Bengali Alphabet

O/a is the inherent vowel in Bengali consonants, but sounds like 'o' at word beginnings.

Aa extends the open vowel sound. Its vertical line shows vowel lengthening.

I is the short 'i' vowel. Its matra appears before the consonant.

Ii is historically long 'i', but in modern Bengali often merges with short ই.

U is the short 'u' vowel, written below consonants in matra form.

Uu is the long 'u', though the length distinction is weakening in modern speech.

Ri is the vocalic 'r', now pronounced as 'ri' in Bengali.

E is the close 'e' vowel. Bengali distinguishes two 'e' sounds.

Oi is a diphthong, combining 'o' and 'i' sounds.

O is the close 'o' vowel. Bengali distinguishes two 'o' sounds.

Ou is the diphthong combining 'o' and 'u'.

Ko is the first consonant. The inherent vowel is 'o' in Bengali, unlike Hindi.

Kho is the aspirated version, with a stronger breath release.

Go is voiced. Note the characteristic Bengali curved form.

Gho combines voicing and aspiration.

Ngo is the velar nasal, used in words like 'bangla' (Bengali).

Cho is the voiceless palatal. It sounds like 'ch' in 'chair'.

Chho is strongly aspirated, distinctive in Bengali pronunciation.

Jo is voiced, like English 'j'. Very common in Bengali words.

Jho adds aspiration to the 'j' sound.

Nyo is the palatal nasal, rare as a standalone but common in conjuncts.

Ṭo is retroflex, made by curling the tongue back.

Ṭho is the aspirated retroflex.

Ḍo is the voiced retroflex stop.

Ḍho combines voicing, retroflexion, and aspiration.

Ṇo is the retroflex nasal.

To is dental, made with tongue against the teeth.

Tho is the aspirated dental.

Do is the voiced dental.

Dho combines voicing and aspiration.

No is the dental nasal, very common.

Po is the voiceless bilabial stop.

Pho is aspirated. In modern Bengali, often pronounced as 'f'.

Bo is voiced. Bengali doesn't distinguish 'b' and 'v'.

Bho is the aspirated voiced bilabial.

Mo is the bilabial nasal.

Jo is pronounced as 'j' in Bengali, not 'y' as in Hindi.

Ro is a tap or trill. Very frequent in Bengali.

Lo is a lateral approximant.

Sho is the palatal 's'. Bengali has three 's' letters but one sound.

Ṣo is historically retroflex 's', now merged with শ.

So is the dental 's', also merged in pronunciation.

Ho is the glottal fricative 'h'.

Ṛo is unique to Bengali – a retroflex flap with no equivalent in Hindi.

Ṛho is the aspirated retroflex flap.

Yo is the semivowel 'y', distinct from য which is 'j'.