Have you ever thought about how important questions are? Without them, our conversations would feel empty and wouldn’t give us much information. That’s why, when learning a new language, questions are one of the first pieces of vocabulary we need to grasp. That being said, if you are learning this beautiful language, one of the things that will help you have better communication is to understand how to use question words in Bengali.
In this article, we’ll share ten question words in Bengali that can help you get any information you need to take your conversations even further. If you want to learn how to use them correctly, keep reading.
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Role Of Question Words In Bengali Grammar
Question words in Bengali are very important because they allow us to build sentences and ask questions effectively. For example, ki (কি) means “what,” keno (কেনো), “why,” and kothay (কোথায়) means “where.” These will help you ask questions, show surprise, or ask for reasons.
Question words are not just used to form sentences—they also help decide how formal a conversation is. They make it easier for language learners to understand verbs, pronouns, and the correct word order.
10 Bengali Question Words
Learning and understanding these ten essential question words in Bengali can help you get the information you need in multiple scenarios. So, pay close attention to them when you’re studying grammar because asking the right questions can change the course of your conversations.
1. Why – Keno (কেনো)
The question word keno, which means “why” in English, is used to ask for the reasons or causes of an action or state of affairs.
Example:
| English | Bengali | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Why are you laughing? | তুমি কেনো হাসছো? | Tumi keno hashcho? |
2. What – Ki (কি)
This question word in Bengali is used to ask for specific information about things, activities, or even the weather.
Example:
| English | Bengali | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| What is this? | এটা কি? | Eta ki? |
3. Where – Kothay (কোথায)
Kothay (কোথায) is a question word used in formal and informal contexts to ask about places, people, or things. This word is very important when you want to know where someone is and how to get there.
Example:
| English | Bengali | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Where are you going? | তুমি কোথায় যাচ্ছো? | Tumi kothay jachcho? |
4. When – Kokhon (কখন)
Kokhon is the Bengali question word used to discuss time in Bengali in the context of events, actions, or situations. You can use it when you want to ask for information regarding dates, hours, or anything related to time in general. It is appropriate for both day-to-day and formal conversations.
Example:
| English | Bengali | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| When will you come? | তুমি কখন আসবে? | Tumi kokhon ashbe? |
5. Who – Ke (কে)
“Ke” is the Bengali question word used to ask about a person or to find someone in a specific situation. It is often used to inquire about a person’s position, occupation, or behavior to gather information about them.
Example:
| English | Bengali | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Who is your friend? | কে তোমার বন্ধু? | Ke tomar bondhu? |
6. How – KiBhabe (কিভাবে)
This Bengali question word is used to ask how something was done. It is also used when a person needs information on a particular process or action or how to solve a specific problem, making it a frequently used term.
Example:
| English | Bengali | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| How should I do the work? | কিভাবে কাজটি করব? | Kibhabe kajti korbo? |
7. How Much – Koto (কত)
This is the Bengali question word for ‘how much’ or ‘how many.’ It is used to ask about the quantity or portion of a countable or uncountable noun. This word is commonly used in conversations to inquire about numbers, prices, or any other measurable aspect of daily life.
Example:
| English | Bengali | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| How much does this cost? | এটার দাম কত? | Etar dam koto? |
8. Whose – Kar (কার)
This Bengali question word is used to ask questions about ownership. It is useful in pointing out the owner of an object, place, or idea.
Example:
| English | Bengali | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Whose book is this? | এটা কার বই? | Eta kar boi? |
9. How (Quality) – Kemon (কেমন)
This Bengali question word is used to ask about the quality, condition, or state of something. It helps inquire about the kind or condition of a person, thing, or situation. For example, it can be used to ask how someone is doing or how good something is.
Example:
| English | Bengali | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| How is the food? | খাবার কেমন হয়েছে? | Khabar kemon hoyeche? |
10. How Long – Kotokkhon (কতক্ষণ)
Kotokkhon is the Bengali question word used to ask about the duration of an event, action, or situation. It is used to inquire how long something lasts, whether in minutes, hours, or more.
Example:
| English | Bengali | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| How long will you stay here? | তুমি এখানে কতক্ষণ থাকবে? | Tumi ekhane kotokkhon thakbe? |
How Do You Say “Question Words” In Bengali?
In Bengali, “question words” are called Proshnobachok Shobdo (প্রশ্নবাচক শব্দ), pronounced as prosh-no-bachok shab-do.
Frequently Asked Questions About Question Words In Bengali
1. Can I Use Question Words In Formal And Informal Bengali?
Well, yes, you can. But sometimes, the Bengali sentence structure and the questions themselves need to be modified.
2. Are Bengali Question Words Similar To English Ones?
Yes, the list of Bengali question words is quite similar to the list of English question words because both are used to ask questions and gather information. However, the objects they refer to are different due to the differences in the grammatical and syntactic structures of the English and Bengali languages.
3. How Do You Ask “How Are You?” In Bengali?
To ask “How are you?” in Bengali, you can say Tumi kemon acho? (তুমি কেমন আছো?) for informal conversations. In formal settings, you can use Apni kemon achhen? (আপনি কেমন আছেন?).
Wrapping Up
Learning these ten essential question words in Bengali will definitely improve your fluency in the language because they form the foundation for informed conversations. After all, no one wants to feel lost during a conversation, right? Whether you’re looking to find something, get somewhere, or understand who did something, with these simple words, you’ll get the information you’re looking for.
If you want to know more about the Bengali language and culture, why don’t you try the Ling app? If you use it in combination with our Bengali blog, you will find all the information you need to become an all-round Bengali speaker.
