Bengali Alphabet with Hindi Translation

The Bengali alphabet, also known as the Bangla alphabet, is a unique writing system that has been used for centuries to write the Bengali language. Despite being one of the oldest and most widely spoken languages in the Indian subcontinent, the Bengali alphabet has undergone significant changes over time.

One of the notable features of the Bengali alphabet is its simplicity. Unlike other Brahmic scripts, the Bengali script does not have a distinct symbol for the near-open front unrounded vowel /æ/. This is because Sanskrit, which was the primary written language when the script was conceived, did not have this sound.

In place of the missing vowel symbol, the default inherent vowel in the Bengali script is অ' ô (shôrô ô or 'vocalic ô'), which represents the /ɔ/ sound. This letter is used as a diacritic mark to modify the base letter, creating six of the seven main vowel sounds of Bengali.

The Bengali alphabet has a total of 9 vowel graphemes, each called a স্বরবর্ণ (swôrôbôrnô or 'vowel letter'). Vowels and consonants are used as letters and also as diacritical marks. The script can be divided into four main categories: vowels and vowel diacritics, consonants and consonant conjuncts, diacritical and other symbols, and digits and punctuation marks.

The Bengali alphabet is widely used in Bangladesh, West Bengal, Manipur (where it is known as the 'Manipuri language'), and other parts of India. It is one of the official scripts of the Indian Republic and is recognized by UNESCO as a living script.

In terms of its classification, the Bengali writing system is an abugida, meaning that the vowel graphemes are mainly realized not as independent letters but as diacritics modifying the inherent vowel in the base letter. From a classificatory point of view, it is considered to be one of the most widely adopted writing systems in the world, used by over 265 million people.

Overall, the Bengali alphabet is an important part of the region's cultural heritage and continues to play a vital role in the daily lives of millions of people around the world.

Bengali alphabet with hindi translation