15 Essential Bengali Phrases Every Beginner Should Know
Master the most common Bengali phrases for greetings, polite expressions, and daily conversations — with pronunciation guides and native script.
Why Start With Phrases?
When you begin learning Bengali, memorizing full phrases gets you communicating faster than studying grammar rules in isolation. Bengali is spoken by over 230 million people worldwide, making it the seventh most spoken language on the planet. These 15 phrases will help you navigate basic conversations with confidence.
Greetings and Polite Expressions
The most important thing you can do in any language is greet someone properly. In Bengali, greetings often carry cultural weight, signaling respect and warmth.
| Bengali Script | Romanized | English |
|---|---|---|
| নমস্কার | Nomoshkar | Hello (formal) |
| কেমন আছেন? | Kemon Achhen? | How are you? (formal) |
| ভালো আছি | Bhalo Achhi | I am fine |
| ধন্যবাদ | Dhonnobad | Thank you |
| দয়া করে | Doya Kore | Please |
| হ্যাঁ | Hya | Yes |
| না | Na | No |
| মাফ করবেন | Maaf Korben | Excuse me / Sorry |
| আপনার নাম কী? | Apnar Naam Ki? | What is your name? |
| আমার নাম... | Amar Naam... | My name is... |
| এটা কত? | Eta Koto? | How much is this? |
| আমি বুঝতে পারছি না | Ami Bujhte Parchhi Na | I don't understand |
| একটু আস্তে বলুন | Ektu Aste Bolun | Please speak slowly |
| আবার দেখা হবে | Abar Dekha Hobe | See you again |
| বিদায় | Biday | Goodbye |
Numbers 1 Through 5
Numbers come up constantly in daily life, from shopping to telling time. Here are the first five to get you started:
| Bengali Script | Romanized | English |
|---|---|---|
| এক | Ek | One (1) |
| দুই | Dui | Two (2) |
| তিন | Tin | Three (3) |
| চার | Char | Four (4) |
| পাঁচ | Panch | Five (5) |
Bengali also has its own set of numerals (১, ২, ৩, ৪, ৫), which you will encounter on signs, prices, and official documents across Bangladesh and West Bengal.
Pronunciation Tips
Bengali pronunciation has a few features that trip up English speakers:
- Aspirated consonants: Bengali distinguishes between aspirated and unaspirated sounds. For example, "Bhalo" (good) has a breathy "Bh" that differs from a plain "B."
- The "o" sound: The letter অ is often pronounced as a short "o" (like in "hot"), not "a." This is why "Nomoshkar" sounds the way it does rather than "Namaskar."
- Retroflex sounds: Letters like ট and ড are pronounced with the tongue curled back to touch the roof of the mouth, giving Bengali its distinctive rhythm.
Basic Questions to Keep Handy
Beyond the phrases in the table above, try combining what you know into simple questions:
- এটা কী? (Eta Ki?) — "What is this?" is endlessly useful for learning new vocabulary in context.
- কোথায়? (Kothay?) — "Where?" can be paired with any noun. "Toilet kothay?" will serve you well.
- কেন? (Keno?) — "Why?" shows curiosity and keeps conversations going.
Keep Practicing
Phrases stick best when you hear and repeat them regularly. The Learn Bengali app by Brightwood Apps lets you practice these essential phrases with audio from native speakers, spaced repetition to lock them into long-term memory, and quizzes that adapt to your level. Download it today and start your first conversation in Bengali.
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