The Bengali verb system rewards systematic study because a small number of high-frequency verbs do most of the work in everyday speech and writing. Mastering the conjugation patterns of perhaps a hundred common verbs covers the overwhelming majority of conversational Bengali, with the remaining vocabulary breadth coming through nominal and adjectival expansion. Bengali verbs are inflected for tense, aspect, mood, and politeness level, but they show no agreement with the subject's number or gender, which substantially simplifies the system compared to gender-agreeing languages like Hindi or Marathi. The challenge for a learner is mastering the three-level honorific conjugation (intimate, familiar, respectful) and the irregular paradigms of high-frequency verbs.
This reference assembles the hundred or so most frequent Bengali verbs, grouped by semantic field, and presents sample conjugations in present, past, and future tenses across the politeness levels. Each verb is listed by its dictionary form (the verbal noun ending in -া -a, e.g., করা kôra "to do"), with transliteration and English gloss. Sample sentences illustrate each verb in idiomatic use. The list is calibrated for the working learner: it is not a complete verbal lexicon but a curated set of the verbs that appear most often in real speech and writing.
A note on the verbal-noun citation form. Bengali verb dictionaries cite verbs in the form ending -া -a (the verbal noun, sometimes called the infinitive though that term is somewhat misleading). করা kôra means "to do" or "the act of doing"; খাওয়া khaowa means "to eat" or "the act of eating." Conjugated forms drop this -া -a ending and add tense-and-person markers. For deeper background on the full conjugation system, see the Bengali Verb Conjugation Complete Tense System reference.
The Two Master Verbs: হওয়া and করা
Two verbs do enormous work in Bengali: হওয়া hôwa (to be, to become, to happen) and করা kôra (to do, to make). They appear in countless compound expressions and serve as light verbs in many idiomatic constructions. Mastering their conjugations is the single highest-return investment a Bengali learner can make.
| Bengali | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| হওয়া | Hôwa | To be, to become, to happen |
| করা | Kôra | To do, to make |
| থাকা | Thaka | To stay, to remain, to exist |
| লাগা | Laga | To attach, to feel, to seem, to be needed |
| পড়া | Pôṛa | To fall, to read, to study |
| দেওয়া | Deowa | To give |
| নেওয়া | Neowa | To take |
| বলা | Bôla | To say, to speak |
| যাওয়া | Jaowa | To go |
| আসা | Asha | To come |
These ten verbs alone cover a large fraction of all verbal expressions in Bengali. Compound verb constructions like কাজ করা kaj kôra (work-do, "to work"), বিশ্রাম করা bishram kôra (rest-do, "to rest"), or রান্না করা ranna kôra (cooking-do, "to cook") use করা as a light verb attached to a noun. The verb হওয়া hôwa serves both as the copula in present-tense identification (where it is typically zero, with no overt verb) and as a verb of becoming or happening: কী হয়েছে? Ki hôyechhe? (what has happened?), বৃষ্টি হচ্ছে brishṭi hôchchhe (rain is happening, it is raining).
The verb লাগা laga is grammatically wide-ranging. ভালো লাগা bhalo laga (to feel good, to like), খারাপ লাগা kharap laga (to feel bad), ভয় লাগা bhôy laga (to feel fear, to be afraid), ক্ষুধা লাগা kkhudha laga (to feel hunger), and সময় লাগা shômôy laga (to take time) all use this single verb in idiomatic constructions.
Verbs of Motion and Location
Motion verbs are the workhorses of any language. Bengali uses a small set of root motion verbs combined with directional and aspectual modifiers to handle the full range of movement.
