The Bengali Alphabet

Many of my artful 'non-Bengali' friends tell me that they just love the Bengali alphabet—because of its ornate curlicues and elegant style. They often wish they could read and write in this beautiful script—not just because of its literary wealth but also because of the sheer visual appeal and beauty of the characters.

However, I have a feeling that more Bengalis are turning 'non-Bengalis' in this sense. While they love the language and speak it, they can hardly read a line of Bangla text or even write their own name in the native letter. This is especially true for our Gen Y and the current progeny of the huge probashi Bengali population that live outside the two Bengals or abroad.

So, if you want to start reading and writing like a true blue Bong—wherever you are—here's all that you need to refer to. It's never too late to learn to read or write your native language, especially for those who can already speak or understand Bengali. Just do it! And do us proud :-)

Vowels (Swara Varna)

Consonants (Vyanjan Varna)

Numerals (1-0)