Urdu Consonants

Independent      

Final      

Medial      

Initial      

Transliteration      

Remarks on Pronunciation

ﺏ

خراب

ﺐ

غریب

‍ﺒ

صبر

ﺑ

بڑا

b

Pronounced like the English b in baby or nib. Examples:

ﺑ ‍‍+‍ ﮍ + ا = بڑا

baRaa 'big, great'

ﺻ+ ‍ ﺒ ‍‍‍ +‍ﺮ = صبر

sabr 'patience'

ﻏ + ﺮ + ﺑ + ﺐ = غریب

gh'ariib 'poor'

ﺧ ‍+‍ ﺮ + ا + ﺏ = خراب

kh'araab 'bad, destroyed'

Independent

Final

Medial

Initial

Transliteration

Remarks on Pronunciation

ﭖ

آپ

‍ﭗ

چپ

ﭙ‍

سپنا

ﭘ‍

پکڑنا

p

Pronounced like the English p in paper or top. Examples:

ﭘ‍ +‍‍ ‍ﮑ‍‍  +ﮍ + ﻧ +‍‍ ﺎ= پکڑنا

pakaRnaa 'to catch'

ﺳ+  ﭙ  +‍ﻨ‍ ‍‍ +‍ﺎ = سپنا

sapnaa 'a dream'

ﭼ‍ + ﭗ = چپ

cup 'silent'

آ + پ = آپ

aap 'you (formal)'

Independent

Final

Medial

Initial

Transliteration

Remarks on Pronunciation

ﺕ

رات

‍ﺖ

بت

‍ﺘ‍‍

پتہ

ﺗ‍‍

تو

t

Pronounced like the English t in steak.
While articulating this sound, the tongue touches the teeth. Examples:

ﺗ + ‍ﻮ = تو

tuu 'you, thou'

ﭘ + ‍ﺘ ‍‍‍+ ‍ﮧ = پتہ

pataa 'address'

ﺑ + ‍ﺖ = بت

but 'an idol'

ر + ا + ت = رات

raat 'night'

Independent

Final

Medial

Initial

Transliteration

Remarks on Pronunciation

ﭦ

نوٹ

‍ﭧ

پیٹ

‍ﭩ‍

کٹنا

ﭨ‍

ٹن

T

Pronounced somewhat like the English t in table or cat,
except that the tongue touches the hard palate while articulating this sound. Examples:

ﭨ‍‍ +‍ﻦ = ٹن

Tan 'a ton'

ﮐ‍‍ +‍ﮣ‍‍ +‍ﻨ‍‍ +‍ﺎ = کٹنا

kaTnaa 'to be cut'

ﭘ‍‍ +‍‍‍ ﻴ +‍ﭧ = پیٹ

peT 'belly'

ﻧ‍‍  +‍ﻮ‍ ‍+ٹ = نوٹ

noT 'a (bank) note'

Independent

Final

Medial

Initial

Transliteration

Remarks on Pronunciation

ﺙ

وارث

‍ﺚ

بحث

‍ﺜ

اکثر

ﺛ‍

ثابت

s

Pronounced like the English s in sit or the c in peace. Examples:

ﺛ‍+  ﺎ‍ + ﺑ‍‍  +‍ﺖ = ثابت

saabit 'proved, confirmed'

ا + ﮐ‍‍  +‍ﺜ‍‍  +‍ﺮ = اکثر

aksar 'often, frequently'

ﺑ‍‍ +‍ﺤ‍‍ +‍ ﺚ = بحث

bahas 'discussion'

و + ا +ر + ث = وارث

vaaris 'an heir'

Independent

Final

Medial

Initial

Transliteration

Remarks on Pronunciation

ﺝ

آج

‍ﺞ

بیج

‍ﺠ

بجلی

ﺟ‍

جڑ

j

Pronounced like the English j in jet, or the g in stage. Examples:

ﺟ‍ + ‍ﮍ = جڑ

jaR 'a root'

ﺑ‍+ ﺠ+ ﻠ‍‍ +‍ ﻰ = بجلی

bijlii 'lightning, electricity'