| Bengali | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| যাওয়া | Jaowa | To go |
| আসা | Asha | To come |
| ফেরা | Phera | To return |
| ঘোরা | Ghora | To wander, to turn |
| ওঠা | Oṭha | To rise, to get up |
| বসা | Bôsha | To sit |
| দাঁড়ানো | Daṛano | To stand |
| শোয়া | Shôwa | To lie down |
| হাঁটা | Hanṭa | To walk |
| দৌড়ানো | Dôuṛano | To run |
| লাফানো | Laphano | To jump |
| পৌঁছানো | Pounchhano | To arrive |
| বের হওয়া | Ber hôwa | To come out, to leave |
| ঢোকা | Ḍhoka | To enter |
| পড়া | Pôṛa | To fall |
| উঠানো | Uṭhano | To raise, to lift |
The pair যাওয়া jaowa (to go) and আসা asha (to come) shows the typical pattern of motion in Bengali. Both take destinations or sources marked with postpositions: বাড়িতে যাওয়া baṛite jaowa (to go to home, locative), বাড়ি থেকে আসা baṛi theke asha (to come from home, ablative). The verb ফেরা phera (to return) is paired more often with যাওয়া jaowa than with আসা asha, producing চলে যাওয়া chôle jaowa (to go away) and ফিরে আসা phire asha (to come back).
Verbs of Communication
Communication verbs cover speaking, asking, listening, writing, and the various social functions of language exchange.
| Bengali | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| বলা | Bôla | To say, to speak |
| জিজ্ঞাসা করা | Jiggêsha kôra | To ask |
| শোনা | Shona | To hear, to listen |
| লেখা | Lêkha | To write |
| পড়া | Pôṛa | To read, to study |
| উত্তর দেওয়া | Uttôr deowa | To answer |
| গান গাওয়া | Gan gaowa | To sing |
| কথা বলা | Kôtha bôla | To talk, to converse |
| বোঝা | Bojha | To understand |
| বুঝিয়ে বলা | Bujhiye bôla | To explain |
| অনুরোধ করা | Ônurodh kôra | To request |
| ডাকা | Ḍaka | To call |
| চিৎকার করা | Chitkar kôra | To shout |
| ফিসফিস করা | Phisphis kôra | To whisper |
| অভিযোগ করা | Ôbhijog kôra | To complain |
The verb পড়া pôṛa is one of the most context-sensitive in Bengali, with three distinct meanings: "to fall" (গাছ থেকে পড়া gachh theke pôṛa, to fall from a tree), "to read" (বই পড়া boi pôṛa, to read a book), and "to study" (বিদ্যালয়ে পড়া bidyalôye pôṛa, to study at school). Context resolves the meaning, but learners should be alert to the polysemy.
Verbs of Eating, Drinking, and Daily Activity
The everyday-activity verbs cover meals, sleep, hygiene, and household routine.
| Bengali | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| খাওয়া | Khaowa | To eat |
| পান করা | Pan kôra | To drink (formal) |
| খাওয়া | Khaowa | To drink (also; same verb) |
| ঘুমানো | Ghumano | To sleep |
| জাগা | Jaga | To wake up |
| গোসল করা | Goshol kôra | To bathe |
| স্নান করা | Snan kôra | To bathe (formal) |
| ব্রাশ করা | Brash kôra | To brush (teeth) |
| পরা | Pôra | To wear |
| খোলা | Khola | To open, to remove (clothes) |
| বন্ধ করা | Bôndho kôra | To close |
| রান্না করা | Ranna kôra | To cook |
| ধোয়া | Dhowa | To wash |
| পরিষ্কার করা | Pôrishkar kôra | To clean |
| ঝাড়ু দেওয়া | Jhaṛu deowa | To sweep |
Note that খাওয়া khaowa (literally "to eat") covers both eating solid food and drinking liquids in casual usage: জল খাওয়া jôl khaowa (literally "to eat water," meaning "to drink water") is standard. The formal alternative পান করা pan kôra (to drink) appears in writing and elevated speech but is less common conversationally.
