Have you ever wondered if making Bengali words plural could be challenging? Well, among many grammar rules, the rule of making Bengali words plural is not as simple as adding a single letter or suffix. It is not about the gross changes that make our language different but about the small changes that add more layers to it.
We know that the Bengali language is not very simple in terms of grammar. That’s why in this blog, we’ll explain the concept of Bengali plurals and show you how to make Bengali words plural with practical examples. Hopefully, by the end of this post, you will be more comfortable with the Bengali plurals.
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Understanding How To Make Bengali Words Plural
Unlike English, where making a word plural often just means tacking on an “s” or “es,” Bengali uses unique suffixes and subtle changes, influenced by the word’s ending and context. For instance, not all Bengali nouns follow the same rule when it comes to plurals. Instead, you’ll find variations like adding ra (রা) or gulo (গুলো) depending on whether you’re talking about people or objects.
Learning these variations can seem tricky, but with a few fun examples and practice, you’ll soon find yourself using Bengali plurals with ease.
5 Basic Bengali Grammar Rules For Forming Plurals
Here, we’ll explain some of the grammatical rules you need to know for making Bengali words plural.
1. Suffix Addition
One of the simplest ways of making Bengali words plural is by adding a specific suffix to the singular nouns. The suffix is used depending on the noun’s gender, which could be either masculine or feminine.
2. Suffix Addition For Masculine Nouns
Masculine nouns ending in consonants often form their plurals by adding the suffix ra (রা), especially when referring to human nouns.
Example:
- Singular: boy – chele – ছেল
- Plural: boys – chelera – ছেলেরা
3. Suffix Addition For Feminine Nouns
Feminine nouns can take the suffix mondoli (মণ্ডলী) or somoha (সমূহ), although the simpler form ra (রা) is also commonly used especially for animate nouns. These suffixes apply to human nouns like meye (মেয়ে), which means girl.
Example:
- Singular: girl – meye – মেয়ে
- Plural: girls – meyera – মেয়েরা
4. Vowel Changes
Some Bengali nouns undergo vowels or consonant changes rather than just a simple suffix addition. Here, the plural often involves the suffix gulo (গুলো) or guli (গুলি) for nouns.
Example:
- Singular: book – boi – বই
- Plural: books – boigulo – বইগুলো
5. Compound Nouns
Compound nouns are words formed by combining two or more words. When pluralizing compound nouns, only the last part of the compound is modified with the appropriate plural suffix.
Example:
- Singular: house – bari – বাড়ি
- Plural: houses – bariguli – বাড়িগুলি
6. Inanimate Nouns
For inanimate objects or non-human nouns, you need to add gulo (গুলো). This suffix is versatile and can be applied to various inanimate objects.
Example:
- Singular: car – gari – গাড়ি
- Plural: cars – garigulo – গাড়িগুলো
Exceptions To The Rules
Despite the basic rules outlined, there are notable exceptions to making Bengali words plural. It is important to remember these exceptions to form plurals in Bengali correctly.
Irregular Plurals:
Some nouns cannot be pluralized in a regular manner, which is why learners need to memorize such forms.
Example:
- Singular: father – baba – বাবা
- Plural: fathers – babara – বাবারা
Unchanged Forms:
Certain nouns remain unchanged in their plural form, which can lead to confusion for learners.
Example:
- Singular: elephant – hati – হাতি – same in plural
- Singular: fish – mach – মাছ – same in plural
Collective Nouns:
Collective nouns can refer to groups of individuals or items. Depending on context, they can be treated as singular or plural.
Example:
- Singular: team – dol – দল
- Plural: teams – dol-er – দলের
Contextual Considerations:
Context plays a significant role in determining whether a noun should be treated as singular or plural. The common word order in Bengali is SOV. Therefore, the position of the noun in a sentence can define its meaning.
Examples:
- Plural – Two elephants – duti hati – দুটি হাতি
- Singular – One elephant – ekta hati – একটি হাতি
In these examples, the use of the quantifying word helps to determine the plurality of the noun.
10+ Common Bengali Plural Forms
Here is a list of common Bengali nouns and their plural forms, which helps explain the rules and exceptions for making Bengali words plural.
Tips To Master Bengali Plurals
Below, we will share some tips that can help you master plurals in Bengali.
Practice Consistently
We all know the expression ‘consistency is key.’ It means that without constant practice, we will not be able to achieve any goal. If your goal is to master Bengali plurals, practice is essential. Use the plural forms in your day-to-day spoken or written language to really understand how they work.
Use Flashcards
Make flashcards with singular nouns on one side and plural forms of these nouns on the other side. This will help you retain what you’ve learned and fix it in your memory.
Engage With Native Speakers
If possible, try to talk to native speakers. This will help you learn Bengali phrases and gain a deeper understanding of the language sounds in real life.
Read Bengali Literature
Reading some Bengali literature books will enable you to come across interesting stories, culture, ancient and so much more. However, you can also read language learning-related content to better understand the plural forms, incomplete verbs, negative pronouns, inherent vowels, infinite verbs, and Bengali grammar in general.
How Do You Say Making Bengali Words Plural In Bengali?
In Bengali, making Bengali words plural translates as Bangla shobder bahubochon toiri kora (বাংলা শব্দের বহুবচন তৈরি করা).
Frequently Asked Questions About Making Bengali Words Plural
1. What Is The Plural Of Bengali?
The plural of Bengali (when referring to people) is Bengalis. It refers to multiple individuals who speak the Bengali language or are of Bengali origin. For the language, the word Bengali remains singular.
2. Does Making Bengali Words Plural Affect The Gender Of The Noun?
No, pluralization does not change the grammatical gender of the noun in Bengali. The gender remains the same, but the form changes with the suffix used for pluralization.
3. Is 100 A Singular Or Plural In Bengali?
In Bengali numbers, 100 is treated as singular when referring to it as a single quantity or entity. However, when 100 refers to multiple items, it’s treated as plural. For example, 100 people is 100 jon manush (১০০ জন মানুষ). Bengali uses context to decide if 100 is singular or plural.
Learn More About Bengali Plurals With Ling
We’re almost at the end, and hopefully, this article has shed some light on the subject of plurals in Bengali. We have covered how to make Bengali words plural using the most common suffixes and explained the common exceptions you might encounter. When it comes to pluralizing words in Bengali, it’s not just a matter of adding an “s” like in English; it involves understanding specific suffixes and how they interact with the gender and type of noun. Ultimately, to master the rules of pluralization, you need to continue practicing and immersing yourself in a Bengali-speaking environment.
If you’re passionate about Bengali grammar, Ling offers the opportunity to learn about topics like direct objects, indefinite articles, and more. You can also explore some of our previous blog posts, where we discussed grammar as well as celebrations, local cuisines, and more. Take the time to explore the Ling app and blog and see how your Bengali skills improve every day!
