ঘ
+
ৰ
Alphabets
The Assamese alphabet বৰ্ণমালা
Meet every letter of Assamese, hear how it sounds, and learn how letters join to make words.
About Assamese
Assamese is the language of Assam, spoken by about 15 million people. It is written in the Bengali–Assamese script (অসমীয়া লিপি) from left to right, with most letters hanging from a headline. The letters are the same as in Bengali except that Assamese writes "ra" as ৰ and has an extra letter ৱ for "wa". Every consonant carries a built-in vowel, said "ô", and small vowel signs change that sound. The pronunciation differs a lot from Bengali: শ ষ স are said x (like the "ch" in Scottish loch), চ ছ are "s", and জ ঝ য are "z".
- 11
- vowels স্বৰ
- 33
- consonants ব্যঞ্জন
- 2
- letters of its own: ৰ ৱ
- L → R
- writing direction
Vowels স্বৰবৰ্ণ
A vowel can stand on its own at the start of a word. After a consonant it is written as a vowel sign (matra) instead – shown here on ক. Tap a letter to hear it.
Three extra signs
Anusvara – an "ng" sound.
Visarga – a short breathy "h".
Chandrabindu – makes the vowel nasal.
Consonants ব্যঞ্জনবৰ্ণ
The consonants are arranged by where in the mouth the sound is made. Tap a letter to hear it.
Velar ক-বৰ্গ
from the back of the throat
Palatal চ-বৰ্গ
said like s and z in Assamese
Retroflex ট-বৰ্গ
said with the tongue near the teeth in Assamese
Dental ত-বৰ্গ
tongue touching the upper teeth
Labial প-বৰ্গ
with the lips
Semivowels অন্তঃস্থ
between a vowel and a consonant
Sibilants & h উষ্মবৰ্ণ
all three are said x in Assamese
Extra letters অন্যান্য বৰ্ণ
flapped sounds, ya and the half t
Assamese writes "ra" as ৰ (Bengali র) and has the extra letter ৱ for "wa": ৰাজ্য (state), উৎসৱ (festival).
How letters join to make words
Assamese words are built syllable by syllable. Three simple rules cover almost everything.
-
1
Every consonant has a built-in vowel
On its own, ক is read kô.
ক্ +অ =ক -
2
A vowel sign replaces it
Add a vowel sign: kô becomes ka, ki, ku…
ক +◌া =কা -
3
The hasanta joins consonants
The small stroke ্ (hasanta) joins a consonant to the next one.
স্ +ত =স্ত
Where does the vowel sign go?
After
কা কী
Written to the right.
Before
কি কে কৈ
Written first, but said after the consonant.
Both sides
কো কৌ
One part before and one after.
Below
কু কূ কৃ
Hangs under the consonant.
Build real words
প + ◌া
পা
+
ন + ◌ী
নী
ক + ◌ি
কি
+
ত + ◌া
তা
+
প
ফ + ◌ু
ফু
+
ল
ম + ◌া
মা
+
ছ
অ
+
স
+
ম
ব
+
ন্ + ধ + ◌ু
ন্ধু
ম
+
ৰ
+
ম
Good to know
The Assamese x
শ ষ স are said x: অসম is ôxôm, not "asam".
Own letters
Use ৰ for "r" and ৱ for "w" – the Bengali র is not used.
Joined letters
Two consonants join with the hasanta: ন্ধ in বন্ধু (bôndhu, friend).
Ready to type in Assamese?
Use the on-screen keyboard to write these letters, or translate your first sentence.