হ্যালো! This Bengali course was developed by the U.S. Peace Corps for its volunteers going to Bangladesh. It can be useful as a primer for learning the basics of the Bengali language. You can listen and follow along to each lesson or download the whole course directly.
Download Full Course (PDF and Audio Files)
Lesson 1 – Useful Bengladeshi Phrases
Expand Text Hide
English
Phonetic Bangla
Good morning
shubho sOkal
Assalamu Aleykum
assalamu alaikum
Walaikumus Salam
walaikum assalam
How are you?
apni kEmon achhen?
I’m fine
ami bhalo achhi
Thank you
dhonnobad
Ok
Thik achhe
Fine
Thik achhe
Very good
khub bhalo
How bad!
ki kharap!
Really?
sotti?
What did you say?
apni ki bolchhilen?
Just a moment
Ektu OpEkhkha kOren
What happened?
ki holo?
Excuse me.
maph kOrben
May be
sOmbhobOto
Please say again
dOya kore arekbar bolun
I didn’t understand
ami bujhte pari nai
Please say slowly
dOya kore aste bOlen
I understood
ami bujhte perechhi
Please say in English
dOya kore ingrejite bOlun
I like it
ami eTa pOchhondo kori
I don’t like it
ami eTa pOchhondo kori na
I need it
amar eTa proYojOn ache
I don’t need it
amar eTa proYojOn nai
Where is it
eTa kothaY ache?
What to do?
ki korte hobe?
See you again
abar dekha hobe
Just kidding
dushtami korchi
I don’t know
ami janina
Life is such
eaito jibOn
O my God!
haY khoda!
Alas!
haY!
Holy cow!
bapre bap!
How strange!
ki ashchorjo
No problem
somossa nai
It doesn’t matter
eTa kono bishOY na
I can speak a little bit of Bangla
ami Olpo bangla bolte pari
I am learning Bangla language
ami bangla bhasa shikhchhi
Never mind
kichu mone korben na
Good night
shuvo ratri
Lesson 2 – Phrases for a Host Family
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English
Phonetic Bangla
I am busy
ami bEsto
I am tired
ami klanto
I like green vegetables
ami sobji pOchhondo kori
I don’t eat hot
ami jhal khai na
I don’t eat meat
ami mangso khai na
I don’t eat spicy food
ami mOshla deya khabar khaina
I don’t know Bangladeshi Culture, please teach me
ami bangladesher sOngskriti janina, dOya kore amake shEkhan
Now I’ll go to do my homework
Ekhon ami baRir kaj korte jabo
I am feeling sleepy
amar ghum pachchhe
I am feeling hungry
amar khudha peyechhe
My class starts at 08:00 a.m.
amar klas sOkal aT Tay shuru hOy
I’ll come to take lunch at 01:00 p.m.
ami bEla Ek Tay dupurer khabar khete asbo
I won’t come to eat today
ami aj khete asbo na
I won’t take breakfast today
ami aj sOkaler nasta khabo na
I’ll return in the evening
ami sOndhay phirbo
Please teach me Bangla
dOya kore amake bangla shEkhaben
You are very nice people
apnara khub bhalo lok
May I come in?
ami ki aste pari?
Mom cooks tasty food
amma khub mOjar khabar ranna kOren
Ok, now I’ll leave
Thik achhe, ami Ekhon jabo
Is it ok to walk at night?
ratre haTte jaowa ki nirapOd?
Are there any insects at home?
baRite ki poka makoR achhe?
Are there snakes around?
ashe pashe ki sap achhe?
Lessons 3 & 4 – Common Introductions & Basic Conversation
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Vocaulary Used
English
Phonetic Bangla
Name
nam
What
ki
Is
hOY
Your
tomar
My
amar
Is not
hOY na
Home
baRi
Where
kothaY?
The Dialogue
What is your name?
apnar nam ki?
My name is John.
amar nam jOhn
Where is your home?
apnar baRi kothaY?
I am from Ohio
amar baRi ohio
Vocaulary Used
English
Phonetic Bangla
Fine
bhalo
How
kemon
Thank you
donnobad
And
ebOng
The Dialogue
English
Phonetic Bangla
John, how are you?
john apni kEmon achhen?
I am fine, thank you
ami bhalo achhi, donnobad
And you?
ebOng apni?
I am also fine
amio bhalo achhi
Lesson 5 & 6 – Getting Around & Take a Rickshaw
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Vocaulary Used
English
Phonetic Bangla
Where
kothaY
Over there
oidike
Market
bajar
The Dialogue
English
Phonetic Bangla
Assalamu Aleykum
assalamu alaikum
Walaikumus Salam
walaikum assalam
Where is the market?
bajar kothaY?
