Hindi/Rajasthani Alphabets:

Hindi and Rajasthani both use Devanagri script. Both are phonetic languages. Words are pronounced exactly as they are written. You don’t have to memorize the correct spelling of a word. All consonants have an ‘a’ sound inherent in them.

There are 13 vowels in Hindi.

Vowels are those letters which can be pronounced with an open vocal track or without touching the tongue anywhere inside the mouth. There are twelve such letters in Hindi.

• Hindi vowel # 1:  अ a
  “अ” is a short vowel. It is pronounced like first “A” in America or “U” in urn.
• Hindi vowel # 2:  आ aa
  “आ”  is a long vowel. It has the sound of “A” in art or A in cart. “
• Hindi vowel # 3:  इ i
  “इ” is a short vowel. It is pronounced like “e” in e-ager or  “I” in ink.
• Hindi vowel # 4:  ई ii
  “ई” is a long vowel. It has the same sound as that of “इ” but being a long vowel it doesn’t end abruptly. It has the sound of “EE” in seek or “EA” in peak.
• Hindi vowel # 5:  उ u
  “उ” is a short vowel. It has the sound of “U” in pull or full.
• Hindi vowel # 6:  ऊ oo
  “ऊ” is a long vowel. It is pronounced  like short उ except for a little longer time. It has the sound of “oo” in pool or fool.
•  Hindi vowel # 7:  ए e
    “ए” is a short vowel. It has the sound of “E” in shed or “AI” in said.
• 8. Hindi vowel # 8:  ऐai
  “ऐ” is a long vowel. It has the sound of “A” in shade or “AI” in mail.
• 9. Hindi vowel # 9:  ओ o
  “ओ” has the sound of “O” in old or “OA” in coal.
• 10. Hindi vowel # 10:  औ au
  “औ” has the sound of “O” in shot or “AU” in caught.
• 11. Hindi vowel # 11:  अं um
  “अं” has the sound of “UM” in drum or lump.
• 12. Hindi vowel # 12:  अ: uh
  “अ:” has the sound of “AH” in aha or ahem and “UGH” in ugh.
• 13. Hindi vowel # 13: ऋ ri
    “ऋ” has the sound of “RI” in rig or rim.