ੳ
Ura
u (vowel-bearer)
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Gurmukhi · Lesson 1
The 35 letters of the Gurmukhi alphabet
ਪੈਂਤੀ ਅੱਖਰ — paintee akhar — the thirty-five letters. The traditional order; this is also the order Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji uses in its acrostic compositions.
ਅ
Aira
a (vowel-bearer)
ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤamritnectar / sweet water
ੲ
Iri
i (vowel-bearer)
ਸ
Sassa
s
ਸਚੁsachtruth
ਹ
Haha
h
ਹਰਿharGod / Lord
ਕ
Kakka
k
ਕਮਲkamallotus
ਖ
Khakha
kh
ਖੁਸ਼ੀkhushihappiness
ਗ
Gagga
g
ਗੁਰੂguruspiritual teacher
ਘ
Ghagga
gh
ਘਰgharhome
ਙ
Nganga
ṅ (rare, nasal velar)
ਚ
Chacha
ch
ਚੰਦchandmoon
ਛ
Chhachha
chh
ਛਤਰchhatarumbrella
ਜ
Jajja
j
ਜਾਪੁjaaprecitation
ਝ
Jhajjha
jh
ਝੰਡਾjhandaflag
ਞ
Nyanya
ñ (rare, palatal nasal)
ਟ
Tainka
ṭ
ਟਕਾtakacoin
ਠ
Thattha
ṭh
ਠੰਡਾthandacold
ਡ
Dadda
ḍ
ਡੰਡਾdandastick
ਢ
Dhadda
ḍh
ਢੋਲdholdrum
ਣ
Naana
ṇ
ਤ
Tatta
t
ਤਾਰਾtarastar
ਥ
Thatha
th
ਥਾਲੀthaliplate
ਦ
Dadda
d
ਦਯਾdayacompassion
ਧ
Dhadda
dh
ਧਰਮdharamrighteous duty
ਨ
Nanna
n
ਨਾਮnaamname (of the divine)
ਪ
Pappa
p
ਪਾਣੀpaaniwater
ਫ
Phappha
ph / f
ਫੁੱਲphullflower
ਬ
Babba
b
ਬਾਬਾbabafather / elder
ਭ
Bhabbha
bh
ਭਾਈbhaibrother
ਮ
Mamma
m
ਮਾਂmaamother
ਯ
Yaiya
y
ਰ
Rara
r
ਰਾਤraatnight
ਲ
Lalla
l
ਲਾਲlaalred
ਵ
Wawa
v / w
ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂwaheguruwonderful Lord
ੜ
Rharha
ṛ
The matras (vowel modifiers)
Letters carry an inherent a sound; matras change that to other vowels. Each matra attaches above, below, or beside its consonant.
ਅਾ
Kanna
sound: aa
ਮਾਂmaamother
ਅਿ
Sihari
sound: i (short)
ਸਿੱਖsikhlearner / disciple
ਅੀ
Bihari
sound: ee
ਜੀjihonorific suffix
ਅੁ
Aunkar
sound: u (short)
ਗੁਰੂguruspiritual teacher
ਅੂ
Dulainkar
sound: oo
ਦੂਰdoorfar
ਅੇ
Lavan
sound: e
ਮੇਰਾmeramy / mine
ਅੈ
Dulavan
sound: ai
ਪੈਰpairfoot
ਅੋ
Hora
sound: o
ਲੋਕlokpeople
ਅੌ
Kanaura
sound: au
ਔਰਤauratwoman
Next
Practice by reading from Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Each verse shows Gurmukhi, Roman transliteration, and English translation side by side — perfect for sounding out letters as you learn.