Bengali (বাংলা Bangla) is one of the Eastern Indo-Aryan languages, which evolved from Magadhi Prakrit, native to the eastern Indian subcontinent.[1] The core of Bengali vocabulary is thus etymologically of Magadhi Prakrit origin, with significant ancient borrowings from the older substrate language(s) of the region. However, in medieval times, more borrowings have occurred, from Sanskrit, Arabic, Classical Persian, Turkish and other languages leading to the adoption of a wide range of words with foreign origins; thus making the origins of borrowed words in the Bengali vocabulary numerous and diverse, due to centuries of contact with various languages.
- Tadbhavas in Bengali (Inherited Indo-Aryan vocabulary) (21.0%)
- Tatsamas in Bengali (Direct borrowings from Sanskrit) (50.0%)
- Native Words (Indigenous, "Desi" words) (17.0%)
- Foreign Loanwords (words originating from Persian, Turkish, Arabic, English, Portuguese, Dutch etc.) (12.0%)
Origins of words in Bengali
editBengali is typically thought to have around 100,000 separate words, of which 16,000 (16%) are considered to be তদ্ভব tôdbhôbô, or Tadbhava (inherited Indo-Aryan vocabulary), 40,000 (40%) are তৎসম tôtśômô or Tatsama (words directly borrowed from Sanskrit), and borrowings from দেশী deśi, or "indigenous" words, which are at around 16,000 (16%) of the Bengali vocabulary. The rest are বিদেশী bideśi or "foreign" sources, including Persian, Turkish, Arabic, and English, among others, accounting for around 28,000 (28%) of all Bengali words, highlighting the significant influence that foreign languages and cultures have had on the Bengali language throughout Bengal's long history of contact with different peoples and the cultural exchanges that came with such interactions.[2]
Persian had one of the most significant influences in terms of foreign loanwords, and numerous sources put this figure at around 10,000 words at a minimum, which includes words that were borrowed directly from Persian and words influenced by it.[3] However, these figures do not reflect the average Bengali speaker's vocabulary, as this will vary greatly by dialect. For example, Muslims and Bangladeshis typically lean on more Persian and Arabic words in their Bengali than their Hindu and Indian Bengali counterparts.[4] Persian influence was so significant throughout Bengal's history, and was the official language of the region for 600 years, until the British arrived and changed it to English in 1836.[5] Persian influence was so extensive that during the medieval Bengal period, a register of highly Persianized Bengali formed, known as Dobhashi, which was used by administrative officials and for literary purposes. [citation needed]
Differences in vocabulary
editThis table below compares the differences of spoken and used Bengali vocabularies in Dhaka (Bangladesh) and Shantipur (West Bengal, India).
| Word | Dhakaiya dialect | Dhakaiya transcription | Shantipuri dialect | Shantipuri transcription |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | পানি | pani | জল | jôl |
| Salt | লবণ | lôbôn | নুন | nun |
| Invitation | দাওয়াত | dawat | আমন্ত্রণ/নিমন্ত্রণ/নেমন্তন্ন | amôntrôn/nimôntrôn/nemôntônnô |
| Chili | মরিচ | môric | লঙ্কা | laṅkā |
| Maternal aunt | খালা | khala | মাসি | masi |
| Paternal aunt | ফুফু | phuphu | পিসি | pisi |
| Bath | গোসল | gosôl | স্নান/চান | snān/chān |
| Wind | হাওয়া | hāoā | বাতাস | batas |
Examples of borrowed words
editDue to centuries of contact with Mughals, Arabs, Persians, Central Asians, and Europeans the Bengali language has absorbed countless words from foreign languages, often totally integrating these borrowings into the core vocabulary. The most common borrowings from foreign languages come from three different kinds of contact. After centuries of contact from Persia and the Middle East, followed by the invasions of the Mughal Empire, numerous Turkic, Arabic, and Persian words were absorbed and fully integrated into the lexicon.[6][7] Later, European colonialism brought words from Portuguese, French, Dutch, and most significantly English. Bengali's relationship with Sanskrit is unique because Bengali descends from Middle Indo-Aryan languages (like Magadhi Prakrit), which themselves evolved from Sanskrit. Some very common borrowings are shown below.
