ধ্রু dhru ব্রু bru ভ্রু bhru শ্রু shru.
when following হ hô, appears curl: হু hu.


ঊ u

when following র rô, , in many fonts following variant রফলা rôfôla, appears downstroke right of preceding consonant opposed downward hook below: রূ rū গ্রূ grū থ্রূ thrū দ্রূ drū ধ্রূ dhrū ভ্রূ bhrū শ্রূ shrū.


ঋ ri

when following হ hô, takes variant shape of ঊ u: হৃ hri.


conjuncts of 3 consonants exist, , follow same rules above: স sô + ত tô +র rô = স্ত্র strô, ম mô + প pô + র rô = ম্প্র mprô, জ ǰô + জ ǰô + ব bô = জ্জ্ব ǰǰbô , ক্ষ kṣô + ম mô = ক্ষ্ম kṣmô .
theoretically, four-consonant conjuncts can created, in র rô + স sô + ট ṭô + র rô = র্স্ট্র rsṭrô, not found in native words.

diacritics , other symbols

these brahmi-sanskrit diacritics, phones , punctuation marks present in languages sanskrit influence or brahmi-derived scripts.

notes


digits , numerals

the bengali script has ten numerical digits (graphemes or symbols indicating numbers 0 9). bengali numerals have no horizontal headstroke or মাত্রা matra .

numbers larger 9 written in bengali using positional base 10 numeral system (the decimal system). period or dot used denote decimal separator, separates integral , fractional parts of decimal number. when writing large numbers many digits, commas used delimiters group digits, indicating thousand (হাজার hazar), hundred thousand or lakh (লাখ lakh or লক্ষ lôkkhô), , ten million or hundred lakh or crore (কোটি koti) units. in other words, leftwards decimal separator, first grouping consists of 3 digits, , subsequent groupings consist of 2 digits.

for example, english number 17,557,345 written in traditional bengali ১,৭৫,৫৭,৩৪৫.

punctuation marks

bengali punctuation marks, apart downstroke দাড়ি dari (।), bengali equivalent of full stop, have been adopted western scripts , usage similar: commas, semicolons, colons, quotation marks, etc. same in english. capital letters absent in bengali script proper names unmarked.

an apostrophe, known in bengali ঊর্ধ্বকমা urdhbôkôma upper comma , used distinguish between homographs, in পাটা pata plank , পাʼটা pa ta leg . sometimes, hyphen used same purpose (as in পা-টা, alternative of পাʼটা).

characteristics of bengali text

an example of handwritten bengali script. part of poem written nobel laureate rabindranath tagore in 1926 in hungary.

bengali text written , read horizontally, left right. consonant graphemes , full form of vowel graphemes fit imaginary rectangle of uniform size (uniform width , height). size of consonant conjunct, regardless of complexity, deliberately maintained same of single consonant grapheme, diacritic vowel forms can attached without distortion. in typical bengali text, orthographic words, words written, can seen being separated each other spacing. graphemes within word evenly spaced, spacing narrower spacing between words.

unlike in western scripts (latin, cyrillic, etc.) letter-forms stand on invisible baseline, bengali letter-forms instead hang visible horizontal left-to-right headstroke called মাত্রা matra. presence , absence of matra can important. example, letter ত tô , numeral ৩ 3 distinguishable presence or absence of matra, case between consonant cluster ত্র trô , independent vowel এ e. letter-forms employ concepts of letter-width , letter-height (the vertical space between visible matra , invisible baseline).

according bengali linguist munier chowdhury, there 9 graphemes frequent in bengali texts, shown percentage of appearance in table on right.

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