Hindi vowels and their matra forms
I can recognize and read all 11 Hindi vowels
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
आम
Mango
दिन
Day
दूध
Milk
देश
Country
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Hindi has 11 vowels (स्वर). Each has a full form (used word-initially) and a मात्रा (matra) form attached to consonants.
| Full | Matra | Example |
|---|---|---|
| अ | inherent | कम (kam) |
| आ | ा | काम (kām) |
| इ | ि | किला (kilā) |
| ई | ी | नदी (nadī) |
| उ | ु | गुरु (guru) |
| ऊ | ू | दूध (dūdh) |
| ए | े | देश (desh) |
| ऐ | ै | पैसा (paisā) |
| ओ | ो | रोटी (roṭī) |
| औ | ौ | मौसम (mausam) |
| ऋ | ृ | कृषि (kṛṣi) |
Key: अ is inherent in every consonant. Short/long pairs: इ/ई, उ/ऊ — length changes meaning.
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises
Practice ExercisesConfusing short and long vowel pairs
Practice minimal pairs: दिन (din, day) vs दीन (dīn, poor)
Incorrect matra position
Review: ि before, ी after, ु/ू below, े/ै above
आम
Mango
आ (ā) is the long form of अ (a).
दिन
Day
ि (short i matra) sits before the consonant in writing.
दूध
Milk
ू (long ū matra) goes below the consonant.
देश
Country
े (e matra) sits above the consonant's headline.
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Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises