Hindi Consonants Flashcards
क
transliteration: k
Sounds like “k” in “kind”.
ख
transliteration: “kh”
The aspirated version of “क/k”.
ग
transliteration: g
Sounds like “g” in “dog”.
घ
transliteration: gh
The aspirated version of “ग/g”.
ङ
transliteration: ṅ
It’s a very rare letter pronounced like the “n” in “ink” - try saying the “n” in “ink” as the start of a word. It’s actually a but tricky and gutteral.
च
transliteration: c
Sounds like “ch” in “Church”.
छ
transliteration: ch
The aspirated version of च.
ज
transliteration: j
Sounds like “j” in “jade”.
झ
transliteration: jh
The aspirated version of ज.
ञ
transliteration: ñ
Pronounced like the “ñ” in “niño”. [like ny-]. This is a very rare letter.
ट
transliteration: t
To pronounce this, start by saying an English “t” but roll your tongue back in your mouth a bit along the roof of your mouth. It sounds a little like an English “d” to me, but thicker.
ठ
transliteration: th
The aspirated version of ट.
ड
transliteration: d
To pronounce this, start by saying an English “d” but roll your tongue back in your mouth a bit along the roof of your mouth. Thick “d” sound.
ढ
transliteration: dh
The aspirated version of ड.
ण
transliteration: ṇ
Fat, thick “n” sound. Roll your tongue back a little while saying an English “n”, just like with the other consonants in this group. This is not a rare letter.
त
transliteration: t [there are two t’s in Hindi]
A light “t” sound, said like in English with the tongue behind the upper front teeth.
थ
transliteration: th [there are two “th’s” in Hindi]
The aspirated version of त.
द
transliteration: d [there are two “d’s” in Hindi]
A light “d” sound, said like in English.
ध
transliteration: dh [there are two “dh’s” in Hindi
The aspirated version of द.
न
transliteration: n
Sounds just like an English “n”, as in “nap”.
प
transliteration: p
Said like the “p” in “spit”. It is NOT aspirated, so don’t let air flow out of your mouth when you say it.
फ
transliteration: ph
The aspirated version of प. Make sure air comes out of your mouth when you say it.
ब
transliteration: b
Sounds just like the English “b”, as in “bat”.
भ
transliteration: bh
The aspirated version of ब.
म
transliteration: m
Sounds just like English “m”, as in “mum”.
य
transliteration: y
Slightly lighter version of English “y”.
र
transliteration: r
Slightly lighter version of Spanish trilled/rolled “r” sound.
ल
transliteration: l
Slightly lighter version of English “l”.
व
transliteration: v
Somewhere between an English “v” and “w”. Sometimes the pronunciation can float more towards “v” and sometimes more towards “w”. [I think of it as a lazy “vw”]
श
transliteration: sh
Said just like the English “sh” in “sheep”.
ष
transliteration: sh
[exactly the same as श]
Said just like the English “sh” in “sheep”.
स
transliteration: s
Sounds just like the English “s” in “sing”.
ह
transliteration: h
Sounds just like the English “h”, like the “h” in “hand”.
फ़
f
ज़
z