ﺑ ‍+ ﻴ‍‍ +‍ ﺞ = بیج

biij 'a seed'

ﺁ + ﺝ = آج

aaj 'today'

Independent

Final

Medial

Initial

Transliteration

Remarks on Pronunciation

ﭺ

ناچ

‍ﭻ

بیچ

‍ﭽ‍

نیچے

چ‍

چار

c

Pronounced like the English ch in child or which. Examples:

ﭼ‍ ‍+ ‍ﺎ + ‍‍ﺭ = چار

caar 'four'

ﻧ ‍+ ﻴ‍+ ﭽ‍‍ +‍ﮯ = نیچے

niice 'below'

ﺑ‍+  ﻴ‍‍ +‍ ﭻ = بیچ

biic 'middle'

ن‍+ ﺎ+  ‌‍ﭺ = ناچ

naac 'a dance'

Independent

Final

Medial

Initial

Transliteration

Remarks on Pronunciation

ﺡ

اصلاح

‍ﺢ

تفریح

‍ﺤ‍

بحث

ﺣ‍

حال

h

Pronounced in the same way as Ê (see below). Examples:

ﺣ‍‍ +‍ ﺎ + ﻝ = حال

haal 'situation'

ﺑ ‍+ ﺤ‍‍ +‍ﺚ = بحث

bahas 'discussion'

ﺗ‍‍ +‍ ﻔ ‍+ ﺮ + ﻳ ‍+ ﺢ = تفریح

tafriih 'entertainment'

ا + ﺻ‍‍  +‍ﻼ + ﺡ = اصلاح

islaah 'a reform'

Independent

Final

Medial

Initial

Transliteration

Remarks on Pronunciation

ﺥ

دوزخ

‍ﺦ

تاریخ

‍ﺨ‍

سخت

ﺧ‍

خراب

kh'

Pronounced like kh.
Sometimes it may also be pronounced like the English k in king, but with very strong aspiration. Examples:

ﺧ‍ ‍+ ‍ﺮ + ﺍ + ﺏ = خراب

kh'araab 'bad, destroyed'

ﺳ ‍+ ﺨ‍‍ +‍ ﺖ = سخت

sakh't 'hard'

ﺗ‍+ ‍ ‍ﺎ + ﺭ + ﻳ ‍‍ +‍ﺦ = تاریخ

taariikh' 'date, history'

ﺩ + ﻭ + ﺯ + ﺥ = دوزخ

dozakh' 'hell'

Independent

Final

Medial

Initial

Transliteration

Remarks on Pronunciation

ﺩ

یاد

‍ﺪ

بند

-

-

d

The pronunciation differs from that of English d by the fact
that while articulating this sound the tongue touches the teeth. Examples:

ﺩ + ﻭ = دو

do 'two'

ﺍ + ﻧ ‍+ ‍‍ﺪ‍ + ﺭ = اندر

andar 'inside'

ﺑ‍+  ﻨ‍‍ +‍ ﺪ = بند

band 'closed'

ﻳ +ﺎ + ﺩ = یاد

yaad 'memory, recollection'

Note: This letter is not joined to the letter following it.

Independent

Final

Medial

Initial

Transliteration

Remarks on Pronunciation

ﮈ

وارڈ

‍ﮉ

پنڈ

-

-

D

Pronounced somewhat like the English d in day or red,
except that the tongue touches the hard palate while articulating this sound. Examples:

ڈ + ﺍ + ﮎ = ڈاک

Daak 'post, mail'

ﺍ + ﻧ‍‍ +‍ﮉ + ا = انڈا

aNDaa 'an egg'

ﭘ‍ ‍+ ‍ﻨ‍‍ +‍ ﮉ = پنڈ

piND 'a ball, a clod'

ﻭ + ﺍ + ﺭ + ﮈ = وارڈ

vaarD 'a (hospital) ward'

Note: This letter is not joined to the letter following it.

