✍️ Bangla Vowel Signs (Matras)

In Bangla, vowels have two forms: independent letters (used when vowels start a word) and diacritical marks or vowel signs (called matras, মাত্রা) that attach to consonants.

For example, “আ” (a) is a standalone vowel, but when attached to ক (ka), it becomes “কা” (kā).

🧾 Common Matras Chart

Vowel	Vowel Sign (Matra)	Example with ক	Romanization	English Sound
অ	(none)	ক	ka	k + short o (like "cup")
আ	া	কা	kā	k + "a" as in "father"
ই	ি	কি	ki	k + "i" as in "pin"
ঈ	ী	কী	kī	k + "ee" as in "machine"
উ	ু	কু	ku	k + "u" as in "put"
ঊ	ূ	কূ	kū	k + "oo" as in "food"
ঋ	ৃ	কৃ	kṛi	k + r̥ sound (rare)
এ	ে	কে	ke	k + "e" as in "they"
ঐ	ৈ	কৈ	koi	k + "oi" as in "oil"
ও	ো	কো	ko	k + "o" as in "go"
ঔ	ৌ	কৌ	kou	k + "ow" as in "cow"

📝 Notes for Learners

Matras change the shape of a consonant but not the root letter itself.
Some vowel signs appear before or around the consonant (e.g., "ি" comes before, but is read after).
You’ll get used to the pattern with repetition and practice.

Ready to try these out in words? Head over to our Lesson 1 to see vowel signs in action!