Beginners lessons

in reading and
writing GUJARATI
Facilitator: Piyush Ramesh Shah

Introduction
This course is about learning to read and
write Gujarati using the Gujarati script

We will not be covering Gujarati grammar

i.e. the set of rules that explain how words
are used in a language

Vowels (Svara)

a
aa
i
ee
u
oo

e
ai
o
au
am
ah

ri
am

Vowels - Symbols

Consonants (Vyanjana)
Velar
(guttural)
Palatals
Retroflex (crerebrals)
Dental
Labials
Glides and liquids (semi vowels)
Fricatives (sibilants)
Glottal and Retroflex liquid
Conjuncts

Consonants (Vyanjana)

ka
cha
Ta
ta
pa
ya
sha
ha
kSha

kha
chha
Tha
tha
pha
ra
Sha
La
tra

ga
ja
Da
da
ba
la
sa
jnya

gha
jha
Dha
dha
bha
va

nga
nya
Na
na
ma

Complete alphabet arranged based on plac

of articulation of sound for each letter

Combining vowels and consonants

+
=
+
=
+ =

k
ka

+ =
+ =

kri
ke

kaa + =

kai

ki

=
kee
ku

koo

ko

+ =
+ =
+ =

+ =
+ =
+ =

kau
kam
kah

Combining vowels and consonants

All consonants and vowels will combine in
the manner shown in the previous table
consonant + respective vowel sign
Only three combinations have irregular
forms and these are:

+ = jee

+ = roo
+
hri

Identify the vowels

Identify the following vowels:

Identify the vowels

Identify the following vowels:

Identify the vowels

Identify the following vowels:

Identify the vowel symbols

Identify the following vowel symbols:

Identify the vowel symbols

Identify the following vowel symbols:

Combining vowels and consonants

Identify the following vowel symbols:

Identify the consonants

Identify the following consonants:

Identify the consonants

Identify the following consonants:

Identify the consonants

Identify the following consonants:

Identify the consonants

Identify the following consonants:

Identify the conjunct consonants

Identify the following conjunct consonants:

Identify the consonants

Identify the following consonant-vowel
combinations with the half-consonant

Forming simple words

Word

No.
2
4
2
3
2
2
3

Forming simple words

Word

No.
3
4
2
2
2
2
3

Forming simple words

Word

No.
2

3
2

2
2

Forming simple words

Word

No.
3
3
3
2
3
3

Forming simple words

Word

No.
2

2

3

Forming simple words

Word

Trans.
oona

Pron.
oon

Mean.
wool

karavata karvat saw

aaga

aag

fire

jagata

jagat

world

nakha

nakh

nail

eka

ek

one

magara

magar croc.

Forming simple words

Word

Trans.
Pron.
Mean.
auShadha auShadh medicine
ajagara

ajgar

python

ghara

ghar

house

chhala

chhal

deceit

rNa

riN

debt

dhana

dhan

wealth

faraja

faraj

duty

Forming simple words

Word

Trans.
geetaa

Pron.
geetaa

Mean.
geetaa

kiraNa

kiraN

ray

sheela

sheel

character

seemaa

seemaa

boundary

rNa

riN

debt

dhana

dhan

wealth

upakaara

upkaar

duty

Forming simple words

Word

Trans.
abhaya

Pron.
abhay

Mean.
fearless

asara

asar

effect

umara

umar

age

jaina

jain

jain

sharama

sharam

shame

kaagaLa

kaagaL

paper

saphaLataa saphaLtaa success

Forming simple words

Word

Trans.
pakShee

Pron.
pakShee

Mean.
bird

doora

door

far

pavitra

pavitra

holy

najeeka

najeek

near

kShamaa

kShamaa

forgiveness

khaalee

khaalee

empty

vijnyaana

vignaan

science

The bindu/anusvaar
The dot on top of a letter ( ) has the following
uses in Gujarati:
Nasalization of a vowel (bindu)
Representing a half nasal consonant when
the half nasal consonant precedes a
consonant of its series (anusvaar) this has
special rules
It is also used in conjunction with other
consonants

Nasalization of vowels
All vowels in Gujarati can be nasalized, except for
Nasalization is indicated by either the symbol " "
(bindu) or by the symbol " " (chandrabindu). The
bindu is used when part or all of the vowel symbol
extends above the horizontal line. The chandrabindu
is used when no part of the vowel symbol extends
above the horizontal line.
The bindu is more common is modern written
Gujarati, and may even be used exclusively.

Nasalization of vowels - examples

The nasalization has been
represented by capital M below:
Word

Split

Trans.

Meaning

+,
huM, meM I
+
, +, + tuM, teM you
+ aapNuM our

The nasals
The nasals are the last letters in each of the
first five series of consonants
These are:

nga nya

Na

na

ma

Conjunct consonants
A conjunct is a combination of 2 or more
consonants and is presented as a single ligature
One or more preceding consonants are in their
half form and the last consonant is in its full
form. A half form consonant lacks a vowel
sound at the end
There are hundreds of conjuncts, but most are
easily recognizable

Use of anusvaar
Anusvaar is used when we have conjuncts
formed using a nasal consonant
If a nasal consonant is a first member of a
conjunct it can be written using either its half
form (to be covered later) or with an anusvaar
( ) this dot on top has special pronunciation
rules when representing nasal consonants
The anusvaar in this case is articulated in the
same location in the mouth as the consonant
that follows.

Anusvaar rules
In the case of the first five series of five
letters each the anusvaar (nasal dot)
replaces the nasal consonant of its series
when it precedes and combines with any
other letter of the respective series
The anusvaar, when replacing a nasal
consonant, is therefore pronounced as per
its place of articulation.

Anusvaar rules
So, based on the above, the anusvaar (nasal
dot) replaces:
when combined with or
when combined with or
when combined with or
when combined with or
when combined with or

Ansusvaar rules