Independent

Final

Medial

Initial

Transliteration

Remarks on Pronunciation

ﺫ

نفوذ

ذکر

‍ﺬ

کاغذ

-

-

z

The letter is rather rare in Urdu. It is pronounced in the same way as ز (see below). Examples:

ذ + ﮐ‍‍ +‍ ﺮ = ذکر

zikr 'mention'

ﮐ‍ ‍‍‍‍ +‍ﺎ + ﻏ‍ ‍‍+‍ﺬ = کاغذ

Kaagh'az 'paper'

ﻧ ‍+ ﻔ‍ ‍+ ﻮ + ﺫ = نفوذ

nufuuz 'penetration'

Note: This letter is not joined to the letter following it.

Independent

Final

Medial

Initial

Transliteration

Remarks on Pronunciation

ﺭ

دور

رات

‍ﺮ

سر

-

-

r

The pronunciation is close to that of English r.
However, in contrast to the English sound, the corresponding Urdu sound must be trilled.
It is pronounced in every position of the word. Examples:

ﺭ + ﺍ + ﺕ = رات

raat 'night'

غ‍ + ‍ر + ﻳ + ﺐ = غریب

gh'ariib 'poor'

ﺳ‍‍ +‍ ﺮ = سر

sir 'head'

ﺩ + ﻭ + ﺭ = دور

duur 'far'

Note: This letter is not joined to the letter following it.

Independent

Final

Medial

Initial

Transliteration

Remarks on Pronunciation

ﮌ

دوڑ

‍ﮍ

جڑ

-

-

R

This sound has no analog in English. While articulating it, the tip of the tongue flaps against the palate.
The sound is not used in the initial position. Examples:

ﭼ‍‍ +‍ ﻤ‍‍ +‍ ﮍ + ﯼ = چمڑی

camRii 'skin'

ﺟ‍‍ +‍ ﮍ = جڑ

jaR 'a root'ﺟ

ﺩ + ﻭ + ﮌ = دوڑ

dauR 'run!'

Note: This letter is not joined to the letter following it.

Independent

Final

Medial

Initial

Transliteration

Remarks on Pronunciation

ﺯ

دروازہ

‍ﺰ

میز

-

-

z

Pronounced like the English z in zero or zone. Sometimes j can be substituted for this sound. Examples:

ﺯ + ﻭ + ﺭ = زور

zor 'force, strength'

ﻋ ‍+ ﺰ + ﻳ‍ ‍‍ +‍ﺰ = عزیز

aziiz 'dear'

ﻣ‍ +‍ ‍ﻴ‍ +‍‍ ‍ﺰ = میز

mez 'a table'

ﺩ + ﺭ + ﻭ + ﺍ + ﺯ + ﻩ = دروازہ

darvaazaa 'a door'

Note: This letter is not joined to the letter following it.

Independent

Final

Medial

Initial

Transliteration

Remarks on Pronunciation

ﮊ

ژاژ

‍ﮋ

ٹیلویژن

-

-

zh

The letter is extremely rare in Urdu. It is pronounced like the English s in pleasure.
Very often j can be substituted for this sound. Examples:

ﮊ + ﺍ + ﮊ = ژاژ

zhaazh 'nonsense'

ﮢ ‍‍ +‍ﯿ‍ ‍‍ +‍ﻠ‍ ‍‍ +‍ﻮ + ﻳ‍+ ‍‍ ﮋ + ﻥ = ٹیلویژن

Teliviizhan 'television'

Note: This letter is not joined to the letter following it.

Independent

Final

Medial

Initial

Transliteration

Remarks on Pronunciation

ﺱ

دس

ﺲ

کس

ﺴ

پیسے

ﺳ

سر

s

See ث above.

Pronounced like the English s in sit, or c in peace. Examples:

ﺳ + ﺮ = سر

 sir 'head'

 ﭘ + ﻴ + ﺴ + ﮯ = پیسے

paise 'money'

ﮐ + ﺲ = کس

kis 'whose, whom'

ﺩ+ ﺱ = دس

das 'ten'

Independent

Final

Medial

Initial

Transliteration

Remarks on Pronunciation

ﺵ

ھوش

ﺶ

کوشش

ﺸ

بخشش

ﺷ

شک

sh

Pronounced like the English sh in shame or wash. Examples:

ﺷ + ﮏ =شک

shak 'doubt'

ﺑ + ﺨ + ﺸ + ﺶ =بخشش

bakh'shish'tip, alms'

