Bangla Alphabets Made Easy: A Beginner’s Guide with Mnemonics
Learn Bangla easily with this beginner’s guide to Bangla alphabets, using mnemonics and simple practice tips to make studying Bangla fun and effective.
If you want to learn Bangla, the very first step is mastering the Bangla alphabets. Whether you’re learning for travel, family, or personal growth, knowing how to read and write Bangla makes the journey much easier. Many beginners feel that studying Bangla is difficult, but with the right approach, it can actually be fun and simple. In this guide, we’ll show you how to study Bangla alphabets using easy mnemonics, tips, and practice methods so you can build a strong foundation and start your Bangla learning journey with confidence.
At Bangla Institute, we help both adults and children learn Bangla online through one-on-one courses designed to make the language approachable. And today, we’re sharing some of our best tips for beginners who want to start strong.
How Many Alphabets Are in Bangla?
Bangla uses its own script, different from English. The alphabet has two main parts:
- স্বরবর্ণ (Shoroborno) → Vowels (11 letters)
- ব্যঞ্জনবর্ণ (Banjonborno) → Consonants (39 letters)
That’s 50 letters in total. While that may sound like a lot compared to English, the good thing is that each letter has a consistent sound. Once you learn them, reading Bangla becomes much easier than you might expect.
Why Mnemonics Work for Learning Bangla Alphabets
A mnemonic is a memory trick that connects a new symbol or sound to something familiar. Instead of just drilling alphabets, you create little “stories” or visual links in your mind. Research in language learning shows that mnemonics can boost memory, make learning faster, and keep things fun.
Mnemonics for Bangla Alphabets (Examples)
Here are a few fun ones to get you started:
অ (aw) → Looks like an upside down umbrella. Think: “Aw, I forgot my umbrella!”
আ (aa) → A chair with a long backrest. Think: “Aaa… I can relax on the chair.”
ই (i) → Shaped like a candle with a flame. Think: “i for ‘ignite’.”
উ (u) → Like a small bowl. Think: “u for utensil bowl.”
ঊ (oo) → Bigger bowl, open wider. Think: “Ooo, that’s a big bowl of food!”
You can create your own mnemonics that make sense to you — the sillier or more personal, the better!
Fun Ways to Practice the Alphabets
- Flashcards with Pictures → Write the letter on one side and your mnemonic on the other.
- Songs & Rhymes → Bangla kids learn alphabets through rhymes — they’re catchy and memorable.
- Bangla Cartoons → There are youtube videos where you can see letters in action while hearing them pronounced.
- Apps & Games → Use apps like Anki or Memrise to test yourself daily.
- Writing Practice → Copying alphabets in a notebook helps reinforce recognition.
Common Mistakes When Learning Bangla Alphabets
- Rushing the basics → Skipping vowels makes grammar and pronunciation harder later.
- Depending only on English letters → Romanization is helpful at first, but don’t get stuck there.
- Not practicing handwriting → Even if you want to only speak, writing reinforces memory.
- Learning alphabets in isolation → Start making small words as soon as you know 3–4 letters.
Why Learning Bangla Alphabets Is Worth It
Bangla is spoken by over 230 million people worldwide and is often called the “sweetest language in the world.” Once you learn the alphabets, you can unlock Bangla books, movies, songs, and connect with millions of speakers in Bangladesh, India, and beyond.
And if you’re planning to travel, work, or connect with Bangladeshi friends and family, even just recognizing alphabets will give you a huge head start.
Want to Explore More?
Bangla Institute is dedicated to providing Bangla education worldwide, sharing the beauty of Bangladesh’s language, culture, and history. Curious to learn more about Bangladesh? Our special Bangladesh Studies course dives deep into the country’s history, culture, ethnic diversity, and much more—perfect for those with a passion for exploration!
Bangla Institute supports you every step of the way on your language journey. With a carefully designed curriculum and committed instructors, we make learning Bangla simple and accessible, no matter your age or background. Every course is tailored just for you, with one-on-one sessions that adapt to your schedule, allowing you to learn from the comfort of your own home.
Check out our Adult Reading & Writing, Speaking & Listening as well as Children Reading & Writing plus Speaking & Listening courses, we even offer a special Sylheti dialect course for anyone wishing to learn that specific niche.
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