The word “female” is a commonly used term in English, referring to the sex of a person or animal that produces eggs or gives birth to young. However, understanding its meaning in Bengali requires delving deeper into the nuances of the language and its cultural context. While there are direct translations, the Bengali language offers a rich tapestry of words that express femininity and the female identity in various ways. This article will explore the “Female Meaning in Bengali”, examining its literal translations, synonyms, antonyms, grammatical forms, usage, and related phrases.
Female Meaning in Bengali
The most direct and commonly used Bengali translation for “female” is মহিলা (mohila). This word generally refers to an adult female human. However, the term “female” can encompass a broader meaning, including girls, women, and even the female sex in the animal kingdom. Depending on the context, other Bengali words like নারী (nari), মেয়ে (meye), and স্ত্রী (stri) might be used to denote “female.”
- মহিলা (mohila): Primarily used for an adult woman, carrying connotations of respect and formality.
- নারী (nari): A more poetic and literary term for woman, often used to refer to the female gender in a general sense.
- মেয়ে (meye): Commonly used for a girl or a young woman, also can be used for a daughter.
- স্ত্রী (stri): Typically refers to a wife or a female partner in a marital relationship.
- স্ত্রীলিঙ্গ (strilingo): This is the grammatical term for the feminine gender in Bengali.
Therefore, the “Female Meaning in Bengali” is not limited to a single word but rather a spectrum of terms that capture different aspects of femininity and female identity.
Female অর্থ কি?
Female শব্দটির বাংলা অর্থ হলো মহিলা, নারী, মেয়ে, স্ত্রী । এই শব্দগুলির প্রত্যেকটির নিজস্ব সূক্ষ্ম অর্থ রয়েছে।
- মহিলা (উচ্চারণ: মোহিলা) সাধারণত প্রাপ্তবয়স্ক মহিলাকে বোঝায়।
- নারী (উচ্চারণ: নারি) আরো কাব্যিক এবং সাহিত্যিক অর্থে মহিলা বোঝায়।
- মেয়ে (উচ্চারণ: মেয়ে) বালিকা বা যুবতী মহিলাকে বোঝায়।
- স্ত্রী (উচ্চারণ: স্ত্রী) সাধারণত বিবাহিতা মহিলা বা স্ত্রীকে বোঝায়।
- স্ত্রীলিঙ্গ (উচ্চারণ: স্ত্রীলিঙ্গ) ব্যাকরণে স্ত্রী বাচক শব্দ বোঝাতে ব্যবহৃত হয়।
সুতরাং, “Female” শব্দটির অর্থ নির্ভর করে বাক্যের প্রসঙ্গের উপর।
Examples
To further illustrate the “Female Meaning in Bengali”, let’s look at some examples:
- “She is a strong female leader.”
- Bengali Translation: “তিনি একজন শক্তিশালী মহিলা নেত্রী।” (Tini ekjon shaktishali mohila netri.) or “তিনি একজন শক্তিশালী নারী নেত্রী।” (Tini ekjon shaktishali nari netri.)
- “The female cat is nursing her kittens.”
- Bengali Translation: “স্ত্রী বিড়ালটি তার বাচ্চাদের দুধ খাওয়াচ্ছে।” (Stri biralti tar bacchader dudh খাওয়াচ্ছে।) – Here, using “মহিলা” or “নারী” would be incorrect.
- “What is the percentage of the female population in Bangladesh?”
- Bengali Translation: “বাংলাদেশে নারী জনসংখ্যার শতকরা হার কত?” (Bangladeshe nari jonosongkhar shotokora har koto?) or “বাংলাদেশে মহিলা জনসংখ্যার শতকরা হার কত?” (Bangladeshe mohila jonosongkhar shotokora har koto?)
- “My female friend is coming over for dinner.”
- Bengali Translation: “আমার মেয়ে বন্ধু রাতের খাবার খেতে আসছে।” (Amar meye bondhu rater khabar khete asche.) or “আমার মহিলা বন্ধু রাতের খাবার খেতে আসছে।” (Amar mohila bondhu rater khabar khete asche) – While “মহিলা” is not incorrect, “মেয়ে” might sound more natural, if referring to a younger person.
- “Is this the female restroom?”
- Bengali Translation: “এটা কি মহিলাদের শৌচাগার?” (Eta ki mohilader shouchagar?)
These examples demonstrate how the choice of word depends on the specific context and the intended meaning.