ﮐ + ﻮ + ﺷ + ﺶ =کوشش

koshish 'attempt'

ﻫ + ﻮ + ﺵ = ھوش

hosh 'sense, consciousness'

Independent

Final

Medial

Initial

Transliteration

Remarks on Pronunciation

ﺹ

خاص

ﺺ

نقص

ﺼ

نصیب

ﺻ

صرف

s

See ث andس  above. Pronounced like the English s in sit or the c in peace. Examples:

ﺻ + ﺮ + ﻑ =صرف

sirf 'only'

ﻧ + ﺼ + ﻴ + ﺐ =نصیب

nasiib 'fate, destiny'

ﻧ + ﻘ + ﺺ =نقص

nuqs 'fault'

ﺧ + ﺎ + ﺹ =خاص

kh'aas 'special'

Independent

Final

Medial

Initial

Transliteration

Remarks on Pronunciation

ﺽ

اعتراض

ﺾ

نبض

ﻀ

قبضہ

ﺿ

ضرور

z

See ﺯ above.

Pronounced like the English z in zero or zone. Sometimes j can be substituted for this sound.

Examples:

ﺿ + ﺮ + ﻭ + ﺭ = ضرور

zaruur 'necessarily, surely'

ﻗ + ﺒ + ﻀ + ﮧ = قبضہ

kabzaa 'conquest, occupation'

ﻧ + ﺒ + ﺾ = نبض

nabz 'pulse'

ﺍ + ﻋ + ﺘ + ﺮ + ﺍ + ﺽ = اعتراض

itiraaz 'protest'

Independent

Final

Medial

Initial

Transliteration

Remarks on Pronunciation

ﻁ

شرط

ﻂ

خط

ﻄ

قطار

ﻃ

طوفان

t

See  ﺕ above.

The pronunciation of this letter resembles the pronunciation of the English t in steak.
While articulating this sound, the tongue touches the teeth. Examples:

ﻃ + ﻮ + ﻓ + ﺎ + ﻥ =طوفان

tuufaan 'storm'

ﻗ + ﻄ + ﺎ + ﺭ =قطار

qataar 'a row'

ﺧ + ﻂ =خط

kh'at 'a letter'

ﺷ + ﺮ + ﻁ =شرط

shart 'condition'

Independent

Final

Medial

Initial

Transliteration

Remarks on Pronunciation

ﻅ

محفوظ

ﻆ

لفظ

ﻈ

نظر

ﻇ

ظلم

z

See ﺯ and ﻅ

above. Pronounced like the English z in zero or zone. Sometimes  j can be substituted for this sound. Examples:

ﻇ + ﻠ + ﻢ =ظلم

zulm 'violence'

ﻧ + ﻈ + ﺮ =نظر

nazar 'a look, a glance'

ﻟ + ﻔ + ﻆ =لفظ

lafz 'a word'

ﻣ + ﺤ + ﻔ + ﻮ + ﻅ =محفوظ

mahfuuz 'secure'

Independent

Final

Medial

Initial

Transliteration

Remarks on Pronunciation

ﻉ

شروع

ﻊ

موقع

ﻌ

معلوم

ﻋ

علم

-

This letter is not pronounced in Urdu.
However, if this letter appears at the end of a word or in the medial position before a consonant,
any short vowels within the word may be lengthened. Examples:

ﻋ + ﻠ + ﻢ = علم

ilm 'science'

ﻣ + ﻌ + ﻠ + ﻮ + ﻡ =معلوم

maaluum 'known'

ﺷ + ﻌ + ﺮ =شعر

sher 'poetry'

ﻣ + ﻌ + ﺎ + ﻑ =معاف

moaaf 'pardoned'

ﻣ + ﻮ + ﻗ + ﻊ =موقع

maukaa 'chance'

ﺷ + ﺮ + ﻭ + ﻉ =شروع

shuruu 'beginning'

Independent

Final

Medial

Initial

Transliteration

Remarks on Pronunciation

ﻍ

باغ

ﻎ

بالغ

ﻐ

مغرور

ﻏ

غریب

gh'