Verbs of Cognition and Emotion
The mental and emotional verbs cover thinking, feeling, knowing, and the inner life. Many use the X লাগা laga construction described above.
| Bengali | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| ভাবা | Bhaba | To think |
| জানা | Jana | To know |
| চেনা | Chena | To recognize, know (a person) |
| মনে করা | Mône kôra | To think, to remember |
| মনে রাখা | Mône rakha | To keep in mind |
| ভুলে যাওয়া | Bhule jaowa | To forget |
| বিশ্বাস করা | Bishshash kôra | To believe |
| আশা করা | Asha kôra | To hope |
| ভয় পাওয়া | Bhôy paowa | To fear |
| পছন্দ করা | Pôchhondo kôra | To like, to prefer |
| ভালোবাসা | Bhalobasha | To love |
| ঘৃণা করা | Ghrina kôra | To hate |
| রাগ করা | Rag kôra | To get angry |
| কাঁদা | Kanḍa | To cry |
| হাসা | Hasha | To laugh, to smile |
The verbs জানা jana and চেনা chena distinguish two senses of "to know" that English collapses. জানা jana is to know facts, information, languages, or skills (আমি বাংলা জানি ami Bangla jani, "I know Bengali"). চেনা chena is to know a person or place by acquaintance (আমি তাকে চিনি ami take chini, "I know him by recognition"). Mixing them produces ungrammatical Bengali.
Verbs of Action and Manipulation
The transitive action verbs cover physical manipulation: holding, taking, giving, making, breaking, and the like.
| Bengali | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| ধরা | Dhôra | To hold, to catch |
| ছেড়ে দেওয়া | Chheṛe deowa | To release, to let go |
| নেওয়া | Neowa | To take |
| দেওয়া | Deowa | To give |
| তুলে নেওয়া | Tule neowa | To pick up |
| রাখা | Rakha | To put, to keep |
| ফেলা | Phêla | To drop, to discard |
| ভাঙা | Bhanga | To break |
| গড়া | Gôṛa | To build, to shape |
| তৈরি করা | Toiri kôra | To make, to prepare |
| কেনা | Kena | To buy |
| বেচা | Becha | To sell |
| দেখা | Dêkha | To see, to look |
| খোঁজা | Khonja | To search |
| পাওয়া | Paowa | To get, to receive |
The pair নেওয়া neowa (to take) and দেওয়া deowa (to give) appears constantly in compound verb constructions, often as auxiliary verbs adding aspectual nuance. খেয়ে নেওয়া khêye neowa (to eat up, completing the act of eating) and বলে দেওয়া bôle deowa (to tell, with the implication of telling something out) show this auxiliary use.
The Three Politeness Levels
Bengali conjugates verbs differently for the three pronoun levels: তুই tui (intimate), তুমি tumi (familiar), and আপনি apni (respectful). The endings differ in present, past, and future. The verb হওয়া hôwa (to happen, to be) illustrates the pattern, although hôwa is used here in its অছ ach- present-tense form (the actual verb is supplied by an auxiliary stem).
| Person/Level | Present | Past | Future |
|---|---|---|---|
| আমি (I) | আছি achhi | ছিলাম chhilam | থাকব thakbo |
| তুই (intimate you) | আছিস achhish | ছিলি chhili | থাকবি thakbi |
| তুমি (familiar you) | আছ achho | ছিলে chhile | থাকবে thakbe |
| আপনি (respectful you) | আছেন achhen | ছিলেন chhilen | থাকবেন thakben |
| সে (he/she informal) | আছে achhe | ছিল chhilô | থাকবে thakbe |
| তিনি (he/she respectful) | আছেন achhen | ছিলেন chhilen | থাকবেন thakben |
The takeaway pattern: respectful forms end in -এন -en (present) or -এন -en (past) or -বেন -ben (future). Familiar forms end in -ও -o or -এ -e (present), -এ -e (past), -বে -be (future). Intimate forms end in -ইস -ish, -ই -i, -বি -bi.
The same pattern applies to most verbs. For করা kôra (to do):
| Person/Level | Present | Past | Future |
|---|---|---|---|
| আমি | করি kôri | করলাম kôrlam | করব kôrbo |
| তুই | করিস kôrish | করলি kôrli | করবি kôrbi |
| তুমি | কর kôro | করলে kôrle | করবে kôrbe |
| আপনি | করেন kôren | করলেন kôrlen | করবেন kôrben |
| সে | করে kôre | করল kôrlô | করবে kôrbe |
| তিনি | করেন kôren | করলেন kôrlen | করবেন kôrben |
For deeper coverage of these conjugations, including the imperative and the various aspect forms, see the Bengali Honorifics three levels reference.
