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Vowels and Consonants

In this chapter we will learn about different types of letters in Sanskrit. Letters are composed of vowels and consonants.

Vowels

The vowels are called ‘स्वराः’ [swaras] in Sanskrit.

There are three types of Swaras-

• ह्रस्व-स्वराः [short vowels]
• दीर्ख-स्वराः [Long vowels]
• संयुक्त-स्वराः [Compound vowels ]

 

Short vowels

From short vowels all other vowels are made. Following are the short vowels in Sanskrit:

 

अ  इ   उ  ऋ  लृ

 

Long vowels

Long vowels are formed as a result of doubling the same short vowels.

आ  ई ऊ ॠ

 

Compound vowels

The combination of short and long vowels formed Compound vowels.

ए ओ ऐ औ

They are

1. अ/आ + इ/ई = ए
2. अ/आ + उ/ऊ = ओ
3. अ/आ + ए = ऐ
4. अ/आ + ओ = औ

 

स्वराश्रितौ 

ंं – अनुस्वारः    ंः – विसर्गः

They can exist only with the support of a vowel.

Example - अं, अः

 

 

Consonants

In Sanskrit, consonants are called ‘व्यञ्जनानि’ [Vyanjanani].

The consonants are divided into different categories according to their places of articulation/pronunciation.

 

1. Gutturals [कण्ठ्यः] -pronunciation is made in the throat.

क् ख् ग् घ् ङ् - the whole group is known as ‘क-वर्गः’

1. Palatal [तालव्यः] -pronunciation is made with a part of the tongue generally touching the upper part of the mouth.

च् छ् ज् झ् ञ् - the whole group is known as ‘च-वर्गः’

1. Retroflex [मूर्धन्यः] - pronunciation is made with the tip of the tongue curled up towards the hard palate of the upper part of the mouth.

ट् ठ् ड् ढ् ण् -  the whole group is known as ‘ट-वर्गः’

1. Dental [दन्त्यः]- pronunciation is made with the tip of the tongue touching the upper part of the front teeth.

त् थ् द् ध् न् - the whole group is known as ‘त-वर्गः’

1. Labial [ओष्ठ्यः] -pronunciation is made with the upper and lower lips.

प् फ् ब् भ् म् - the whole group is known as ‘प-वर्गः’

Some other consonants are there that don’t belong to this group. Let’s see it

1. य्, श् - तालव्यौ

 

1. र्, ष् - मूर्धन्यौ

 

1. ल्, स् - दन्त्यौ

 

1. व् - दन्त-ओष्ठ्यः

 

Let’s see some examples

Vowels

 आ - आम्रम् – Mango

              औ – औषधम् – Medicine

 ऋ – ऋषिः - Sage

Consonants

 च – चक्षुः – Eyes

 ग – गजः - Elephant

 प – पक्षी – Bird

Let’s practice!

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