Bengali
বাংলা
Bangladesh created International Mother Language Day after students were killed protesting for Bengali in 1952 — now celebrated by the UN on February 21 worldwide.
Lin says:
Nomoshkar! I'm Lin! Bengali is one of the world's sweetest-sounding languages — it was described as the most beautiful language in the world by a survey of linguists! The Bengali language movement led to International Mother Language Day for every language on Earth. That is a huge gift to the world!
Quick Facts
Speakers
~230 million
Language Family
Indo-European
Writing
Bengali script (left to right)
UN Language Day
21 February
Discover Bengali
Bangladesh created International Mother Language Day after students were killed protesting for Bengali in 1952 — now celebrated by the UN on February 21 worldwide.
Writing System
Bengali script
Native Speakers
~230 million
Key Countries
For Educators
Language learning builds empathy and global understanding. Use this page to spark classroom discussions about cultural diversity and communication across borders.
Did You Know?
Bengali is the 7th most spoken language in the world by number of native speakers.
Rabindranath Tagore wrote the national anthem for both India (Jana Gana Mana) and Bangladesh (Amar Shonar Bangla) — a unique double distinction in world history.
The Bengali script has 50 letters, and Bengali literature includes poetry, novels, and films of world renown.
What Makes Bengali Special?
Language Martyrs
In 1952, students in Dhaka were killed for protesting for the right to speak Bengali. Their sacrifice inspired International Mother Language Day, observed worldwide on Feb 21.
Rabindranath Tagore
The Nobel Prize-winning poet Rabindranath Tagore wrote in Bengali — including the national anthems of both India AND Bangladesh!
Ancient Literature
Bengali has a rich literary tradition stretching back over 1,000 years — the Charyapada manuscripts are among the oldest literature in South Asia.
Keep Exploring the World!
Languages are windows into the world's cultures. Discover more languages and the countries where they are spoken.