Sample Sentences with Common Verbs
Putting verbs into context. Each sample shows the verb in the respectful আপনি apni form with appropriate tense.
| Bengali | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| আপনি কোথায় যাচ্ছেন? | Apni kothay jachhen? | Where are you going? |
| আমি বাড়িতে যাচ্ছি | Ami baṛite jachhi | I am going home |
| আপনি কী খাচ্ছেন? | Apni ki khachhen? | What are you eating? |
| আমি ভাত খাচ্ছি | Ami bhat khachhi | I am eating rice |
| আপনি বাংলা জানেন? | Apni Bangla janen? | Do you know Bengali? |
| আমি একটু বাংলা জানি | Ami êkṭu Bangla jani | I know a little Bengali |
| গতকাল আমি কলকাতা গিয়েছিলাম | Gôtokal ami Kôlkata giyechhilam | Yesterday I went to Kolkata |
| আগামীকাল আমি ফিরে আসব | Agamikal ami phire ashbo | Tomorrow I will return |
| আপনি কি করেন? | Apni ki kôren? | What do you do? |
| আমি ছাত্র, পড়াশোনা করি | Ami chhatro, pôṛashona kôri | I am a student, I study |
| বৃষ্টি হচ্ছে | Brishṭi hôchchhe | It is raining |
| আমার ঠান্ডা লাগছে | Amar ṭhanḍa lagchhe | I am feeling cold |
| আপনাকে ভালো লাগছে | Apnake bhalo lagchhe | I am feeling good (towards you) / I like you |
The sentence গতকাল আমি কলকাতা গিয়েছিলাম uses the past perfect form of যাওয়া jaowa: গিয়েছিলাম giyechhilam means "had gone." For most travel narratives the simple past গেলাম gêlam (went) and the past perfect গিয়েছিলাম giyechhilam (had gone) are interchangeable in everyday use.
High-Frequency Verbs Beyond the Top Tier
Below the top tier of about thirty verbs, another sixty or seventy verbs cover the remaining everyday vocabulary. A learner who has mastered the top thirty plus this expanded set is functionally fluent for ordinary purposes.
| Bengali | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| খেলা | Khêla | To play |
| পরীক্ষা দেওয়া | Pôrikkha deowa | To take an exam |
| সাহায্য করা | Shahajjo kôra | To help |
| অপেক্ষা করা | Ôpekkha kôra | To wait |
| চেষ্টা করা | Cheshṭa kôra | To try |
| মনোযোগ দেওয়া | Mônojog deowa | To pay attention |
| ঘুরে দেখা | Ghure dêkha | To tour, to visit |
| উপভোগ করা | Upôbhog kôra | To enjoy |
| ব্যবহার করা | Bêbôhar kôra | To use |
| পরিবর্তন করা | Pôribôrtôn kôra | To change |
| শেষ করা | Shesh kôra | To finish |
| শুরু করা | Shuru kôra | To start |
| ভ্রমণ করা | Bhrômôn kôra | To travel |
| নিয়ে আসা | Niye asha | To bring |
| নিয়ে যাওয়া | Niye jaowa | To take away |
| খুলে দেওয়া | Khule deowa | To open up |
| বন্ধ করে দেওয়া | Bôndho kôre deowa | To shut |
| বুঝিয়ে দেওয়া | Bujhiye deowa | To explain |
| শিখানো | Shikhano | To teach |
| শেখা | Shêkha | To learn |
A peculiarity of Bengali verb formation is the productive compound where a noun like কাজ kaj (work), পরিষ্কার pôrishkar (clean), or শুরু shuru (start) takes করা kôra (to do) as a light verb to make the verbal expression. This compound construction generates new verbs whenever a new noun enters the language, and learners should expect English borrowings to be conjugated in this way: ফোন করা phon kôra (phone-do, "to phone"), মেইল করা meil kôra (mail-do, "to email"), শেয়ার করা sheyar kôra (share-do, "to share").
