Hindi CONSONANTS
Free resources to help read and write Hindi consonants.
Teaching Children Hindi Consonants
What are Hindi consonants?
Consonant sounds are produced when air is partially or completely restricted in the vocal tract during speech. Read on to learn more about Hindi consonants, also known as Vaynhan (व्यंजन), and find free resources like printables and consonant charts!
How many Hindi consonants are there?
The standard Hindi alphabet has 11 vowels and 35 consonants, as agreed by the Government of India. However, traditionally the Hindi alphabet has 13 vowels and 33 consonants. There are also 4 combined consonants and 2 binary consonants.
33 Consonants
क, ख, ग, घ, ड़, च, छ, ज, झ, ञ, ट, ठ, ड, ढ, ण, त, थ,
द, ध, न, प, फ, ब, भ, म, य, र, ल, व, श, ष, स, ह
4 Combined consonants
क्ष, त्र, ज्ञ, श्र
2 Binary consonants
ड़ ढ़.
Combined consonants
The four combined consonants in the Hindi are क्ष, त्र, ज्ञ, श्र. These are called conjuncts and they are the combination of two sounds.
Binary consonants
The two binary consonants in the Hindi are – ड़ (RA) and ढ़ (RHA).
ड़ and ढ़ are similar to ‘ड’ and ‘ढ’ but they are pronounced with retroflex. Retroflex is when a consonant sound is produced with the tip of the tongue curled back toward the hard palate. When the tongue rolls back and flips against the roof of the mouth it creates the sounds ड़ (RA) and ढ़ (RHA). See below for more pronunciation guidelines for these binary consonants.
“ड़” (RA) is pronounced as “d” as in divide and “ड़” is a tongue-flap sound – laRAkii (लड़की)
“ढ़” (RHA) is a tongue-flap sound as in paRHAna (पढ़ना)
Note that ड़ and ढ़ do not come at the beginning of a word.
An interactive app for children to learn Hindi!
Our mission with Shoonya Kids is to make learning Hindi fun for children. Each Hindi letter and its association is uniquely designed and created into a cartoon character. Every character is dressed from either a state of India or represents a cultural trivia about India. Through fun animations, interactive tracing tutorials and puzzles, children get a chance to learn the language and the Indian culture.
How do you say Hindi consonants in English?
Let’s take a look at each of the 33 regular consonants in Hindi. Below, you can see what each one looks like, along with a short clip so you can hear it being used.
Make sure you repeat each one out loud as you practice with your child!
क / ka / kamal
Pronunciation is similar to how the “C” sound is pronounced in the words Kite, Cat and Cattle.
Examples
Kamal, (lotus) कमल
Kachhuaa (tortoise) कछुआ
Kabuutar (pigeon) कबूतर
ख / kha / khargosh
Pronunciation is similar to how the letters ‘KH’ are pronounced in the word ‘KHaki’
Examples:
Khargosh (rabbit) खरगोश
Kharabuujaa (cantaloupe) खरबूजा
Khiiraa (cucumber) खीरा
ग / ga / gaay
Pronunciation is similar to how “G” is pronounced in the words Goat, Good and Gate
Examples:
Gaay (cow) गाय
Gamlaa(plant pot) गमला
Gaajar (carrot) गाजर
घ / gha / ghaas
Pronunciation is similar to how “GH” is pronounced in the English word GHost
Examples:
Ghaas (grass ) घास
Ghar (home) घर
Ghantii घंटी ( bell)
ङ / nga /
Nga is a nasalized sound and words do not start with this letter.
Pronunciation is similar to how ‘UN’ is pronounced in the words stUNg, jUNk,
Examples
Ulluu (owl) उल्लू
Upahaar (gift) उपहार
Ungali (finger ) उंगली
च / cha / charkhaa
Pronunciation is similar to how ‘CH’ is pronounced in the words CHeck, CHock, CHapter
Examples:
Charkhaa (spinning wheel) चरखा
Chappal (slipper) चप्पल
Chuuhaa (mouse) चूहा
छ / chha / chhipakaii
‘Chh” is pronounced as ‘CH’ but with stronger aspiration English word association is unavailable. Watch the video above to hear the sound.
Examples:
Chhatrii (umbrella) छतरी
Chhat (roof) छत
Chhipakaii (lizard) छिपकली
ज / ja / javaan
Pronunciation is similar to how the letter “J” is pronounced in the words – Joy, Jug
Examples:
Javaan (soldier) जवान
Jahaaj (ship) जहाज
Jal (water) – जल
झ / jha / jhandaa
‘jha” is pronounced as ‘J’ but with stronger aspiration
English word association i s unavailable. Watch the video below to hear the sound.
