30 Commonly Confused Words in English (with Bengali Meaning)
Learn 30 commonly confused words in English, like accept/except, principal/principle, and lose/loose, each with part of speech, Bengali meaning, and examples, plus a 22-sentence exercise for SSC, HSC, admission, and job exams.
English is full of word pairs that look alike, sound alike, or feel alike, and picking the wrong one can change your whole meaning. Is it “accept” or “except”? “Principal” or “principle”? “Advice” or “advise”? These small choices are tested again and again in SSC, HSC, admission, and job exams, and they quietly shape how correct your writing sounds. This lesson clears up 30 of the most commonly confused words, each with its part of speech, its meaning, its Bengali meaning, and a fresh example.
ইংরেজি এমন অনেক শব্দজোড়ায় ভরা যেগুলো দেখতে, শুনতে বা মনে হতে একরকম, আর ভুলটি বেছে নিলে পুরো অর্থ বদলে যেতে পারে। “accept” নাকি “except”? “principal” নাকি “principle”? এই ছোট ছোট সিদ্ধান্ত SSC, HSC, ভর্তি ও চাকরির পরীক্ষায় বারবার আসে। তাহলে চলো, শুরু করা যাক।
Table of Contents
What are Confusing Words?
Confusing words are words that are similar in spelling or sound but different in meaning or use (বানানে বা উচ্চারণে মিল, কিন্তু অর্থে বা ব্যবহারে ভিন্ন)।
Confusing words হলো এমন শব্দ যেগুলো বানানে বা উচ্চারণে একই রকম, কিন্তু অর্থে বা ব্যবহারে আলাদা। প্রতিটি শব্দের part of speech জানলে পার্থক্য বোঝা সহজ হয়।
Set 1: Accept vs Except
Word
Part of Speech
Meaning (অর্থ)
Example
Accept
verb
to receive or agree to (গ্রহণ করা)
She accepted the award with a smile.
Except
preposition
not including, leaving out (ব্যতীত)
Everyone passed the test except Karim.
Set 2: Advice vs Advise
Word
Part of Speech
Meaning (অর্থ)
Example
Advice
noun
an opinion on what to do (উপদেশ)
My teacher gave me useful advice.
Advise
verb
to give advice (উপদেশ দেওয়া)
The doctor advised him to rest.
Trick: advice is a noun (like ice); advise is a verb.
Set 3: Affect vs Effect
Word
Part of Speech
Meaning (অর্থ)
Example
Affect
verb
to influence (প্রভাবিত করা)
Bad weather affects our mood.
Effect
noun
a result (প্রভাব, ফল)
The medicine had a quick effect.
Set 4: Any vs Some
Word
Part of Speech
Meaning (অর্থ)
Example
Any
determiner
used in negatives and questions (কোনো)
Is there any sugar left?
Some
determiner
used in affirmatives and offers (কিছু, কয়েকটি)
I bought some apples.
Set 5: Bought vs Brought
Word
Part of Speech
Meaning (অর্থ)
Example
Bought
verb (past of buy)
got by paying money (কিনেছিল)
She bought a new phone.
Brought
verb (past of bring)
carried to a place (নিয়ে এসেছিল)
He brought his books to class.
Set 6: Data vs Datum
Word
Part of Speech
Meaning (অর্থ)
Example
Data
noun (plural)
facts and figures (তথ্য, উপাত্ত)
The data are being analysed.
Datum
noun (singular)
a single piece of data (একটি উপাত্ত)
Each datum was recorded carefully.
Note: traditionally ‘data’ is plural (data are), but in modern everyday use it is often treated as uncountable and singular (data is). Both are now accepted.
মনে রেখো: ঐতিহ্যগতভাবে ‘data’ plural (data are), তবে আধুনিক ব্যবহারে এটি প্রায়ই uncountable ও singular ধরা হয় (data is)। এখন দুটোই গ্রহণযোগ্য।
Set 7: Excited vs Exciting
Word
Part of Speech
Meaning (অর্থ)
Example
Excited
adjective (feeling)
feeling happy and eager (উত্তেজিত, রোমাঞ্চিত)
The children were excited about the trip.
Exciting
adjective (cause)
causing excitement (রোমাঞ্চকর)
It was an exciting match.
Set 8: Good vs Well
Word
Part of Speech
Meaning (অর্থ)
Example
Good
adjective
describes a noun (ভালো)
She is a good singer.
Well
adverb
describes a verb (ভালোভাবে)
She sings well.
Set 9: Hard vs Hardly
Word
Part of Speech
Meaning (অর্থ)
Example
Hard
adjective / adverb
difficult; with effort (কঠিন; কঠোরভাবে)
It was a hard exam. He works hard.
