Bengali

noun

Ben·​gali ben-ˈgȯ-lē 

beŋ-, 

-ˈgä-

1

: a native or resident of Bengal

2

: the modern Indo-Aryan language of Bengal

Bengali adjective

Examples of Bengali in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

When mother and son sing songs from the famous cycle by Bengali writer-composer and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore or hold a deathbed conversation in Bangla, the piece spins further across time and space. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026

Jacy said her Bengali heritage has always played an important role. — Lauren Winfrey, CBS News, 14 May 2026

Meanwhile, Samman Roy has directed The Undying, an adaptation of a short story by Nobel Prize-winning Bengali writer Rabindranath Tagore. — Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 12 May 2026

She was supposed to perform in a Bengali cultural program in Orlando, her brother said. — Dan Sullivan, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Hindi baṅgālī, from Baṅgāl Bengal

First Known Use

1698, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for Bengali

• akali
• diwali
• loblolly
• naphtali
• nepali
• secale
• somali
• colley
• collie
• dolly
• folly
• golly

Kids Definition

Bengali

noun

Ben·​gali ben-ˈgȯ-lē 

beŋ-

1

: a person born or living in Bengal

2

: the language of Bengal

Bengali adjective