Language Guide
Bengali Language
Bengali (বাংলা) is the 6th most spoken language in the world with approximately 270 million speakers. It is the official language of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, with a rich literary and cultural heritage spanning over a thousand years.
270M+ speakers • Bengali script • Indo-Aryan family • 6th most spoken language globally
Bengali Tools
Language Facts
- Native name
- বাংলা (Bangla)
- Script
- Bengali script (বাংলা লিপি)
- Speakers
- ~270 million worldwide
- Language family
- Indo-European, Indo-Aryan
- Direction
- Left to right
- Official in
- Bangladesh, West Bengal (India)
- ISO code
- bn
Key Facts
- 6th most spoken language in the world
- Rabindranath Tagore wrote in Bengali (Nobel Prize 1913)
- Language Martyrs Day (21 Feb) is now International Mother Language Day
- The same script is used for Assamese
- Tollywood (Bengali cinema) is India's second largest film industry
- Shared roots with Hindi, Sanskrit, and other Indo-Aryan languages
Bengali Script Reference
Bengali script has 50 letters and runs left to right. Like Devanagari, it is an abugida — consonants carry an inherent vowel sound modified by diacritics.
Vowels
| Bengali | Romanization |
|---|---|
| অ | A |
| আ | Aa |
| ই | I |
| ঈ | Ee |
| উ | U |
| ঊ | Oo |
| এ | E |
| ঐ | Ai |
| ও | O |
| ঔ | Au |
Bengali Translation Tools
Type Bengali Online
Type English phonetics and get Bengali script output instantly. No special keyboard needed.
Try Bengali Typing Tool →Frequently Asked Questions
What script is used for Bengali?
Bengali uses the Bengali script (বাংলা লিপি), an abugida descended from ancient Brahmi. It has 50 letters (11 vowels and 39 consonants) and runs left to right. The same script is also used for the Assamese language.
How many people speak Bengali?
Bengali is spoken by approximately 270 million people worldwide, making it the 6th most spoken language globally. It is the official language of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, with large diaspora communities in the UK, USA, and Middle East.
Is Bengali related to Hindi?
Yes. Both are Indo-Aryan languages descended from Sanskrit and share significant vocabulary, especially words derived from Sanskrit. However, Bengali uses its own distinct script (বাংলা লিপি) while Hindi uses Devanagari, and the two languages diverged considerably in everyday vocabulary and phonology.
What is Language Martyrs Day?
Language Martyrs Day (21 February) commemorates Bengali students who died in 1952 when protesting to establish Bengali as an official language in then-Pakistan. UNESCO declared 21 February as International Mother Language Day in 1999, in recognition of this event.
How do I type Bengali using an English keyboard?
Use our English to Bengali Typing tool — type English phonetics and the tool converts it to Bengali script instantly. No special keyboard or software needed.