Many British Bangladeshi families speak Bengali or Sylheti at home. Children often learn to read the Quran beautifully; a few sounds just need extra attention.
The script
Unlike Urdu, Bengali does not use the Arabic script, so every letter is new. That is not a disadvantage: children start with a clean slate and learn the correct sounds from the beginning.
Common pronunciation traps
| Often said as | Should be | Example |
|---|---|---|
| “j” for ز | A clear “z” | زَكَاة (zakah) |
| “ph” or “p” for ف | A clear “f”, top teeth on lower lip | الْفَلَقِ |
| The same sound for س ش ث ص | Four different sounds | سَ، شَ، ثَ، صَ |
| “j” or “z” for ذ and ظ | “th” sounds, tongue between the teeth | الَّذِينَ |
Not every speaker has these patterns, but they are common enough to check.
What to ask the teacher
- A quick check of these letters in the first lessons.
- Two or three minutes of targeted practice each lesson until they are secure.
- Gentle correction, as children may hear these sounds differently at home.
At home
Explain simply: “In Bengali we say it this way; in the Quran we say it this way.” Children happily switch between the two.
Teacher’s tip: for ف, ask your child to bite their bottom lip gently and blow. It turns “ph” into a clean “f” within a few days.
Related: Urdu-speaking families and ث, ذ and ظ.
