Vowels
e
[eː]/[ɛ]
long like 'é' in café / short like 'e' in bed
এ / এ্যা
i
[iː]/[ɪ]
like 'ee' in see / 'i' in sit
ই / ই-হালকা
o
[uː]/[ɔ]
like 'oo' in food / 'o' in hot
উ / অ
u
[ʉː]
unique Swedish vowel, close to French 'u'
ইউ (ঠোঁট গোল)
y
[yː]/[ʏ]
like German 'ü'
ইউ (সামনের দিকে)
Consonants
g
[g]/[j]
hard [g] before a, o, u; soft [j] before e, i, y, ä, ö
গ / জ-ধ্বনি
j
[j]
sounds like English 'y'
ইয়
k
[k]/[ɕ]
hard [k] before a, o, u; soft [ɕ] (sh-sound) before e, i, y, ä, ö
ক / শ
r
[r]
rolled or trilled r
র (গড়ানো)
sj
[ɧ]
special Swedish sound, like 'sh' with hollow throat
শ / হ-শ মিশ্র
Special Letters
ö
[øː]/[œ]
like German 'ö', lips rounded
অ্য / অ’
Pronunciation Rules
- J is pronounced like English Y → ja = [ja] (ইয়া)
- G before e, i, y, ä, ö = [j] → ge = [je] (য়ে)
- K before e, i, y, ä, ö = [ɕ] (soft sh) → kyrka = [ɕʏrka]
- SK before soft vowels = [ɧ] → sked = [ɧeːd]
- R + consonant often blends → rt, rs etc. sound retroflex
- V = like English 'v' (ভ)
- C = [s] before e, i, y; [k] elsewhere
- Z = [s]
Diphthongs
ei
[ej]
like 'ay' in say
এই
oi
[ɔj]
like 'oy' in boy
ওই
Stress & Intonation
In Swedish, stress usually falls on the first syllable. Intonation is melodic — often called the "sing-song" quality of Swedish.