The Urdu Alphabet: A Simple Guide for English Speakers
The Urdu alphabet consists of 38 letters, and while it may look different from the English alphabet, it is quite systematic. Urdu is written from right to left, and each letter has a different form depending on whether it appears at the beginning, middle, or end of a word. The shapes of the letters change depending on where they are in the word, but we’ll start by showing you the basic forms.
1. ا (Alif)
- Pronunciation: Like the “a” in apple or “a” in father.
- Example Word: آسمان (Aasman) – Sky
2. ب (Bay)
- Pronunciation: Like the “b” in bat.
- Example Word: کتاب (Kitaab) – Book
3. پ (Pay)
- Pronunciation: Like the “p” in pat.
- Example Word: پانی (Paani) – Water
4. ت (Tay)
- Pronunciation: Like the “t” in tap.
- Example Word: توتا (Tota) – Parrot
5. ٹ (Ttaa)
- Pronunciation: A “hard” t sound, not found in English (similar to “t” but with a heavier sound).
- Example Word: ٹماٹر (Tamatar) – Tomato
6. ث (Thay)
- Pronunciation: Like the “th” in think (a soft “th”).
- Example Word: ثالث (Saalis) – Third
7. ج (Jeem)
- Pronunciation: Like the “j” in jam.
- Example Word: جانور (Janwar) – Animal
8. چ (Chay)
- Pronunciation: Like the “ch” in church.
- Example Word: چمچ (Chamach) – Spoon
9. ح (Hay)
- Pronunciation: A soft “h” sound, similar to h in house, but stronger.
- Example Word: حضرت (Hazrat) – Saint
10. خ (Khay)
- Pronunciation: Like the “ch” in Bach (a harsh “ch” sound, common in German).
- Example Word: خواب (Khawab) – Dream
11. د (Dal)
- Pronunciation: Like the “d” in dog.
- Example Word: دنیا (Duniya) – World
12. ڈ (Ddaal)
- Pronunciation: A hard “d” sound, similar to dh in English.
- Example Word: ڈاکٹر (Daaktar) – Doctor
13. ذ (Zaal)
- Pronunciation: Like the “z” in zebra, but with a soft sound.
- Example Word: ذہن (Zehen) – Mind
14. ر (Ray)
- Pronunciation: Like the “r” in red.
- Example Word: رنگ (Rang) – Color
15. ڑ (Rrree)
- Pronunciation: A rolled “r” sound, heavier than the regular “r”.
- Example Word: ڑھائی (Radhai) – Increase
16. ز (Zay)
- Pronunciation: Like the “z” in zebra.
- Example Word: زندگی (Zindagi) – Life
17. ژ (Zhay)
- Pronunciation: A unique sound, somewhat like the “s” in measure or “j” in French je.
- Example Word: ژالہ (Zhaala) – Hail (weather)
18. س (Seen)
- Pronunciation: Like the “s” in sit.
- Example Word: سورج (Sooraj) – Sun
19. ش (Sheen)
- Pronunciation: Like the “sh” in shoe.
- Example Word: شہر (Sheher) – City
20. ص (Saad)
- Pronunciation: A heavy “s” sound, similar to the “s” in hiss.
- Example Word: صبح (Subah) – Morning
21. ض (Zaad)
- Pronunciation: A heavy “z” sound, like the “z” in fuzz.
- Example Word: ضرورت (Zarurat) – Need
22. ط (Taa)
- Pronunciation: A heavy “t” sound, much stronger than the regular “t”.
- Example Word: طاقت (Taqat) – Power
23. ظ (Zaa)
- Pronunciation: A heavy “z” sound, similar to Zaad but stronger.
- Example Word: ظاہر (Zahir) – Obvious
24. ع (Ain)
- Pronunciation: A deep, throaty sound, somewhat like clearing your throat.
- Example Word: عید (Eid) – Festival
25. غ (Ghain)
- Pronunciation: Similar to the “r” sound in French or a gargling sound.
- Example Word: غصہ (Ghussa) – Anger
26. ف (Fay)
- Pronunciation: Like the “f” in fun.
- Example Word: فرشتے (Farishtay) – Angels
27. ق (Qaaf)
- Pronunciation: Like the “k” in king, but more deep and throaty.
- Example Word: قلم (Qalam) – Pen
28. ک (Kaaf)
- Pronunciation: Like the “k” in kite.
- Example Word: کتاب (Kitaab) – Book
29. گ (Gaaf)
- Pronunciation: Like the “g” in go.
- Example Word: گلاب (Gulab) – Rose
30. ل (Laam)
- Pronunciation: Like the “l” in love.
- Example Word: لڑکی (Larki) – Girl
31. م (Meem)
- Pronunciation: Like the “m” in man.
- Example Word: میز (Mez) – Table
32. ن (Noon)
- Pronunciation: Like the “n” in night.
- Example Word: نہ (Nah) – No
33. و (Wao)
- Pronunciation: Like the “w” in wonder.
- Example Word: وقت (Waqt) – Time
34. ہ (Hay)
- Pronunciation: Like the “h” in house.
- Example Word: ہوا (Hawa) – Air
35. ھ (Do Chashmi Hay)
- Pronunciation: A soft “h” sound, stronger than the regular “h”.
- Example Word: بھائی (Bhai) – Brother
36. ء (Hamzah)
- Pronunciation: Represents a short break or pause, like the sound between vowels in uh-oh.
- Example Word: مقصد (Maqsad) – Goal
37. ی (Yay)
- Pronunciation: Like the “y” in yellow.
- Example Word: یاد (Yaad) – Memory
38. ے (Bari Yay)
- Pronunciation: Like the “e” in bet.
- Example Word: بڑے (Baday) – Big
Tips for Learning Urdu Alphabet:
- Start Slowly: Focus on learning 3-4 letters per day and try writing them.
- Practice Pronunciation: Listening to native speakers and repeating after them will help improve your accent and pronunciation.
- Write Regularly: Write words and sentences frequently to help commit the shapes and sounds to memory.
- Use Flashcards: These will help you match the Urdu letters with their sounds and meanings quickly.
By learning the Urdu alphabet and practicing pronunciation, you’ll be on your way to mastering Urdu writing and speaking!
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