Writing on signs in Bangladesh
A top line with triangles
Bengali has a top line like Hindi, but many letters have a triangle shape hanging below it, like ব and র.
- Look for the small triangles: Devanagari has none.
- Letters are rounder at the bottom than Hindi letters.
- Shop signs are often painted in bright colours and crowded together.
12 photos, grouped by the clue they show.
Key clue Shop sign 7
Key clue Street sign 5
Bangladesh: what its writing looks like
Bengali, or Bangla, has a top line like Hindi, but many letters have a triangle hanging below it, like ব and র. The letters look rounder at the bottom.
Shop signs in Bangladesh are often bright, hand-painted and crowded together, with Bengali at the top and sometimes English below.
Bengali is used all over Bangladesh. The Indian state of West Bengal uses it too.
Look-alikes: how to tell them apart
India
NepalHindi and Nepali use Devanagari, which has the top line but no triangles.
Questions about the writing in Bangladesh
How do I tell Bengali from Hindi writing?
Both have a line along the top. Bengali letters often have a small triangle shape, like ব, which Devanagari does not have.
Is Bengali only used in Bangladesh?
No. It is also used in West Bengal and other parts of eastern India.