Hindi Consonants

Question 1

क

Answer 1

Ka (As in Kerchief)

This Character looks like two letter “c”’s. One is on the left side and the other is on the right side, upside down. The letter “c” reminds you that this character is pronounced as “ka”’.

Question 2

ख

Answer 2

Kha (As in Khaki)

Imagine that this character looks like the letter “c” in a gerbil wheel. Picture the letter c running around the interior and he is out of breath. Being out of Breath will remind you, that this character kha is pronounced breathy. (aspirated).

Question 4

ग

Answer 4

Ga (As in Garage)

Imagine that the first part of this character looks like a baby on a swing, and the second part is his very skinny, dad pushing him. The baby is saying “ga ga, ga ga” the name of this character.

Question 4

घ

Answer 4

Gha (As in Ghetto)

This character looks like the letter B backwards, and Baby begins with B. Babies say “Gha Gha”, the same sound as this character. (I know it’s a bit of a stretch but, it’ll do.) aspirated

Question 5

ज

Answer 5

Ja (As in James)

This Character looks like a chair. In Bible times and present, judges always sit to judge. This should remind you of this characters sound, Ja.

Question 6

झ

Answer 6

Jha (As in Jagged)

Question 7

च

Answer 7

Ca (As in Churn)

Imagine this character a lot bigger. Pretend it is a pool party and everybody is dancing the “Cha Cha”, the sound of this character.

Question 8

छ

Answer 8

Cha (As in Chump)

This Character kind of looks like a cup of Chai tea. You can just make out the steam and you can see the handle of the tea cup. The billowing steam reminds you that this character is aspi- rated.The sound of the “Ch” in Chai reminds you of the sound “Cha”

Question 9

ट

Answer 9

Ta (As in Train)

This character looks like an upside down number 2. The first letter of the number Two, “t” reminds you that the sound is “Ta’, Pretend that your tongue curls like this character in order to pronounce it.

Question 10

ठ

Answer 10

Tha (As in Thug)

This character looks like a scale. Imagine that the letters”T” and “H” are bring weighed on it. the “H” reminds you to pronounce it breathy. (aspirated)

Question 11

ड

Answer 11

Da (As in Dug)

Picture the letter S on Super Duck’s chest. The “Du” in Duck reminds you of this character’s sound. (Du)

Question 12

ढ

Answer 12

Dha (As in Dhal)

This character looks like those old perfume bottles. Some guy asks a sophisticated lady if it’s another perfume. She says “Duh! It’s Dhu Dhu. ”, This reminds you of the sound. The air coming out of the bottle reminds you to pronounce it aspirated.

Question 13

त

Answer 13

Ta (As in Tip)

This character looks like an elephant’s trunk. The “T” in trunk reminds you of the sound of this character, “ta”.

Question 14

थ

Answer 14

Tha (As in Tru’th’)

Imagine that this character is a window and a lady is warning “ta ta, ta ta” to her Husband. The H in husband reminds you that it’s breathy. (aspirated) And “ta ta” reminds you of the charac- ter’s sound.

Question 15

द

Answer 15

Da (As in Disk)

This character looks like an ear with a cotton swab stuck in
it. Because of the obstruction the man is deaf. The “d” in deaf reminds you of the characters sound “da”.

Question 16

ध

Answer 16

Dha (As in Mid)

This character looks like the letters E & T. Pretend that the Alien E.T. is trying to learn Hindi from you. He is doing a very poor job and you are out of breath, and irritated. (aspirated) So you say to him “dha.” The “dha” reminds you of the character’s sound.

Question 17

न

Answer 17

Na (As in Nut)

Picture a nun blowing a whistle. This character looks like a whistle. The”n” in nun reminds you of this character’s sound.

Question 18

प

Answer 18

Pa (As in Pub)

This character is very easy. It looks like it sounds. It looks like a backwards P and its sound is Pa.

Question 19

फ

Answer 19

Pha (As in Firm)

This character is also a “pha” or “Fa” sound. The only difference is that it is pronounced aspirated. It looks like a P and H put together. The h in the character reminds you that it is breathy.

Question 20

ब

Answer 20

Ba (As in Bus)

This character looks like the letter d. But since it has a crossed out mark in it, this lets you remember it is not a d but a “ba’ or like b in the english language.

Question 21

भ

Answer 21

Bha (As in Club)

This character looks like a basement sink near the laundry machine. Imagine that a mother is bathing her baby in it.
The B in Baby should remind you of this characters sound “bha” She is working hard and out of breath. So this is aspirated.

Question 22

म

Answer 22

Ma (As in Must)

This character is “ma” but it looks like a square. Because of the generation gap some kids think their moms are squares. When you see the square think of “ma”.

Question 23

र

Answer 23

Ra (As in Run)

One of my favorites. . . This one looks like a hull of a vase. Imagine their are roses inside of the vase. Roses begin with the same letter of this character. “Ra”

Question 24

ल

Answer 24

La (As in Lug)

This character looks like the letter “m” Just remember it’s sound is the letter before in the english alphabet, “la’ or “L”

Question 25

य

Answer 25

Ya (As in Yak)

Imagine that there is no top to this character then it kind of re- sembles a letter Y. “Ya” is it’s sound.

Question 26

व

Answer 26

Va (As in Vim)

This character looks like the back end of a car exhaust. The sound from the exhaust tail pipe is “Va Room!” Picture letter v’s in the smoke coming from the opening. The sound it makes.

Question 27

श

Answer 27

Sha (As in Shun)

This character looks like the number 21. Imag-
ine a woman who looks 21 but she is really 41. So she says “sh” don’t tell my age. the “sh” reminds you of this characters sound “sha”

Question 28

ष

Answer 28

Shha (As in Shine)

Imagine that someone is using their finger over their open mouth to say “ Shhh” Be quiet. The many H’s remind us that it is heavily aspirated, unlike the previous character.

Question 29

स

Answer 29

Sa (As in Sun)

This character looks like two things that begin with “s”, a square and string hanging on the bottom. The “s” in square and string remind of the character’s sound “sa”.

Question 30

ह

Answer 30

Ha (As in Hut)

This character looks like a man with a hat on who is huffing and puffing. The ‘h” in huffing and hat reminds us of the sound of this character, “Ha”

Question 31

ण

Answer 31

Na

If you extend this character above the line it looks like a back- ward capital letter “N”. The letter “N” reminds us what sound this character makes.