Nepali is written in the Devanagari script, one of the oldest and most widely used scripts in South Asia. The script, known for its beauty and complexity. If you’re interested in learning Nepali or simply want to understand its script, this article will guide you through the basics of the Nepali alphabet, the structure of Devanagari, and tips for learning it effectively.
Introduction to Nepali Alphabets (Nepali varnmala)
The Nepali alphabet is part of the broader Devanagari script, which consists of consonants, vowels, and various diacritical marks. The script is syllabic, meaning that consonants come with an inherent vowel sound unless modified by a diacritical mark. The Devanagari script is written from left to right, with a distinctive horizontal line running along the top of the letters. This feature helps to easily recognize the script.
There are 46 primary characters in the Nepali alphabet, divided into two categories: vowels (स्वर) and consonants (व्यञ्जन). In addition to these, there are compound characters and various modifiers used to represent sounds that don’t have a unique character in the alphabet.
Vowels (स्वर)
Nepali vowels are an essential part of the language, and they can function both independently and in conjunction with consonants. When used with consonants, vowels are often represented by diacritical marks rather than full letters. However, when vowels appear alone, they have distinct symbols.
Here is a list of the 12 vowels in the Nepali language:
अ (a) – Pronounced as ‘a’ in “America.”
आ (aa) – Pronounced as ‘a’ in “father.”
इ (i) – Pronounced as ‘i’ in “sit.”
ई (ii) – Pronounced as ‘ee’ in “see.”
उ (u) – Pronounced as ‘u’ in “put.”
ऊ (uu) – Pronounced as ‘oo’ in “soon.”
ए (e) – Pronounced as ‘e’ in “bet.”
ऐ (ai) – Pronounced as ‘ai’ in “aisle.”
ओ (o) – Pronounced as ‘o’ in “go.”
औ (au) – Pronounced as ‘ow’ in “cow.”
ऋ (ri) – Pronounced as ‘ri’ in “ripple.”
ॠ (rri) – An extended version of ऋ, not commonly used in modern Nepali.
Each vowel has a standalone form and a modified form when attached to consonants, as shown below:
अ + क = क (ka)
आ + क = का (kaa)
इ + क = कि (ki)
ई + क = की (kii)
उ + क = कु (ku)
ऊ + क = कू (kuu)
ए + क = के (ke)
ऐ + क = कै (kai)
ओ + क = को (ko)
औ + क = कौ (kau)
The vowel symbols or diacritical marks (known as मात्रा in Nepali) play a crucial role in modifying the inherent ‘a’ sound in consonants.
Consonants (व्यञ्जन)
The Nepali script has 33 consonants.
क (ka)
ख (kha)
ग (ga)
घ (gha)
ङ (na)
च (cha)
छ (chha)
ज (ja)
झ (jha)
ञ (nya)
ट (ṭa)
ठ (ṭha)
ड (ḍa)
ढ (ḍha)
ण (ṇa)
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 (wa)
श (sha)
ष (ṣha)
स (sa)
ह (ha)
क्ष (kṣa)
त्र (tra)
ज्ञ (gya)
33 Nepali consonants with examples: Learn with word meaning in English
क (Ka) – कलम (Kalama) = Pen
ख (Kha) – खबर (Khabar) = News
ग (Ga) – गाडी (Gāḍī) = Car
घ (Gha) – घण्टा (Ghaṇṭā) = Hour
ङ (Nga) – नङ (Nang) = Nail
च (Cha) – चरा (Charā) = Bird
छ (Chha) – छाता (Chhātā) = Umbrella
ज (Ja) – जहाज (Jahāj) = Ship
झ (Jha) – झण्डा (Jhāṇḍā) = Flag
ञ (Nya) – गोरुसिङे ञ (Gorusinge nya)
ट (Ta) – टमाटर (Ṭamāṭar) = Tomato
ठ (Tha) – ठुलो (Ṭhulō) = Big
ड (Da) – डमरु (Ḍamaru) = Drum
ढ (Dha) – ढोका (Ḍhokā) = Door
ण (Na) – गुण (Guṇa) = Quality
त (Ta) – तरकारी (Tarakārī) = Vegetable
थ (Tha) – थर्मस (Tharmas) = Thermos
द (Da) – दाना (Dānā) = Grain
ध (Dha) – धन (Dhana) = Wealth
न (Na) – नाक (Nāk) = Nose
प (Pa) – पानी (Pānī) = Water
फ (Pha) – फल (Phal) = Fruit
ब (Ba) – बा (Ba) = Father
भ (Bha) – भालू (Bhālū) = Bear
म (Ma) – माछा (Māchhā) = Fish
य (Ya) – यात्रा (Yātrā) = Journey
र (Ra) – रात (Rāt) = Night
ल (La) – लड्डु (Laḍḍu) = Sweet (Laddu)
व (Wa) – वायु (Vāyu) = Air
श (Sha) – शान्ति (Shānti) = Peace
ष (Shha) – षड्यन्त्र (Ṣaḍyantra) = Conspiracy
स (Sa) – सपना (Sapnā) = Dream
ह (Ha) – हवा (Hawā) = Wind
क्ष (kṣa) – क्षत्री (Chhetri) = Warrior caste
त्र (tra) – त्रिशूल (Trishul) = Trident
ज्ञ (gya) – ज्ञानी (Gyānī) = Wise
Diacritical Marks
Diacritical marks are used to modify consonants and represent vowel sounds. These marks can be placed above, below, or next to a consonant to change its inherent ‘a’ sound. The proper use of diacritical marks is essential for correct pronunciation and writing.
Here’s a summary of common diacritical marks used in Nepali:
◌ा (aa) as in का (kaa)
◌ि (i) as in कि (ki)
◌ी (ii) as in की (kii)
◌ु (u) as in कु (ku)
◌ू (uu) as in कू (kuu)
◌े (e) as in के (ke)
◌ै (ai) as in कै (kai)
◌ो (o) as in को (ko)
◌ौ (au) as in कौ (kau)
Mastering these marks is crucial for accurate writing and reading.
Tips for Learning Nepali Alphabet
Learning the Nepali script can be challenging, but it is also highly rewarding. Here are a few tips to help you along the way:
- Start with Vowels and Consonants
Begin by familiarizing yourself with the vowels and consonants. Write each letter multiple times and practice pronouncing them. Focus on understanding the inherent vowel sound (the ‘a’ sound) that comes with each consonant.
- Learn Diacritical Marks
Once you have a grasp of the basic letters, move on to the diacritical marks. Practice attaching these to consonants to form different sounds. Understanding how vowel symbols change consonants is a key step in mastering the script.
- Read Simple Texts
Start reading simple Nepali texts like children’s books, street signs, or basic sentences. This will help you recognize letters and diacritical marks in context. It will also improve your reading speed and comprehension.
- Practice Writing
Write daily in Nepali to improve your skills. Practice writing simple sentences, names, or even numbers to build muscle memory for the characters. Try to focus on maintaining the proper structure of each letter, especially the horizontal line at the top.
- Use Learning Apps and Resources
There are several apps and online resources available that can help you learn the Nepali alphabet. Platforms like Learn Nepali Easily youtube channel, Agent Akash Nepali typing provide lessons and also resources for typing.
Conclusion
The Nepali alphabet, rooted in the ancient Devanagari script, is a fascinating and essential aspect of the language. Learning it can open the doors to deeper understanding and communication in Nepali. While mastering the script may take time and practice, the rewards are immense. Whether you’re learning for travel, study, or personal growth, the ability to read and write in Nepali will greatly enrich your experience.
So, take the first step and dive into the world of Nepali alphabets today!