This is part 2 of our Hindi reading guide (Click here for Part 1).In this part you will learn the basic Hindi alphabet (also called "Devanagri") with its consonants and vowels.For future reference, here is a chart of the Hindi alphabet:When memorising letters it helps a lot to write them down yourself. Get a pen and paper.We will start with the vowels (see below). To learn the pronunciation, click the letters to hear them spoken, or read the text below them.
Your browser does not support the audio element.अ (a)AmericaYour browser does not support the audio element.आ (aa)fatherYour browser does not support the audio element.इ (i)bitYour browser does not support the audio element.ई (ii)machineYour browser does not support the audio element.उ (u)putYour browser does not support the audio element.ऊ (uu)coolYour browser does not support the audio element.ए (e)cafeYour browser does not support the audio element.ऐ (ai)parentYour browser does not support the audio element.ओ (o)noteYour browser does not support the audio element.औ (au)boringCopy the letters to your paper. Then try to write them from memory. Only move on when you can write them all by heart and remember their pronunciation.Memorizing the vowels should take 10-20 minutes.Let’s move on to the first row of the consonants. Again, write all of these with a pen on your paper. When you know them by heart, move on to the next line. Remembering this line should take another 5-10 minutes.
Your browser does not support the audio element.क (ka)kiteYour browser does not support the audio element.ख (kha)Your browser does not support the audio element.ग (ga)gameYour browser does not support the audio element.घ (gha)Your browser does not support the audio element.ङ (nga)singNotesख - This has no equivalent in English, just try to pronounce an 'h' after the 'k'.Congratulations, you know one third of the alphabet! Keep it up.In Hindi most letters he a version with and without an 'h' sound (like Your browser does not support the audio element.क and Your browser does not support the audio element.ख). Most of the time there are no English words with an equivalent sound. Instead, tap the letter to hear the pronunciation.Let's move on to the next line. By now you know the drill, copy the row below until you can write it by heart.
Your browser does not support the audio element.च (cha)chatYour browser does not support the audio element.छ (chha)Your browser does not support the audio element.ज (ja)jumpYour browser does not support the audio element.झ (jha)Your browser does not support the audio element.ञ (nya)canyonNotesज - If you add a dot to the bottom it becomes Your browser does not support the audio element.ज़ (za) as in zooAfter memorizing this line, take a 5 minute break. Then see if you still know all the letters you learnt by heart. If not go back and revise them.
The next two lines need some explaining. If you are not born in India, the difference between them takes a lot of practice to hear.Both lines he "t" and "d" sounds, but one line has dots underneath ("ṭ" and "ḍ"). For "t" and "d" your tongue touches your teeth (called "dental"). For "ṭ" and "ḍ" it touches above your teeth (called "retroflex"). Even slightly above your teeth is enough.Now memorize both rows by writing them down on paper. The first line does not he any English equivalents, so click the letters to hear their pronounciation.
Your browser does not support the audio element.ट (ṭa)Your browser does not support the audio element.ठ (ṭha)Your browser does not support the audio element.ड (ḍa)Your browser does not support the audio element.ढ (ḍha)Your browser does not support the audio element.ण (ṇa)Your browser does not support the audio element.त (ta)tartYour browser does not support the audio element.थ (tha)Your browser does not support the audio element.द (da)dogYour browser does not support the audio element.ध (dha)Your browser does not support the audio element.न (na)niceWhen you are done. Revise some previous letters. Write down the letters for "ka", "kha", "ga", "gha", "cha", "chha", "ja" and "jha".Let's move on. Memorize the next row:
Your browser does not support the audio element.प (pa)potYour browser does not support the audio element.फ (pha)Your browser does not support the audio element.ब (ba)batYour browser does not support the audio element.भ (bha)Your browser does not support the audio element.म (ma)motherNotesफ - If you add a dot to the bottom (Your browser does not support the audio element.फ़) it becomes a “f” like in “foto”.The next line only contains two letters. I he singled them out, because pronouncing them takes some explaining.
Your browser does not support the audio element.ड़ (ṛa)Your browser does not support the audio element.ढ़ (ṛha)These are “ṛ” sounds. If you are an English speaker, they will likely sound very new to you.To make the sound, put your tongue to the top of your mouth. Now make an "L" sound while moving your tongue to the bottom of your mouth. Your tongue should move with some force, so that there is a small clicking sound.While speaking your tongue will only touch the top briefly, making it a flapping movement.Once you he memorized them study the last two lines. Write them down like before.
Your browser does not support the audio element.य (ya)yesYour browser does not support the audio element.र (ra)Your browser does not support the audio element.ल (la)lampYour browser does not support the audio element.व (va)vaseNotesर - This rolling ”R” sound does not exist in English, but in many other languages (e.g. Spanish). If you cannot make this sound, don't worry. People also understand if you use an ‘r’ like in “crazy”.Your browser does not support the audio element.श (sha)shortYour browser does not support the audio element.ष (ṣa)Your browser does not support the audio element.स (sa)sunYour browser does not support the audio element.ह (ha)hatNotesष - A ”sh”, pronounced with the tongue curled back, but nobody notices if you pronounce it as a regular “sh”.You made it through! That was the whole Hindi alphabet. Congratulations!!!Try to write all letters in one go. Don't worry if you can't remember all. If you know 90%, you are ready to move on to Matras.
Lesson 3: Matras