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Devanagari has 13 vowels (स्वर, svar). Each vowel has two forms: an independent form used at the start of a word or after another vowel, and a dependent form (matra) attached to a consonant. Mastering both forms is essential for reading and writing.
Short vowels are pronounced with a brief, clipped duration.
| Character | Romanisation | IPA | Example Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| अ | a | /ə/ | अब (ab) | now |
| इ | i | /ɪ/ | इधर (idhar) | here |
| उ | u | /ʊ/ | उपर (upar) | above |
| ऋ | ṛ | /ɻɪ/ | ऋषि (rishi) | sage |
Tip: The vowel अ (a) is the most common sound in Hindi. It is the inherent vowel in every consonant and sounds like the "u" in the English word "but", not like the "a" in "cat".
Long vowels are held for roughly twice the duration of their short counterparts.
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