Hindi Alphabet Chart: A Comprehensive Guide to the Devanagari Script263

Introduced in the 12th century, the Devanagari script is a beautiful and complex system of writing, used not only in Hindi but also in many other Indian languages like Marathi, Nepali, Sanskrit, and Konkani. It consists of 47 characters, including 33 consonants, 12 vowels, and 2 special characters.

Understanding the Consonants

The Devanagari consonants are divided into three categories: guttural, palatal, and dental. The guttural consonants are pronounced from the back of the throat and include the letters क, ख, ग, घ, and ङ. The palatal consonants are pronounced with the tongue touching the roof of the mouth and include the letters च, छ, ज, झ, and ञ. The dental consonants are pronounced with the tongue touching the teeth and include the letters ट, ठ, ड, ढ, and ण.

Mastering the Vowels

The Devanagari vowels are represented by both independent and dependent characters. The independent vowels can stand alone, while the dependent vowels are written below the consonants. The independent vowels include the letters अ, आ, इ, ई, उ, ऊ, ऋ, ऌ, ऐ, ओ, औ, and अं. The dependent vowels are written as small marks below the consonants and include the letters ि, ी, ु, ऊ, ृ, ॄ, े, ै, ो, and ौ.

Additional Characters

The Devanagari script also includes two special characters: the visarga (ः) and the anusvara (ं). The visarga is pronounced as a faint "h" sound and is used to indicate the absence of a final vowel. The anusvara is pronounced as a nasal sound and is used to indicate the presence of a nasal consonant.

Consonant Chart with Pronunciation

| Consonant | Pronunciation | Consonant | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| क | ka | च | cha |
| ख | kha | छ | chha |
| ग | ga | ज | ja |
| घ | gha | झ | jha |
| ङ | nga | ञ | nya |
| ट | ta | ठ | tha |
| ड | da | ढ | dha |
| ण | na | त | ta |
| थ | tha | द | da |
| ध | dha | न | na |
| प | pa | फ | pha |
| ब | ba | भ | bha |
| म | ma | य | ya |
| र | ra | ल | la |
| व | va | श | sha |
| श | sha | स | sa |
| ह | ha | क्ष | ksha |
| त्र | tra | ज्ञ | gya |

Vowel Chart with Pronunciation

| Vowel | Pronunciation | Vowel | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| अ | a | आ | aa |
| इ | i | ई | ee |
| उ | u | ऊ | oo |
| ऋ | ri | ऌ | ree |
| ऐ | ai | ओ | o |
| औ | au | अं | am |

Conclusion

Mastering the Devanagari script is a rewarding endeavor that opens up a world of literature, culture, and spirituality. By following this comprehensive guide and practicing regularly, you will be able to read, write, and understand this beautiful and expressive language fluently.

2025-01-10

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