Hindi CONSONANTS

Free resources to help read and write Hindi consonants.

Teaching Children Hindi Consonants

If you’re looking for resources to help your child learn and practice the Hindi alphabet, you’ve come to the right place! Read on to learn more about consonants in the Hindi alphabet and don’t forget to download the free printables for more practice at home! When learning the alphabet, consonants make up the majority of that learning time. So, they’re taught right after Hindi vowels. Read on for more information and resources to help your child start learning today.
vowel mockup

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 aspirationEnglish 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 aspirationEnglish 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

Done Mastering the Hindi consonants? Don’t forget to learn your vowels too!

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

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

RA 

ढ़  

RHA