Sanskrit (সংস্কৃত Sôṅskritô)
edit| Word | IPA | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| বিশ্ব | biʃ.ʃo | world |
| ধন্যবাদ | d̪ʱon.no.bad̪ | thanks |
| আশীর্বাদ | aʃiɾ.bad | blessing |
| স্বাগত | sa.ɡo.t̪o | welcome |
| নির্বাণ | niɾ.ban | Nirvana |
| যোগা/ইয়োগা | d͡ʑo.ga/jo.ga | Yoga |
| আর্য | aɾ.d͡ʒo | Aryan |
| আসন | a.son | seat |
| আশ্রম | aʃ.ɾom | hermitage or monastery |
| অবতার | ɔbo.t̪aɾ | Avatar |
| আয়ুর্বেদ | ajuɾ.bed̪ | Ayurveda |
| বন্ধু | bon.dʱu | friend |
| বাসমতী | bas.mot̪i | Basmati rice |
| ভাং | bʱaŋ | Bhang |
| ধুতি | d̪ʱu.t̪i | Dhoti |
| লুঠ | lutʱ | Looting |
| মায়া | ma.ja | Maya |
| সখা | sɔ.kʰa | friend |
| স্বামী | sa.mi | Husband |
| লাখ | lakʰ | Lakh |
| লক্ষ্মী | lok.kʰi | Lakshmi |
Substrate languages (দেশী Deśi "Native")
edit| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| কুড়ি ku.ɽi | twenty |
| খোঁচা khõ.t͡ɕa | poke |
| ঝিনুক d͡ʑʱi.nu.k | shell |
| ঢং dʱɔŋ | guile, dissimulation; fashion |
| মাঠ matʰ | field, open land |
| মুড়ি mu.ɽi | puffed rice |
Foreign (বিদেশী Bideśi)
editClassical Persian (ফারসি Farsi)
edit| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning | Original form |
|---|---|---|---|
| আবহাওয়া abohawa | a.bo.ɦa.wa | weather | آب و هوا āb-o-hawā |
| চাকরি cakri | t͡ɕak.ri | job | چاکری čakri |
| আয়না ayna | aj.na | mirror | آینه āynah |
| আরাম aram | a.ɾam | comfort | آرام ārām |
| বকশিশ bôkśiś | bok.ʃiʃ | tip | بخشش baxšiš |
| মুসলমান musôlman | musol.man | Muslim | مسلمان musalmān |
| আস্তে aste | as.t̪e | slowly, softly | آهسته āhistah "slowly" |
| কম kôm | kɔm | less, few | كم kam |
| কাগজ kagôj | ka.ɡod͡ɕ | paper | كاغذ kāğaz |
| খারাপ kharap | kʰa.ɾap | bad | خراب xarāb |
| খোদা khoda | kʰo.d̪a | god | خدا xoda |
| খুব khub | kʰub | very, greatly | خوب xūb "good" |
| গরম gôrôm | ɡɔ.ɾom | hot | گرم garm |
| চশম côśôm | t͡ɕɔʃom | eye | چشم čašm |
| চাকর cakôr | t͡ɕɐ.koɾ | employee, servant | چاکر čākar |
| চাদর cadôr | t͡ɕa.d̪oɾ | blanket | چادر čādar |
| জান jan | d͡ʑɐn | dear | جان jān |
| জায়গা jayga | d͡ʑɐj.ɡa | place | جايگاه jāegāh |
| ডেগচি ḍegci | deɡ.t͡ɕi | pot | ديگچه dēgčah |
| দম dôm | d̪ɔm | breath | دم dam |
| দের der | d̪e.r | late | دير dēr |
| দোকান dokan | d̪o.kan | store, shop | دكان dukān |
| পর্দা pôrda | pɔr.d̪a | curtain | پرده pardah |
| বদ bôd | bɔˑd̪ | bad | بد bad |
| বাগান bagan | ba.ɡan | garden | باغوان bāğwān |
| রাস্তা rasta | ras.t̪a | road, way | راسته rāstah |
| রোজ roj | roˑd͡ʑ | everyday | روز rōz "day" |
| হিন্দু Hindu | hin.d̪u | Hindu | هندو Hindū |
| পছন্দ pôchôndô | pɔ.t͡ɕʰon.d̪o | like, appreciate | پسند pasand |
| টেক্কা ṭekka | tek.ka | ace | تيكه tika "contract" |
