শোনো
shono
The English phrase "listen" is translated into Bengali as শোনো (shono).
The verb is used to express the act of paying attention to a sound. A common idiomatic way to tell someone to listen carefully is to use the phrase মন দিয়ে শোনো, which literally means to listen with your mind or heart.
Meaning: to pay attention to a sound (verb)
Which one should you use?
শোনো is the standard or neutral imperative form. In contrast, শুনুন is used when addressing elders or strangers, while the highly informal or intimate form শোন is used for children or close friends.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb has different levels of politeness: the polite form is শুনুন, the standard form is শোনো and the highly informal/intimate form is শোন.
How do you pronounce it?
shono
Did you know?
- In Bengali, the verb শোনা (to listen) is used to express that you have 'heard' a rumor or piece of news, even if you never actually heard it spoken aloud.
- When someone says শোনো (listen) to start a sentence, it often functions as a 'discourse marker' to signal a change in topic rather than a request for the other person to hear a sound.
- In some traditional Bengali music and poetry, the command শোনো is used as a direct address to the divine or a distant lover, turning a simple verb into a spiritual invocation.
Examples in context
- এবার মন দিয়ে শোনো।Now listen carefully.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of শোনো when telling someone to listen carefully.Tatoeba #5591879 by tanay, translation #2047606 by CK
- তুমি কি শব্দটা শুনলে? শোনো!tumi ki shobdota shunle? shono!Did you hear the sound? Listen!
- পাখির ডাক শোনো।pakhir dak shono.Listen to the birds chirping.
Example conversation
Ishani and Sourav are sitting in a park.
- সৌরভ Souravওদিকে তাকাও, শোনো!odike takao, shono!Look over there, listen!
- ইশানি Ishaniআমি কিছু শুনতে পাচ্ছি না।ami kichu shunte pacchi na.I can't hear anything.
- সৌরভ Souravঝাউ গাছের শব্দ শোনো।jhau gacher shobdo shono.Listen to the sound of the pine trees.
- ইশানি Ishaniহ্যাঁ, এবার শুনতে পাচ্ছি।hye, ebar shunte pacchi.Yes, I can hear it now.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