Hardly
adverb
almost not (প্রায় না)
I could hardly hear the speaker.
Set 10: Interested vs Interesting
Word
Part of Speech
Meaning (অর্থ)
Example
Interested
adjective (feeling)
wanting to know more (আগ্রহী)
I am interested in history.
Interesting
adjective (cause)
holding your attention (আকর্ষণীয়)
It was an interesting book.
Set 11: Their vs There vs They’re
Word
Part of Speech
Meaning (অর্থ)
Example
Their
possessive pronoun
belonging to them (তাদের)
The students raised their hands.
There
adverb
in that place; to start a sentence (সেখানে)
Your bag is over there.
They’re
contraction
short for ‘they are’ (তারা …)
They’re playing football now.
Set 12: To vs Too vs Two
Word
Part of Speech
Meaning (অর্থ)
Example
To
preposition
towards; before a verb (প্রতি; -তে)
I went to school to learn.
Too
adverb
also; more than enough (ও; খুব বেশি)
It is too hot. I want to come too.
Two
number
the number 2 (দুই)
I have two brothers.
Set 13: Bad vs Badly
Word
Part of Speech
Meaning (অর্থ)
Example
Bad
adjective
of low quality; unpleasant (খারাপ)
This is bad news.
Badly
adverb
in a bad way; very much (খারাপভাবে; খুব)
He was badly hurt. She badly needs help.
Set 14: Many vs Much and Few vs Little
These four depend on whether the noun is countable or uncountable. Learn more in our lesson on countable and uncountable nouns.
এই চারটি নির্ভর করে noun টি countable নাকি uncountable তার উপর।
Word
Use
Meaning (অর্থ)
Example
Many
with countable nouns
a large number (অনেক)
Many students attended.
Much
with uncountable nouns
a large amount (অনেক)
There is not much water.
Few
with countable nouns
a small number (অল্প, কম)
Few teachers were present.
Little
with uncountable nouns
a small amount (অল্প, সামান্য)
I have little time left.
Set 15: Than vs Then
Word
Part of Speech
Meaning (অর্থ)
Example
Than
conjunction / preposition
used in comparison (চেয়ে, তুলনায়)
She is taller than her sister.
Then
adverb
at that time; next (তখন; তারপর)
We ate, then we left.
Set 16: Principal vs Principle
Word
Part of Speech
Meaning (অর্থ)
Example
Principal
noun / adjective
head of a school; main (অধ্যক্ষ; প্রধান)
Our principal gave a speech.
Principle
noun
a rule or belief (নীতি)
Honesty is his guiding principle.
Trick: the principal is my pal; a principle is a rule.
Set 17: Stationary vs Stationery
Word
Part of Speech
Meaning (অর্থ)
Example
Stationary
adjective
not moving (স্থির)
The car stood stationary at the signal.
Stationery
noun
writing materials (লেখার সামগ্রী)
She bought pens and other stationery.
Trick: stationery means paper.
Set 18: Lose vs Loose
Word
Part of Speech
Meaning (অর্থ)
Example
Lose
verb
to misplace; not to win (হারানো)
Do not lose your ticket.
Loose
adjective
not tight (ঢিলা)
These trousers are too loose.
Set 19: Weather vs Whether
Word
Part of Speech
Meaning (অর্থ)
Example
Weather
noun
the state of the air (আবহাওয়া)
The weather is fine today.
Whether
conjunction
if (কিনা)
I do not know whether he will come.
Set 20: Quiet vs Quite
Word
Part of Speech
Meaning (অর্থ)
Example
Quiet
adjective
making little noise (নীরব, শান্ত)
Please keep the class quiet.
Quite
adverb
fairly; completely (বেশ; সম্পূর্ণ)
The film was quite good.
Set 21: Desert vs Dessert
Word
Part of Speech
Meaning (অর্থ)
Example
Desert
noun
a dry, sandy land (মরুভূমি)
Camels live in the desert.
Dessert
noun
sweet food after a meal (মিষ্টান্ন)
We had ice cream for dessert.
Trick: dessert has two s’s, for something sweet and special.
Set 22: Complement vs Compliment
Word
Part of Speech
Meaning (অর্থ)
Example
Complement
noun / verb
something that completes (পরিপূরক)
The scarf complements her dress.
Compliment
noun / verb
words of praise (প্রশংসা)
He paid her a kind compliment.
Set 23: Beside vs Besides
Word
Part of Speech
Meaning (অর্থ)
Example
Beside
preposition
next to (পাশে)
She sat beside me.
Besides
preposition / adverb
in addition to (ছাড়াও, তাছাড়া)
Besides English, he knows Arabic.