| খুন khun | kʰuˑn | kill | خون xūn "blood" |
| আঙ্গুর āṅgur | aŋ.guɾ | grape | انگور angūr |
| আওয়াজ aoaj | a.wad͡ʑ | sound | آواز āwāz |
Arabic (আরবি Arbi)
edit| Bangla Word | Bangla transliteration | English meaning | Original form | IPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| আসল | aśôl | real | أصل | aṣl |
| আহাদ | ahad | one | أحد | ahad |
| এলাকা | elaka | area | علاقة ("relationship") | ʕalāqa |
| ওজন | ojôn | weight | وزن | wazn |
| কলম | kôlôm | pen | قلم | qalam |
| কিসমত | kismôt | luck | قسمة | qisma(t) |
| খবর | khôbôr | news | خبر | xabr |
| খালাস | khalas | conclusion | خلاص | khalāṣ |
| খালি | khali | empty | خالي | xālī |
| খেয়াল | kheyal | consideration | خيال | xayāl |
| গরিব | gôrib | poor | غريب | ğarīb |
| জমা | jôma | collect | جمعة | jamʿah |
| তারিখ | tarikh | date | تاريخ | tārīx |
| দুনিয়া | duniya | world | دﻧﯿـا | dunya |
| নকল | nôkôl | fake | نقل | naql |
| ফকির | phôkir | poor person | فقير | faqīr |
| বদল | bodol | exchange | بدل | badl |
| বাকি | baki | remaining | باقي | bāqī |
| শয়তান | śôytan | Satan | شَيْطَان | šayṭan |
| সাহেব | śaheb | sir | صاحب | ṣāḥib |
| সনদ | śônôd | certificate | سَنْد | sand |
| সন | śôn | year | سَنَة | sanah |
| হেকিম | hekim | physician | حكيم | ḥakīm |
| হিসাব | hiśab | calculation | حساب | ḥisāb |
Turkic (তুর্কি Turki)
edit| Word | Meaning | Original form |
|---|---|---|
| আপা apa | elder sister, any unknown adult lady | apa |
| চকমক cokmok | lighter | çakmak |
| বেগম begôm | lady | begüm |
Portuguese (পর্তুগিজ Pôrtugij)
edit| Word | Meaning | Original form |
|---|---|---|
| আলমারি almari | closet, cupboard | armário |
| আয়া aya | nurse | aia |
| ইস্ত্রি istri ইস্তিরি istiri | to iron | estirar |
| ইস্পাত iśpat | steel | espada "sword" |
| গামলা gamla | basket | gamela "wooden trough" |
| চাবি cabi | key | chave |
| জানালা janala | window | janela |
| তামাক tamak | tobacco | tabaco |
| পেরেক perek | nail | prego |
| ফিতা phita | lace, ribbon | fita |
| বারান্দা baranda | verandah | varanda |
| বালতি balti | Bucket | balde |
| বেহালা behala | viola | viola |
| বোতাম botam | button | botão |
| সাবান śaban | soap | sabão |
| কেদারা kedara | chair | cadeira |
| আতা ata | custard apple | ata |
| আনারস anarôś | pineapple | ananás |
| কাজু kaju | cashew | cajú |
| কপি kôpi | cabbage, cauliflower | couve |
| পাঁউ pãu | European-style bread | pão |
| পেঁপে pẽpe | papaya | papaia |
| নিলাম nilam | auction | leilão |
| পেয়ারা peyara | guava | pera "pear" |
| সালাদ salad | salad | salada |
| ক্রুশ krush | cross | cruz |
| গির্জা girja | church | igreja |
| যিশু Jiśu | Jesus | Jesus |
