Learn Sanskrit
Explore the sacred language of Hinduism — learn the Devanagari alphabet, sacred phrases, common words, and numbers in Sanskrit (Deva Bhasha).
अVowels (Svaras) — 13 letters
अ
a
as "u" in "but"
आ
ā
as "a" in "father"
इ
i
as "i" in "it"
ई
ī
as "ee" in "feet"
उ
u
as "u" in "put"
ऊ
ū
as "oo" in "mood"
ऋ
ṛ
as "ri" in "rig"
ॠ
ṝ
long "ri" held longer
ए
e
as "ay" in "say"
ऐ
ai
as "ai" in "aisle"
ओ
o
as "o" in "go"
औ
au
as "ou" in "loud"
अं / अः
aṁ / aḥ
nasal "m" / breath "h"
कConsonants (Vyanjanas) — 33 letters
क
ka
as "k" in "kite"
ख
kha
aspirated "k" as "kh" in "blockhead"
ग
ga
as "g" in "go"
घ
gha
aspirated "g" as "gh" in "doghouse"
ङ
ṅa
as "ng" in "sing"
च
ca
as "ch" in "church"
छ
cha
aspirated "ch"
ज
ja
as "j" in "jump"
झ
jha
aspirated "j"
ञ
ña
as "ny" in "canyon"
ट
ṭa
retroflex "t" (tongue curled back)
ठ
ṭha
aspirated retroflex "t"
ड
ḍa
retroflex "d" (tongue curled back)
ढ
ḍha
aspirated retroflex "d"
ण
ṇa
retroflex "n" (tongue curled back)
त
ta
dental "t" (tongue touches teeth)
थ
tha
aspirated dental "t"
द
da
dental "d" (tongue touches teeth)
ध
dha
aspirated dental "d"
न
na
dental "n" (tongue touches teeth)
प
pa
as "p" in "pen"
फ
pha
aspirated "p"
ब
ba
as "b" in "bat"
भ
bha
aspirated "b"
म
ma
as "m" in "mother"
य
ya
as "y" in "yes"
र
ra
as "r" in "run" (slightly rolled)
ल
la
as "l" in "love"
व
va
as "v" in "vine" or "w" in "wine"
श
śa
as "sh" in "shine" (palatal)
ष
ṣa
as "sh" in "ush" (retroflex)
स
sa
as "s" in "sun"
ह
ha
as "h" in "house"