Synonyms
Understanding synonyms can further enrich our understanding of “Female Meaning in Bengali.” Here are some synonyms for the different Bengali words that translate to “female”:
- মহিলা (mohila):
- নারী (nari)
- রমণী (romoni) (A more poetic and literary term for a beautiful woman)
- ভদ্রমহিলা (bhadromohila) (Lady, gentlewoman)
- নারী (nari):
- মহিলা (mohila)
- রমণী (romoni)
- স্ত্রীলোক (strilok) (Woman, female person)
- মেয়ে (meye):
- বালিকা (balika) (Girl)
- কুমারী (kumari) (Unmarried girl, maiden)
- কন্যা (konna) (Daughter)
- স্ত্রী (stri):
- পত্নী (potni) (Wife)
- জায়া (jaya) (Wife – a more formal and literary term)
- অর্ধাঙ্গিনী (ordhangini) (Better half – a more poetic and affectionate term)
Antonyms
The primary antonym of “female” is “male.” In Bengali, the most common translation for “male” is পুরুষ (purush). It refers to an adult male human. Other relevant antonyms in Bengali, depending on the context, include:
- পুরুষ (purush): Male, man.
- ছেলে (chele): Boy, son.
- পুংলিঙ্গ (punglingo): This is the grammatical term for the masculine gender in Bengali.
- স্বামী (swami) : Husband.
- নর (nor): Male (used in formal and literary context)
Grammar
The word “female” in English can function as both an adjective and a noun. In Bengali, the words like “মহিলা,” “নারী,” “মেয়ে,” and “স্ত্রী” primarily function as nouns. Let’s break down the grammatical aspects of “Female Meaning in Bengali”:
- Forms: Most of these Bengali words form their plural by adding “দের” (der) or “রা” (ra) at the end.
- মহিলা (mohila) becomes মহিলাদের (mohilader) or মহিলারা (mohilara) (women)
- নারী (nari) becomes নারীদের (narider) or নারীরা (narira) (women)
- মেয়ে (meye) becomes মেয়েদের (meyeder) or মেয়েরা (meyera) (girls)
- স্ত্রী (stri) becomes স্ত্রীদের (strider) or স্ত্রীরা (strira) (wives)
- Inflections: Bengali nouns are not heavily inflected for case like some European languages. However, postpositions are added to indicate relationships, such as possession or location. For example:
- মহিলার (mohilar) (of the woman) – Possessive
- মহিলাকে (mohilake) (to the woman) – Dative
- Gender: As mentioned earlier, Bengali has grammatical gender. “Female” related words fall under the স্ত্রীলিঙ্গ (strilingo) or feminine gender.
- Adjective Formation: To use these words adjectivally, they are often combined with other words or used in compound words. For example, “female doctor” could be translated as “মহিলা ডাক্তার” (mohila ডাক্তার).
Uses
The various Bengali words translating to “female” are used in a wide range of contexts, including:
- Demographics and Statistics: When discussing population, gender ratios, or social issues, terms like “মহিলা জনসংখ্যা” (mohila jonosongkha – female population) or “নারী শিক্ষার হার” (nari shikkhar har – female literacy rate) are frequently used.
- Literature and Poetry: The term “নারী” (nari) is often favored in literature and poetry to evoke a sense of beauty, strength, and femininity.
- Everyday Conversation: “মেয়ে” (meye) is commonly used in everyday conversations when referring to girls or young women, while “মহিলা” (mohila) is used for adult women.
- Formal Settings: In formal settings, official documents, or news reports, “মহিলা” (mohila) is generally the preferred term.
- Marital and Familial Context: “স্ত্রী” (stri) is specifically used within the context of marriage and family, referring to a wife or female partner.
Related Phrases
Here are some common phrases related to “Female Meaning in Bengali”:
- Female empowerment: নারী ক্ষমতায়ন (nari khomotaayon) or মহিলা ক্ষমতায়ন (mohila khomotaayon).
- Female education: নারী শিক্ষা (nari shikkha) or মহিলা শিক্ষা (mohila shikkha).
- Female rights: নারী অধিকার (nari odhikar) or মহিলা অধিকার (mohila odhikar).
- Female health: নারী স্বাস্থ্য (nari shastho) or মহিলা স্বাস্থ্য (mohila shastho).
- Female labor force: নারী শ্রমশক্তি (nari shromoshokti) or মহিলা শ্রমশক্তি (mohila shromoshokti).
- Girl child: মেয়ে শিশু (meye shishu) or কন্যা শিশু (konna shishu).
- Married woman: বিবাহিতা মহিলা (bibahita mohila).
Conclusion
“Female Meaning in Bengali” is multifaceted and context-dependent. While “মহিলা” (mohila) serves as the most direct translation for “female,” other words like “নারী” (nari), “মেয়ে” (meye), and “স্ত্রী” (stri) offer a nuanced understanding of femininity and the female identity within the Bengali language and culture. Understanding these nuances, along with their synonyms, antonyms, grammatical forms, and usage patterns, allows for a more accurate and richer appreciation of how the concept of “female” is expressed in Bengali. By exploring these linguistic intricacies, we gain a deeper insight into the cultural values and perspectives embedded within the language itself.