Set 24: Farther vs Further
Word
Part of Speech
Meaning (অর্থ)
Example
Farther
adverb / adjective
at a greater distance (দূরত্বে বেশি)
Dhaka is farther than Bogura.
Further
adverb / adjective
additional; more (অতিরিক্ত; আরও)
I need further information.
Set 25: Precede vs Proceed
Word
Part of Speech
Meaning (অর্থ)
Example
Precede
verb
to come before (পূর্বে আসা)
A short speech preceded the meal.
Proceed
verb
to go on, to continue (এগিয়ে যাওয়া)
Please proceed to gate two.
Set 26: Emigrant vs Immigrant
Word
Part of Speech
Meaning (অর্থ)
Example
Emigrant
noun
one who leaves their own country (দেশত্যাগী)
Many emigrants left for Europe.
Immigrant
noun
one who comes into a new country (অভিবাসী)
The city welcomes new immigrants.
Set 27: Personal vs Personnel
Word
Part of Speech
Meaning (অর্থ)
Example
Personal
adjective
private, one’s own (ব্যক্তিগত)
This is my personal diary.
Personnel
noun
the staff of an organisation (কর্মীবৃন্দ)
The office has skilled personnel.
Set 28: Council vs Counsel
Word
Part of Speech
Meaning (অর্থ)
Example
Council
noun
a group that governs or advises (পরিষদ)
The city council met today.
Counsel
noun / verb
advice; to advise (পরামর্শ; পরামর্শ দেওয়া)
The teacher counselled the students wisely.
Set 29: Borrow vs Lend
Word
Part of Speech
Meaning (অর্থ)
Example
Borrow
verb
to take something to return later (ধার নেওয়া)
May I borrow your pen?
Lend
verb
to give something to be returned (ধার দেওয়া)
He lent me his umbrella.
Set 30: Raise vs Rise
Word
Part of Speech
Meaning (অর্থ)
Example
Raise
verb (takes an object)
to lift something up (উত্তোলন করা)
Raise your hand to answer.
Rise
verb (no object)
to go up by itself (ওঠা)
The sun rises in the east.
Practice Exercise with Answers
Choose the correct word in brackets. This is the format used in SSC, admission, and job exams.
বন্ধনীর সঠিক শব্দটি বাছো। নিজে চেষ্টা করার পরে উত্তর মিলিয়ে নাও।
Please (accept / except) my apology.
The doctor (adviced / advised) him to rest.
Smoking badly (affects / effects) our health.
Is there (any / some) water in the jug?
He is a (good / well) football player.
She speaks English very (good / well).
I could (hard / hardly) believe the news.
Put your shoes over (their / there / they’re).
It is (to / too / two) cold to go outside.
He (badly / bad) needs your help.
Our (principal / principle) is a kind man.
Honesty is a noble (principal / principle).
The car remained (stationary / stationery) at the light.
Never (lose / loose) hope in hard times.
I do not know (weather / whether) she will join us.
Everyone stayed (quiet / quite) during the test.
We had cake for (desert / dessert).
May I (borrow / lend) your dictionary?
(Raise / Rise) your hand if you agree.
There are (few / little) chairs in the room.
I have (few / little) money left this month.
She is smarter (than / then) her brother.
Answers
accept
advised
affects
any (question)
good (describes the noun ‘player’)
well (describes the verb ‘speaks’)
hardly (almost not)
there (a place)
too (more than enough)
badly (adverb)
principal (the head)
principle (a belief)
stationary (not moving)
lose (misplace)
whether (if)
quiet (silent)
dessert (sweet food)
borrow (take to return)
Raise (lift something)
few (countable: chairs)
little (uncountable: money)
than (comparison)
A Tip for the Exam
Confusing-word questions reward two habits. First, ask what part of speech the sentence needs: a noun, a verb, an adjective, or an adverb. “She sings ___” needs an adverb, so it is “well”, not “good”. Second, fix each word’s meaning in your mind with a small trick, advice is a noun like ice, the principal is your pal, stationery means paper. Read the sentence, decide the part of speech, recall the trick, and these easy marks are yours.
Confusing শব্দের প্রশ্ন দুটি অভ্যাসে পুরস্কার দেয়। প্রথমে জিজ্ঞেস করো বাক্যে কোন part of speech দরকার: noun, verb, adjective নাকি adverb। “She sings ___” এ adverb লাগবে, তাই “well”, “good” নয়। দ্বিতীয়ত, ছোট ট্রিক দিয়ে প্রতিটি শব্দের অর্থ মনে গেঁথে নাও। বাক্য পড়ো, part of speech ঠিক করো, ট্রিক মনে করো, তাহলে এই সহজ নম্বরগুলো তোমার।