Common Mistakes English Speakers Make
Confusing জানা jana and চেনা chena. জানা is to know information; চেনা is to know a person or place by familiarity. আমি ঢাকা চিনি ami Ḍhaka chini (I know Dhaka) means "I am familiar with Dhaka"; আমি ঢাকা সম্পর্কে জানি ami Ḍhaka shômporke jani means "I know about Dhaka."
Mixing the politeness levels within a single utterance. Saying আপনি কী করছ? Apni ki kôrcho? mixes the respectful pronoun আপনি apni with the familiar verb ending -ছ -cho. The result is jarring and ungrammatical. Match the verb ending to the pronoun.
Using the same verb for "to drink" and "to eat" without realizing it. খাওয়া khaowa works for both, although পান করা pan kôra is the formal "to drink." Don't be surprised when a Bengali says জল খেয়েছি jôl khêyechhi for "I drank water." It is correct.
Forgetting the polysemy of পড়া pôṛa. The same verb means "to fall," "to read," and "to study." The context resolves which: গাছ থেকে পড়া (fall from tree), বই পড়া (read a book), স্কুলে পড়া (study at school).
Overusing English-style "have" for possession. Bengali expresses "I have a book" as আমার একটা বই আছে amar êkṭa boi achhe (literally "my one book is"), with the verb হওয়া hôwa in its existential form আছে achhe and the genitive আমার amar (my) standing in for "I." Saying আমি একটা বই আছি ami êkṭa boi achhi is ungrammatical.
Mistranslating ভালো লাগা bhalo laga. The phrase ভালো লাগা literally "good attaches" idiomatically means "to like" or "to feel good about." আপনাকে ভালো লাগে apnake bhalo lage means "I like you," not "you feel good." The X-কে -ke marks the experiencer of the feeling.
Conjugating regular endings on irregular verbs. Some high-frequency verbs are irregular. The verb যাওয়া jaowa (to go) has the past stem গে- ge- (গেলাম gêlam, not যালাম jalam). The verb দেওয়া deowa (to give) has the past stem দি- di- (দিলাম dilam). The verb হওয়া hôwa has the present stem হ- hô- and the past stem ছিল- chhilô-. Memorize these.
Forgetting the inclusive/exclusive distinction in compound verbs. খেয়ে ফেলা khêye phêla (eat-drop) means "to eat completely, to finish off"; খেতে ফেলা khête phêla is ungrammatical. The compound aspect verbs ফেলা phêla, নেওয়া neowa, দেওয়া deowa attach to the perfective participle, not the infinitive.
Quick Reference
The top thirty verbs to memorize first: হওয়া, করা, থাকা, লাগা, পড়া, দেওয়া, নেওয়া, বলা, যাওয়া, আসা, খাওয়া, ঘুমানো, দেখা, শোনা, জানা, চেনা, বোঝা, ভাবা, ভালোবাসা, পছন্দ করা, পাওয়া, কেনা, রাখা, ধরা, ছেড়ে দেওয়া, ভাঙা, তৈরি করা, খুঁজা, রান্না করা, কাজ করা.
For each verb, drill the আপনি apni respectful conjugation in present, past, and future. Memorize the master irregular verbs যাওয়া (past gêlam), দেওয়া (past dilam), নেওয়া (past nilam), করা (past kôrlam), হওয়া (past chhilô / hôyechhilô).
Default register: আপনি apni for strangers and elders; তুমি tumi for peers, friends, and younger relatives; তুই tui only for very close intimates and small children. Use করা kôra as the light-verb partner for any noun-derived action: ফোন করা, মেইল করা, ব্যবহার করা, পরিবর্তন করা.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many verbs do I really need to learn?
For functional fluency, around a hundred well-conjugated verbs are sufficient. The hundred most frequent verbs cover roughly 80 percent of all verbal expressions in real Bengali speech and writing. The remaining 20 percent draws on a much larger lexicon, but most of it consists of compound verbs constructed from common roots.
Why is করা kôra so commonly used?
It functions as a light verb that combines with nouns to create new verbal expressions. This compounding is highly productive, and any noun can in principle take করা to become a verb. Bengali, like many South Asian languages, prefers this analytical strategy to creating new monolithic verb forms. কাজ করা (work-do, "to work"), শেষ করা (end-do, "to finish"), and ব্যবহার করা (use-do, "to use") show the pattern.