Examples:
JhanDA (flag) झंडा
Jharnaa (waterfall) झरना
Jhuulaa (swing) झूला
ञ / nya
This is a nasalized sound. It is written as a dot on the preceding consonant
Pronunciation is similar to how the letter “N” as is pronounced in the words ‘puNch”
ट / ta / topi
Pronunciation is similar to how the letter “T” is pronounced in the words Tomato, Top, Tongue
Examples:
Topii (hat) टोपी
Tamaatar (tomato (टमाटर)
Tokarii (basket) टोकरी
ठ / tha / thathera
Pronounced as ‘T’ but with aspiration.
Examples:
ThaTheraa (blacksmith) ठठेरा
Thappaa (stamp) ठप्पा
ThoRAii (chin ) ठोड़ी
ड / da / damru
Pronunciation is similar to how the letter “D ” is pronounced in the words. Dog, Day, Drama
Examples:
Damaruu (musical instrument) डमरू
Dakiyaa (mailman) डाकिया
Dak Ghar (post office) डाक घर
ढ / dha / dholak
Pronounced as ‘D’ but with aspiration. English word association is unavailable. Watch the video above to hear the sound.
Examples:
Dholak (a large drum) ढोलक
Dhakkan (lid) ढक्कन
Dhaal (shield) ढाल
त / ta / titalii
त – pronounced as “t” (ट), but tongue in dental position
English word association is unavailable. Watch the video below to hear the sound.
Examples:
Titalii (butterfly) तितली
Tarbuuj (watermelon ) तरबूज
Taaraa (star) तारा
थ / tha / thalii
“Tha” pronounced as ‘TA’ (द)but pronounced with aspiration as in THunder, and THermos.
Examples:
Thaalii (plate) थाली
Thailaa (bag) थैला
Tharmas (thermos) थरमस
द / da / daant
Pronunciation is similar to how the letter “TH” is pronounced in the words, THe, THese and THose
Examples:
Dholak (a large drum) ढोलक
Dhakkan (lid) ढक्कन
Dhaal (shield) ढाल
ध / dha / dhanushh
Pronunciation is similar to ‘the’ but pronounced with aspiration. English word association is unavailable. Watch the video below to hear the sound.
Examples:
Dhanushh ( bow) धनुष
Dhaaga (thread) धागा
Dharti (earth) धरती
न / na / naariyal
Pronunciation is similar to how the letter “N” is pronounced in the words Nose, Number
Examples:
Naariyal ( coconut) नारियल
Nal (water faucet) नलका, नल
Naashapaatii (pear) नाशपाती
प / pa / patang
Pronunciation is similar to how the letter “P ” is pronounced in the words- Pen, Pain, Page
Examples:
Patang (kite) पतंग
Paree (fairy) परी
Pankh (feather) पंख
फ / pha / phal
Pronunciation is similar to how the letter “F” is pronounced in the words – Faucet, Full, Fruit.
Examples:
Phal (fruit) फल
Phool (flower) फूल
Phaatak (gate) फाटक
ब / ba / baansurii
Pronunciation is similar to how the letter “B” is pronounced in the words – Back, Banana, Big
Examples:
Baansurii (flute) बाँसुरी
Bakarii (goat) बकरी
Batakh बत्तख- (duck)
भ / bha / bhaaluu
Pronunciation is similar to how the letter “b” (ब) is pronounced but with aspiration. English word association is unavailable. Watch the video below to hear the sound.
Examples:
Bhaaluu (bear) भालू
BheRA (sheep) भेड़
Bhaarat (India) भारत
म / ma / machhalii
Pronunciation is similar to how the letter “M” is pronounced in the words Mango, Mail, Magic.
Examples:
machhalii (fish) मछली
MakRAii (spider) मकड़ी
Magar (crocodile) मगर
य / ya / yogi
Pronunciation is similar to how the letter “Y ” is pronounced in the words Yellow, Yesterday, Yummy.
Examples:
Yogii (devotee) योगी
Yagy (hawan – Fire and Pit) यज्ञ
Yuvak (young man) युवक
र / ra / rang
Pronunciation is similar to how the letter “R ” is pronounced in the words- Rat, Rabbit, Raccoon.
