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Devanagari Script

An abugida, left to right

Devanagari is an abugida

Each consonant carries an inherent 'a'; it is written left to right.

📊 First consonants
Letter Sound
क ka
ख kha (aspirated)
ग ga
घ gha
च cha
💬 Examples
क ख ग घ
ka kha ga gha
ka kha ga gha
📝 Consonants include an inherent 'a'
नमस्ते
namaste
hello / greetings
📝 Read left to right
Vowel signs (matras) modify consonants

Vowels attach to consonants as marks.

📊 Vowels & matras
Vowel Sign With क
अ (inherent) क ka
आ ा का kā
इ ि कि ki
ई ी की kī
उ ु कु ku
💬 Examples
क का कि की
ka kā ki kī
ka kaa ki kii
📝 Matras change the vowel
कल
kal
yesterday / tomorrow
📝 Same word for both; context decides
Aspirated and retroflex sounds

Hindi distinguishes aspirated (kh, gh) and retroflex (ट, ड) consonants.

💬 Examples
त / ट
ta / ṭa
ta (dental) / ṭa (retroflex)
📝 Dental vs retroflex t
फल
phal
fruit
📝 फ = aspirated p (ph)