Counting in Bengali: The Classifiers -ta, -ti, -jon and -khana

When counting in English, we say "three books". In Bengali, a small counting word, called a classifier or measure word, follows the number: তিনটা বই (tinta boi), literally "three-ta book".

The main classifiers

• -টা (-ta) — general use, informal: একটা কলম (ekta kolom, one pen)
• -টি (-ti) — general use, formal or written: একটি কলম
• -জন (-jon) — for people: তিনজন ছাত্র (tinjon chhatro, three students)
• -খানা (-khana) — for flat or sheet-like things: দুইখানা কাগজ (duikhana kagoj, two sheets of paper)
• -গুলো / -গুলি (-gulo / -guli) — plural marker for things

Number and classifier together

The number and classifier fuse in speech and writing:

• একটা (ekta) — one
• দুটো (duto) — two
• তিনটা (tinta) — three
• চারটা (charta) — four
• পাঁচটা (panchta) — five

Classifiers as "the"

Bengali has no articles, but adding a classifier to a noun makes it specific: বইটা (boita) means "the book". For plural specific nouns, use গুলো: বইগুলো (boigulo), "the books".

People take জন

For counting people, use -জন rather than -টা. দুজন বন্ধু (dujon bondhu) means "two friends". Using -টা for people can sound dismissive, especially for adults.

Numbers and plurals

When a number is present, the noun stays singular, and the classifier does the job: তিনটা বই, not "three books". Adding a plural marker is unnecessary.

Words for fractions and quantities

• আধা / অর্ধেক (adha / ordhek) — half
• সব (shob) — all
• কিছু (kichhu) — some
• অনেক (onek) — many, much
• কয়েকটা (koyekta) — a few

Everyday examples

• আমার দুটো ভাই আছে — amar duto bhai ache — I have two brothers.
• একটা চা দিন — ekta cha din — Please give me a tea.
• পাঁচজন এসেছে — panchjon eshechhe — Five people have come.

Mistakes to avoid

• Omitting the classifier after a number.
• Using -টা for people.
• Adding both a number and গুলো.

Practice

1. Count objects in your room using classifiers.
2. Describe your family with -জন.
3. Compare "the book" and "a book" with and without -টা.
4. Look up any noun to learn its natural counting word.

Look up nouns and counting words with English Bangla Dictionary →