Examples:
Rang (colors) रंग
Rassii (rope)- रस्सी
Rel GaaDee (train)- रेल गाडी
ल / la / laDDauu
Pronunciation is similar to how the letter “L” is pronounced in the words- Lizard, Leaf.
Examples:
LaDDauu (sweet/dessert) लड्डू
LaRAkii(girl) – लड़की
LomaRAii (fox) – लोमड़ी
व / va / vak
Pronunciation is similar to how the letter “V” is pronounced in the words – Vampire, Voice, Violet.
Examples:
Vak (stork) वक
Varshhaa (rain) – वर्षा
Vimaan (airplane) विमान
श / sha / sher
Pronunciation is similar to how the letter “SH” is pronounced in the words, SHe, SHop, caSH
Examples:
Sher (lion) शेर
Shalagam (turnip) शलगम
Shuuny (zero) शून्य
ष / shha / shhaTakon
Pronunciation is similar to how the letter “SH” (श) is pronounced in the words – SHame, SHadow but with the tongue in a retroflex position.
Examples:
ShhaTakon (Hexagon) षट्कोण
स / sa / saanp
Pronunciation is similar to how the letter “S” is pronounced in the words – Sun, Safe, Snail.
Examples:
Saanp (Snake) साँप
Suuraj (Sun) सूरज
Seb (Apple) सेब
ह / ha / haathii
Pronunciation is similar to how the letter “H ” is pronounced in the words – Happy, Healthy, and Hand
Examples:
Haathii (Elephant) हाथी
Haath (Hand) हाथ
HiraN (Deer) हिरण
क्ष / ksha / kshatriya
This is a conjunct. Pronunciation is similar to how the letter “sha” is pronounced. The first sound “K” is just a hint not the full “Ka” sound and then “sha” sound is combined.
Examples:
kshatriya (soldier) क्षत्रिय
kaksha (classroom) कक्षा
त्र / tra / trishuul
This is a conjunct. Pronunciation is similar to how the letters “tr” are pronounced in triple, triangle and tree but “त्र” is pronounced with the tongue in dental position
Examples:
Trishuul (Trident) त्रिशूल
TrikoN (Triangle ) त्रिभुज or त्रिकोण
ज्ञ / gyna / gyaani
This is a conjunct. It is pronounced with the combination of “g” and “y” sounds. English word association is unavailable. Watch the video above to hear the sound.
Examples:
Gyaanii (Knowledgeable) ज्ञानी
Vigyaan (science) विज्ञान
श्र / shra / shram
This is a conjunct. It is pronounced with the combination of “sh” and “r” sounds. Similar to the English words shrivel, shrink.
Examples:
Shriimaan (Mister, Mr.) श्रीमान
Shriimatii (madam, Mrs.) श्रीमती
Shriikhand (Indian Sweet) श्रीखंड
How to write hindi consonants
A great way to reinforce letter recognition is through tracing. Practice writing hindi consonants with a free Hindi Consonant Printable packet.
Use a handy Hindi vowel chart like the one below for quick reference on pronunciation.
Downloadable Hindi consonant chart
Another great resource to print out and have handy is a Hindi Letter chart like the one below for quick reference on pronunciation.
Hindi Consonants |
|||||
STOPS |
Nasals | ||||
| Unvoiced | Voiced | ||||
| Unaspirated | Aspirated | Unaspirated | Aspirated | ||
| Velar | क [ka] | ख [kha] | ग [ga] | घ [gha] | ङ [nga] |
| Palatal | च [cha] | छ [chha] | ज [ja] | झ [jha] | ञ [nya] |
| Retroflex | ट [Ta] | ठ [Tha] | ड [Da] | ढ [Dha] | ण [Na] |
| Dental | त [ta] | थ [tha] | द [da] | ध [dha] | न [na] |
| Labial | प [pa] | फ [pha] | ब [ba] | भ [bha] | म [ma] |
| Semivowels | य [ya] | र [ra] | ल [la] | व [va] | |
| Sibilants | श [sha] | ष [shha] | स [sa] | ||
| Glottal | ह [ha] | ||||
| Borrowed Sounds | क़ | ख़ | ग़ | ज़ | फ़ |
Conjuncts:
क्ष ksha | त्र tra | ज्ञ gya | श्र shra |
Flaps | Non Aspirated ड़ [RA] | Aspirated ढ़ [RHA] | ||
Conjuncts and tongue-flap consonants
क्ष ksha | त्र tra | ज्ञ gya | श्र shra | ड़ RA | ढ़ RHA |
