Upsarg (উপসর্গ) and Pratyay (প্রত্যয়) are the two fundamental building blocks of word formation in Bengali. Understanding these prefixes and suffixes is essential for the WB TET Language I paper because questions frequently test your ability to identify, analyse and form new words using these elements.
Upsarg are meaningful syllables added before a root word (dhatu or mool shabd) to modify or completely change its meaning. Pratyay are suffixes added after the root to create new words with different grammatical functions or meanings. Together, they allow Bengali to generate thousands of words from a limited set of roots.
For the exam, you must know the three categories of upsarg (Sanskrit/tatsam, Bengali/khandi, and bideshi), the two main types of pratyay (krit and taddhit), and be able to recognise common examples. This topic typically carries 2–4 marks and tests both identification and application skills.
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Key Concepts
**Upsarg definition**: Upsarg are prefixes that have no independent meaning but modify the meaning of the root word when attached. Example: প্র + হার = প্রহার (strike/blow).
**Three types of Upsarg**: Bengali uses (1) tatsam/Sanskrit upsarg, (2) khandi/Bengali upsarg, and (3) bideshi/foreign upsarg from English, Arabic, Persian and Hindi sources.
**Pratyay definition**: Pratyay are suffixes added after a dhatu (verb root) or a noun/adjective to form new words. They carry grammatical or semantic value.
**Krit Pratyay**: Suffixes added to verb roots (dhatu) to form nouns or adjectives. Example: পড় + উয়া = পড়ুয়া (one who reads).
**Taddhit Pratyay**: Suffixes added to nouns, pronouns or adjectives (not verb roots) to form new words. Example: মধু + র = মধুর (sweet).
**Meaning modification**: Upsarg can intensify, negate, reverse, or completely alter the meaning of the base word. Example: অ + জ্ঞান = অজ্ঞান (unconscious) — negation.
**Grammatical function change**: Pratyay often convert verbs into nouns (doer, action, instrument) or nouns into adjectives.
### Taddhit Pratyay (with Noun/Adjective) | Pratyay | Function | Example | |---------|----------|---------| | ইক | relating to | সামাজিক, ঐতিহাসিক | | ই | belonging to | বাঙালি, ভারতী | | তা/ত্ব | abstract noun | মনুষ্যত্ব, মহত্ত্ব | | আলি | possessing | রুপালি, সোনালি | | ময় | full of | আনন্দময়, দুঃখময় | | মান | possessing | বুদ্ধিমান, শ্রীমান | | ইত | affected by | ফলিত, কম্পিত |
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Worked Examples
**Example 1: Identify the upsarg and mool shabd** Word: প্রতিবাদ
Step 1: Recognise the prefix — প্রতি (meaning 'against') Step 2: Identify the root — বাদ (speech/statement) Step 3: Combined meaning — protest/objection
Answer: Upsarg = প্রতি, Mool shabd = বাদ
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**Example 2: Identify the pratyay type** Word: পাঠক
Step 1: Break the word — পঠ্ (dhatu meaning 'to read') + অক (pratyay) Step 2: Since the suffix is added to a dhatu, this is Krit Pratyay Step 3: The pratyay 'অক' indicates the doer of the action
Answer: Krit Pratyay; meaning = one who reads (reader)
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**Example 3: Form a word using the given upsarg** Upsarg: দুর্, Root: নাম
Step 1: দুর্ means 'bad' — a tatsam upsarg Step 2: Combine — দুর্ + নাম = দুর্নাম Step 3: Meaning — bad name, infamy
Answer: দুর্নাম (infamy)
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Common Mistakes
**Confusing upsarg with the first syllable of any word** → Not every initial syllable is an upsarg. The root must have an independent meaning. 'প্রেম' does not have 'প্র' as upsarg because 'এম' is not a meaningful root.
**Mixing krit and taddhit pratyay** → Remember: Krit pratyay attaches to dhatu (verb roots), while taddhit attaches to nouns/adjectives. 'গায়ক' (গা + অক) is krit because 'গা' is a dhatu; 'সামাজিক' (সমাজ + ইক) is taddhit because 'সমাজ' is a noun.
**Forgetting bideshi upsarg** → Many students only memorise Sanskrit upsarg. Persian (বে, বদ, লা) and Arabic (ফি, হর) prefixes appear frequently in exams.
**Ignoring meaning change** → The same root with different upsarg gives different meanings. প্রহার (beating) vs. উপহার (gift) vs. সংহার (destruction) — all from root 'হার' with different prefixes.
**Assuming all '-তা' endings are taddhit** → When 'তা' is added to a dhatu-derived word, carefully check the base. 'মানবতা' uses taddhit (মানব + তা), but 'গতি' uses krit (গম্ + তি).
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Quick Reference
**Upsarg = prefix before root; Pratyay = suffix after root**
In the Bengali word 'বিদেশ' (bidesh), which component is an 'উপসর্গ' (upsarg)?
Q2 · Upsarg and Pratyay · MEDIUM
Which of the following words contains a 'প্রত্যয়' (pratyay) that forms an abstract noun from a verb?
Q3 · Upsarg and Pratyay · MEDIUM
The Bengali word 'প্রত্যাশা' (pratyasha) is formed by combining an upsarg with a root. What does the upsarg 'প্রতি' indicate in this word?
Q4 · Upsarg and Pratyay · HARD
In Bengali word formation, which of the following statements correctly distinguishes between 'কৃৎ প্রত্যয়' (krit pratyay) and 'তদ্ধিত প্রত্যয়' (taddhit pratyay)?