Gurbani and NitnemLearn the Gurmukhi script
The 35 letters and the vowel signs, with sounds in English letters.
Gurmukhi, "from the mouth of the Guru", is the script in which Gurbani is written. The traditional alphabet is the Paintee Akhri, a list of 35 letters taught in a fixed order. Gurmukhi is written left to right, like English. Every consonant carries an inherent short "a" sound unless a vowel sign changes it.
The 35 letters
Sounds are approximate, written in English letters. A teacher is the best guide to exact pronunciation.
| Letter | Name | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| ੳ | ūṛā | a vowel bearer (oo-ra) |
| ਅ | aiṛā | a vowel bearer (ai-ra) |
| ੲ | īṛī | a vowel bearer (ee-ri) |
| ਸ | sassā | s |
| ਹ | hāhā | h |
| ਕ | kakkā | k |
| ਖ | khakkhā | kh |
| ਗ | gaggā | g |
| ਘ | ghaggā | gh |
| ਙ | ṅaṅṅā | nga (nasal) |
| ਚ | caccā | ch |
| ਛ | chachchā | chh |
| ਜ | jajjā | j |
| ਝ | jhajjā | jh |
| ਞ | ñaññā | nya (nasal) |
| ਟ | ṭaiṅkā | retroflex t |
| ਠ | ṭhaṭṭhā | retroflex th |
| ਡ | ḍaḍḍā | retroflex d |
| ਢ | ḍhaḍḍā | retroflex dh |
| ਣ | ṇāṇā | retroflex n |
| ਤ | tattā | t (dental) |
| ਥ | thatthā | th (dental) |
| ਦ | daddā | d (dental) |
| ਧ | dhaddā | dh (dental) |
| ਨ | nannā | n |
| ਪ | pappā | p |
| ਫ | phapphā | ph |
| ਬ | babbā | b |
| ਭ | bhabbā | bh |
| ਮ | mammā | m |
| ਯ | yayyā | y |
| ਰ | rārā | r |
| ਲ | lallā | l |
| ਵ | vāvā | v or w |
| ੜ | ṛāṛā | retroflex r (rr) |
Vowels and signs
Three letters (ੳ, ਅ, ੲ) are the "bearers" of vowels. The vowel sounds are marked by signs placed around the letter, which is why Gurmukhi looks different from Devanagari.
| Sign | Name | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| ਾ | kannā | long a, as in "father" |
| ਿ | sihārī | short i, as in "sit" |
| ੀ | bihārī | long ee, as in "see" |
| ੁ | aunkaṛ | short u, as in "put" |
| ੂ | dulaiṅkaṛ | long oo, as in "moon" |
| ੇ | lāvāṅ | e, as in "they" |
| ੈ | dulāvāṅ | ai, as in "hair" |
| ੋ | hōṛā | o, as in "go" |
| ੌ | kanauṛā | au, as in "hall" |
| ੰ | ṭippī | nasal sound after a vowel |
| ਂ | bindī | nasal sound after a vowel |
| ੱ | addhak | doubles the next consonant |
| ੍ | pairīṅ | a half letter written under another |
Reading tips
- In Gurbani the sign ੁ (aunkar) or ਿ (sihari) at the end of a word is often not pronounced; this is a rule of Gurbani grammar that a teacher will show you.
- The sign ॥ marks the end of a stanza and ॥੧॥ a numbered one.
- Practise with the opening line of Japji Sahib, the Mool Mantar, with the transliteration beside it.
This page gives general information in plain words. For how to practise, ask your granthi or a teacher at your gurdwara.