শিশু
śiśu/ʃiʃu/
The Bengali word for baby is শিশু (śiśu). Wiktionary also lists বাচ্চা (bacca).
Meaning: very young human being (noun)
Ways to say it
| Bengali | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| শিশু | śiśu | /ʃiʃu/ |
| বাচ্চা | bacca | /bat͡ʃːa/ /batɕːa/ |
Both forms refer to a very young human being. While শিশু is more formal and is often used in literature, news or medical contexts to refer to an infant, the colloquial বাচ্চা can refer to both a baby and a young child.
Which one should you use?
শিশু is more formal and is often used in literature, news or medical contexts to refer to an infant, whereas বাচ্চা is more common in everyday spoken Bengali and can refer to both a baby and a young child.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the colloquial form বাচ্চা plural, you can add the suffix 'রা' to create বাচ্চারা. Additionally, the form বাচ্চাদের is used to express the plural possessive or the oblique case, such as 'to the children' or 'children's'.
How do you pronounce it?
śiśu (/ʃiʃu/)
Did you know?
- While বাচ্চা is the common word for 'baby', it is actually a linguistic traveler from Persian, having entered the Bengali language through historical contact with the Mughal empire.
- The word বাচ্চা is so versatile that in certain informal contexts, it can be used to describe someone who is acting childishly, even if they are an adult.
- In many Bengali households, instead of using the formal শিশু, people use specific nicknames or 'daak naam' for a baby, which are often much more affectionate than the standard dictionary terms.
Examples in context
- টম বাচ্চার মত কাঁদছিলো।Tom was crying like a baby.This sentence shows how to use the colloquial form বাচ্চা in a simile.Tatoeba #5524771 by tanay, translation #3419789 by CK
- ও বাচ্চাদের মত ঘুমাচ্ছে।He's sleeping like a baby.Tatoeba #3191546 by tanay, translation #2089 by CK
- তিনি তার বাচ্চাকে বুকে জড়িয়ে ধরলেন।She hugged the baby to her breast.This sentence shows how to use the colloquial form বাচ্চা when referring to a baby.Tatoeba #11571506 by robingaspi, translation #377801 by CK
- শিশুটি খুব মিষ্টি।The baby is very cute.
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Tania and Rahul are looking at a photo of a newborn.
- তানিয়া Taniaএই শিশুটি কি তোমার আত্মীয়?Ei shishuti ki tomar attiyo?Is this baby your relative?
- রাহুল Rahulহ্যাঁ, ও আমার বোনর ছেলে।Hyan, o amar bonor chhele.Yes, he is my sister's son.
- তানিয়া Taniaশিশুটা খুব মিষ্টি দেখতে!Shishuta khub mishti dekhte!The baby looks very sweet!
- রাহুল Rahulধন্যবাদ, তানিয়া।Dhonyobad, Tania.Thank you, Tania.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “baby” translations and entries শিশু, বাচ্চা, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries বাচ্চা, শিশু, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
