bengali
UK[beŋˈɡɔːli]US[beŋˈɡɑːli]
adj
Relating to Bengal, its people, or the Bengali language.
n
A native or inhabitant of Bengal.
n
An Indic language spoken mainly in Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal.
Etymology
The word 'Bengali' originates from 'Bengal', the name of the region in South Asia. 'Bengal' itself is believed to have evolved from the ancient Sanskrit kingdom of 'Vanga' or 'Bangla'. The suffix '-i' is a common adjectival and demonymic suffix in many Indo-European languages (like Hindi, Persian, and English), used to form words meaning "of or pertaining to" a place. Thus, 'Bengali' literally means "of or from Bengal," and by extension refers to its people and language, illustrating a standard pattern for forming ethnic and linguistic identifiers from place names.
Analysis
This is a proper noun derived from a geographical name. It is not productively formed from smaller, independent morphemes in modern English.
Examples
She is studying Bengali literature at the university.
The Bengali community celebrated the festival with great enthusiasm.
He is fluent in both Hindi and Bengali.