It’s over there
oidike
Thank you
donnobad
Vocaulary Used
English
Phonetic Bangla
Hey
eai
Where
kothaY
How much
kOto
Fare
bhaRa
Ten
dOsh
Taka (money)
Taka
Market
bajar
The Dialogue
English
Phonetic Bangla
Hey Rickshaw! Will you go?
eai riksha! jaben?
Where?
kothaY?
I shall to go to the market
ami bajare jabo
Yes, I shall go
hYa, ami jabo
How much is the fare?
bhara kOto?
10 taka
dOsh taka
Ok, let’s go!
Thik achhe, cholen
Ok.
Thik achhe
Lesson 7 & 8 – Communications & Calling Long Distance
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Vocaulary Used
English
Phonetic Bangla
It
eTa
Here
Ekhane
There
okhane
Where
kothaY
Post Office
dakghOr
Have
achhe
Don’t have
nai
And
ebOng
Facility
shubidha
Nearby
kachhe
The Dialogue
English
Phonetic Bangla
Assalamu Aleykum
assalamu alaikum
Walaikumus Salam
walaikum assalam
Where is the Post Office?
dakghOr kothaY?
It’s over there
oidike
Do you have e-mail and fax here?
Ekhane e-mail ebOng fax achhe?
No we don’t have
na, nai
Where are the facilities of e-mail and fax?
e-mail ebOng fax shubidha kothaY achhe?
It’s nearby Post Office
eTa dakghOrer kachhe
Thank you
donnobad
Vocaulary Used
English
Phonetic Bangla
Here
Ekhane
Ok
Thik achhe
To do
korte
Twenty
bish
How much for one minute
Ek miniter jOnno kOto taka
Yes
hYa
The Dialogue
English
Phonetic Bangla
Assalamu Aleykum
assalamu alaikum
Walaikumus Salam
walaikum assalam
Do you have ISD?
Ekhane ISD achhe?
Yes! Where do you want to call?
hYa, apni kothaY phon korte chan?
America
amerika
Ok. Please call
Thik achhe, korun
How much for one minute?
Ek minit kOto taka?
20 taka
bish taka
Ok
Thik achhe
Lesson 9 & 10 – General Items & Eating with a Host Family
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Vocaulary Used
English
Phonetic Bangla
Peanut Butter
peanut butter
Bread
pauruti
Candy/Chocolate
chOklet
Sandal
sEndel
Umbrella
chhata
Please
dOya kore
Show
dEkhan
These
egulo
How much for these?
egulor daam kOto
1hundred and 20
Ek shoto bish
Ok
sOmossa nai
Take
nEn
The Dialogue
English
Phonetic Bangla
Assalamu Aleykum
assalamu alaikum
Walaikumus Salam
walaikum assalam
Do you have peanut butter and bread?
Ekhane peanut butter ebOng pauruti achhe
Yes!
hYa
Please show
dOya kore dEkhan
Please look
dOya kore dEkhun
How much for these?
egulor dam kOto
1hundred and 20 taka
Ek shoto bish taka
Ok
sOmossa nai
Give me these
amake egulo dEn
Please take
nEn
Thank you
dhonnobad
Vocaulary Used
English
Phonetic Bangla
Food
khabar
Tasty
mOja
Enough
jOtheshTho
How
kibhabe
More
aro
Rice
bhat
Very
khub
Please take
dOya kore nEn
Lentil
dal
Vegetable
sobji
Curry
torkari
Pickle
achar
Spoon
chamOch
Plate
thala
To dry/Wipe
muchhey dEn
Please come
dOya kore aashun
Please eat
dOya kore khan
Ok
Thik achhe
The Dialogue
English
Phonetic Bangla
John, come to eat food
John, khabar khete aashun
Ok, here I am
Thik aache, ami ashchi
Mother, please dry the plate, Ok?
amma, dOya kore thalamuche dEn
Ok
Thik achhe
Lesson 11 & 12 – Food Handling and Sanitation & Family Members
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Vocaulary Used
English
Phonetic Bangla
I am full
amar peT bhore gEchhe
Water
pani
Glass
glas
Drink
pan kOra/khawa
My
amar
Own
nijer
The Dialogue
English
Phonetic Bangla
John how is food?
john, khabar kEmon lagchhe
Its very delicious
khub mOja
Take more
aro nin
I am full, thank you
amar peT bhore gEchhe
John, drink the water from this glass
john, eai glaser pani khan
I will drink my own water
ami amar nijer pani khabO
Ok
Thik achhe
Vocaulary Used
English
Phonetic Bangla
Your
apnar/tomar
Family
poribar
Member
sOdossa
Who
ke
Father
abba/baba
Mother
amma/ma
Elder brother
bOro bhai
Younger brother
choTo bhai
Elder sister
bOro bon
Younger sister
choTo bon
Grandfather
dada
Grandmother
dadi
How many
kOto jOn/kOY jOn
Five
pach
And
ebOng
The Dialogue
English
Phonetic Bangla
How many members are there in your family?
apnar poribare kOto jOn sOdossa achhe?