| পাদ্রি padri | Catholic priest | padre |
| ইংরেজ iṅgrej | English | inglês |
Dutch (ওলন্দাজ Olôndaj)
edit| Word | Meaning | Original form |
|---|---|---|
| ইস্কাবন iskabôn ইশকাপন iśkapôn | spades | schoppen |
| রুইতন ruitôn | diamonds | ruiten (lit. "rhombi") |
| হরতন hôrotôn | hearts | harten |
| তুরুপ turup | trump | troef |
| ইস্ক্রুপ iskrup | screw | schroef |
English (ইংরেজি Iṅreji)
edit| Word | Original form |
|---|---|
| অফিস ôfiś | office |
| জেল jel | jail |
| ডাক্তার ḍaktar | doctor |
| পুলিশ puliś | police |
| ব্যাংক baṅk | bank |
| ভোট bhoṭ | vote |
| ইস্কুল iśkul স্কুল skul | school |
| হাসপাতাল haśpatal | hospital |
| কাপ kap | cup |
| গ্লাস glas | glass |
| চেয়ার ceyar | chair |
| টেবিল ṭebil | table |
| বাক্স bakśô | box |
| লণ্ঠন lônṭhôn | lantern |
| প্লাস্টিক plasṭik | plastic |
| কলেজ kôlej | college |
| সাইকেল saikel | bicycle |
| টাউট ṭauṭ | tout |
| ইঞ্জিন injin | engine |
| ক্যাঙারু kæṅgaru | kangaroo |
| বুমেরাং bumeraṅ | boomerang |
French (ফরাসি Phôrasi)
edit| Word | Meaning | Original form |
|---|---|---|
| ওলন্দাজ olôndaj | Dutch | hollandaise |
| কার্তুজ kartuj | cartridge | cartouche |
| রেস্তোরাঁ restorã | restaurant | restaurant |
| শেমিজ śemij | chemise | chemise "shirt" |
Chinese (চীনা Cīna)
edit| Word | Meaning | Original form |
|---|---|---|
| সাম্পান sampan | flat-bottomed wooden boat | 舢舨 sampan |
Japanese (জাপানি Japani)
editBurmese (বর্মী Bôrmī)
edit| Word | Meaning | Original form |
|---|---|---|
| লুঙ্গি luṅgi | longyi | လုံချည် lum hkyany |
| ঘুঘনি ghughni |
German (জার্মান Jarman)
edit| Word | Meaning | Original form |
|---|---|---|
| কিন্ডারগার্টেন kindargarten | kindergarten | |
| নাৎসি Natsi | Nazism | Nazi |
Italian (ইতালীয় Italīẏô)
editReferences
edit- ↑ "India - Magadhan ascendancy". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
- ↑ Dash, Niladri Sekhar (15 January 2015). A Descriptive Study of Bengali Words. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-316-22268-3.
- ↑ Nur, Tanjina Binte (January–June 2023). "Teaching and Learning Persian in Bangladesh: Relevance and Applicability". Sankalp Research Journal. 3 (1): 9–19.
- ↑ "Persian in Bengali. : languagehat.com". languagehat.com. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ↑ Bari, Sarah Anjum (12 April 2019). "A Tale of Two Languages: How the Persian language seeped into Bengali". The Daily Star. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ↑ "Languages – Keys to Understanding the Middle East". ohiostate.pressbooks.pub. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
- ↑ "BBC - Religions - Islam: Mughal Empire (1500s, 1600s)". BBC. Retrieved 18 February 2019.