How do I handle irregular verbs?
The important irregularities are concentrated in the highest-frequency verbs: যাওয়া, দেওয়া, নেওয়া, হওয়া, করা. Memorize their past-tense stems explicitly. After mastering these, most other verbs follow regular patterns and can be conjugated by analogy.
What is the difference between simple past and past perfect?
Simple past (করলাম kôrlam, "I did") describes a completed action without elaborate temporal positioning. Past perfect (করেছিলাম kôrechhilam, "I had done") emphasizes that the action was completed in a relatively distant past or was completed before another past reference point. In casual speech the two are often interchangeable, but careful writing maintains the distinction.
Is there a passive voice in Bengali?
Yes, although it is less common than in English. The passive is formed with the verb হওয়া hôwa (to be/become) plus a verbal noun: কাজ করা হল kaj kôra hôlô ("the work was done," literally "doing of work happened"). Bengali often prefers active constructions where English would use passive.
How do I conjugate borrowed English verbs?
By using the noun-plus-করা compound. To "click" becomes ক্লিক করা klik kôra ("click-do"); to "download" becomes ডাউনলোড করা ḍaunlôḍ kôra ("download-do"). The Bengali verb করা handles the conjugation, and the borrowed English noun stays uninflected. This pattern handles essentially any new English verb that enters Bengali.
What is the negative form?
For most verbs in present and past tense, add না na after the verb: করি না kôri na (I do not do), করিনি kôrini (I did not do, contracted form). For হওয়া hôwa in identification, the negative is নয় nôy (he/she/it is not) or নই nôi (I am not). For existence, the negative of আছে achhe is নেই nei (there is not).
See Also
- Bengali Verb Conjugation Complete Tense System
- Bengali Honorifics: Three Levels of Politeness
- Bengali Pronouns, Three Levels, and Demonstratives
- Bengali Common Phrases for Daily Conversation
- Bengali Postpositions, Not Prepositions
- Bengali Pronunciation and Phonology Reference
- Bengali Travel Phrases and Tourist Guide
- Language Difficulty for English Speakers Reference
Author: Kalenux Team
Frequently Asked Questions
How many verbs do I really need to learn?
For functional fluency, around a hundred well-conjugated verbs suffice. The hundred most frequent verbs cover roughly 80 percent of verbal expressions in real Bengali speech. The remaining 20 percent draws on a larger lexicon, mostly compound verbs constructed from common roots.
Why is করা kôra so commonly used?
It functions as a light verb combining with nouns to create new verbal expressions. Any noun can in principle take করা to become a verb. কাজ করা (work-do, to work), শেষ করা (end-do, to finish), ব্যবহার করা (use-do, to use) show the pattern.
How do I handle irregular verbs?
Irregularities are concentrated in the highest-frequency verbs: যাওয়া, দেওয়া, নেওয়া, হওয়া, করা. Memorize their past-tense stems explicitly. After mastering these, most other verbs follow regular patterns and can be conjugated by analogy.
What is the difference between simple past and past perfect?
Simple past (করলাম kôrlam, I did) describes completed action without elaborate temporal positioning. Past perfect (করেছিলাম kôrechhilam, I had done) emphasizes completion in distant past or before another past reference point. In casual speech often interchangeable.
Is there a passive voice in Bengali?
Yes, though less common than English. Formed with হওয়া hôwa plus verbal noun: কাজ করা হল kaj kôra hôlô (the work was done, literally doing of work happened). Bengali often prefers active constructions where English uses passive.
How do I conjugate borrowed English verbs?
By using the noun-plus-করা compound. To click becomes ক্লিক করা klik kôra; to download becomes ডাউনলোড করা ḍaunlôḍ kôra. The verb করা handles conjugation; the borrowed noun stays uninflected.
What is the negative form?
For most verbs in present and past, add না na after the verb: করি না kôri na (I do not do), করিনি kôrini (I did not do). For হওয়া hôwa in identification, the negative is নয় nôy or নই nôi. For existence, the negative of আছে is নেই nei.