There are five members in my family
amar poribaare pach jOn shodoshsha achhe
Who are there?
ke ke achhen?
My father, mother, younger brother and I
amar abba, amma, choTo bhai ebOng ami
Lesson 13 – Common Questions
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Vocaulary Used
English
Phonetic Bangla
Marriage
biye
How many
kOtojOn
Member
sOdossa
Age
bOyOs
What
ki
Work
kaj
To teach
pORano
Teacher
shikhkhOk
English
ingreji
School
skul
Female teacher
shikhkhika
To come
asa
To stay
thaka
Country
desh
Beautiful
shundOr
I work
ami kaj kori
Office
office
Year
bOchhor
Twenty-five
pochish
The Dialogue
English
Phonetic Bangla
Are you married?
apni ki bibahito?
I’m not married
ami bibahito na
How many members are there in your family?
apnar poribare kOtojOn sOdosso ache?
There are five members in my family
amar poribare pach jOn sOdosso achhe
How old are you?
apnar boyosh kOto?
I’m twenty-five years old
amar boyosh pochish bOchhor
What do you do?
apni ki koren?
I teach in a school
ami skule pORai
I’m an English Teacher
ami EkjOn ingreji shikhkhOk
How long have you been in Bangladesh?
apni bangladeshe kOtodin achhen?
It’s been a week since I have been in Bangladesh
ami Ek shOptaho age bangladeshe esechi
How long do you stay in Bangladesh?
apni kOtodin bangladeshe thakben?
I will stay for two years in Bangladesh
ami dui bOchhor bangladeshe thakbo
How did you like our country?
amader desh apnar kEmon lagchhe?
Its very beautiful
khub shundor
Lesson 14 – Domestic Questions
Expand Text Hide
Vocaulary Used
English
Phonetic Bangla
Toilet
TOyleT
Outside
baire
Inside
bhitore
Rope/String
doRi
Cloths
kapOR
To dry
shukano
Tap
tEp/panir kOl
To take shower
gosol kOra
Where
kOthaY
Place
jaYga
Room
rum
Bathroom/Bathing place
gosol khana
Laundry place
kapoR dhowar jaYga
To hang
jhulano
The Dialogue
English
Phonetic Bangla
Where is the latrine?
lEtrin kothaY?
It’s over there
eTa oidike
Where is the place to take shower?
gosol korar jaYga kothaY?
It’s over here
eTa eaidike
Where is the place to do laundry?
kapoR dhowar jaYga kothaY?
Where is the place to dry laundry?
kapoR shukanor jaYga kothaY?
There, hang on that string
oi doRite jhuliye dEn
Lesson 15 & 16 – Medical Problems & Numbers
Expand Text Hide
Vocaulary Used
English
Phonetic Bangla
How are you?
apni kemon achhen?
Not well
bhalo nei
What happened?
ki hoyechhe?
I have cold
amar Thanda legechhe
I am tired
ami klanto
I feel hungry
amar khudha peyechhe
With
sathe
Sick
Osustho
Medicine
oshudh
The Dialogue
English
Phonetic Bangla
John, how are you?
john, apni kEmon achhen?
I am not well
bhalo nei
What happened?
ki hoyechhe?
I have a cold
amar Thanda legechhe
I’ll give you medicine
ami apnake oshudh debo
I shouldn’t take medicine from outside. I have my own medicine.
amar bairer oshudh khaowa Thik hObe na. amar nijer oshudh achhe
Numbers
English
Number
Phonetic Bangla
One
1
Ek
Two
2
dui
Three
3
tin
Four
4
char
Five
5
pach
Six
6
choY
Seven
7
sat
Eight
8
aT
Nine
9
nOY
Ten
10
dOsh
Twenty
20
bish
Thirty
30
tirish/trish
Forty
40
chollish
Fifty
50
pOnchash
Sixty
60
shaT
Seventy
70
shottur
Eighty
80
ashi
Ninety
90
nobboi
One hundred
100
Ek shoto
Original Course Text
Download Full Course (PDF and Audio Files)
View other Peace Corps courses
হ্যালো! This Bengali course was developed by the U.S. Peace Corps for its volunteers going to Bangladesh. It can be useful as a primer for learning the basics of the Bengali language. You can listen and follow along to each lesson or download the whole course directly.