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Alphabet & Pronunciation
Devanagari script, vowels, consonants, matras and key pronunciation rules
अ आ इ ई उ ऊ
a aa i ii u uu
a aa i ii u uu
First six vowels; long and short pairs
ए ऐ ओ औ
e ai o au
e ai o au
Remaining main vowels
क ख ग घ
ka kha ga gha
ka kha ga gha
Velar consonants; note aspirated kha/gha
च छ ज झ
ca cha ja jha
cha chha ja jha
Palatal consonants
ट ठ ड ढ
ṭa ṭha ḍa ḍha
ta tha da dha (retroflex)
Retroflex consonants — tongue curls back
त थ द ध न
ta tha da dha na
ta tha da dha na (dental)
Dental consonants — softer than English t/d
प फ ब भ म
pa pha ba bha ma
pa pha ba bha ma
Labial consonants
मात्रा — vowel signs
matra — vowel signs
matra
Vowels attach to consonants as signs: क+ी=की
क का कि की कु कू के कै को कौ
ka kaa ki kii ku kuu ke kai ko kau
ka with each matra
How one consonant takes all vowel signs
नमस्ते / नमस्कार / अलविदा
Hello / Greetings / Goodbye
namaste / namaskaar / alvidaa
Basic greetings