Pronounced further back in the throat than the English g in go or bag.
Phonetically, it is a voiced version of the sound kh' (seeخ  above). Examples:

ﻏ + ﺮ + ﻳ + ﺐ =غریب

gh'ariib 'poor'

ﻣ + ﻐ + ﺮ + ﻭ + ﺭ =مغرور

magh'ruur 'proud'

ﺑ + ﺎ + ﻟ + ﻎ =بالغ

baaligh' 'adult'

ﺑ + ﺎ + ﻍ =باغ

baagh' 'a garden'

Independent

Final

Medial

Initial

Transliteration

Remarks on Pronunciation

ﻑ

انصاف

ﻒ

تکلیف

ﻔ

لفظ

ﻓ

فلان

f

Pronounced like the English f in full or half. Sometimes ph can be substituted for this sound. Examples:

ﻓ + ﻟ + ﺍ + ﻥ =فلان

falaan 'such'

ﻟ + ﻔ + ﻆ =لفظ

lafz 'a word'

ﺗ + ﮑ + ﻠ + ﻴ + ﻒ =تکلیف

takliif 'a trouble'

ﺍ + ﻧ + ﺼ + ﺎ + ﻑ =انصاف

insaaf 'justice'

Independent

Final

Medial

Initial

Transliteration

Remarks on Pronunciation

ﻕ

صندوق

ﻖ

سبق

ﻘ

مقام

ﻗ

قانون

q

Pronounced further back in the throat than the English c in cat or the k in king.
The sound should never be aspirated. Many native speakers pronounce it like k. (See ک above.) Examples:

ﻗ + ﺎ + ﻧ + ﻮ + ﻥ =قانون

qaanuun 'law'

ﻣ + ﻘ + ﺎ + ﻡ =مقام

maqaam 'place'

ﺳ + ﺒ + ﻖ =سبق

sabaq 'a lesson'

ﺻ + ﻨ + ﺪ + ﻭ + ﻕ =صندوق

sanduuq 'a box'

Independent

Final

Medial

Initial

Transliteration

Remarks on Pronunciation

ﮎ

ڈاک

ﮏ

تک

ﮑ

سکہ

ﮐ

کتا

k

Pronounced like the English c in cat or the k in king. The sound should never be aspirated. Examples:

ﺗ + ﮏ =تک

tak 'to, up to, till'

ﮈ + ﺍ + ﮎ =ڈاک

Daak 'post, mail'

ﺳ + ﮑ + ﮧ =سکہ

sikkaa 'a coin'

ﮐ + ﺘ + ﻨ + ﮮ =کتنے

kitne 'how many'

Independent

Final

Medial

Initial

Transliteration

Remarks on Pronunciation

ﮒ

آگ

ﮓ

لگ

ﮕ

سنگار

ﮔ

گیا

g

Pronounced like the English g in go or bag. Examples:

ﮔ + ﯿ + ﺎ = گیا

gayaa '(he) went'

ﺳ + ﻨ + ﮕ + ﺎ + ﺭ =سنگار

singaar 'dress, attire'

ﻟ + ﮓ =لگ

lag 'join!, stick!, adhere!'

ﺁ + ﮒ =آگ

aag 'fire'

Independent

Final

Medial

Initial

Transliteration

Remarks on Pronunciation

ﻝ

بال

ﻞ

میل

ﻠ

بلی

ﻟ

لگنا

l

The pronunciation differs from that of English l and resembles that of l in French or German.
The English tendency to swallow this sound (as in hall, bowl, and real) must be avoided. Examples:

ﺑ + ﺎ + ﻝ =بال

baal 'hair'

ﻣ + ﻴ + ﻞ =میل

miil 'a mile'

ﺑ + ﻠ + ﻰ =بلی

billii 'a cat'

ﻟ + ﮕ + ﻨ + ﺎ =لگنا

lagnaa 'to stick to something.'

Note: ل followed by ا is written لا.

لاکھ

laakh 'one hundred thousand'

Independent

Final

Medial

Initial

Transliteration

Remarks on Pronunciation

ﻡ

معلوم

ﻢ

کم

ﻤ

لمبا

ﻣ

مال

m

Pronounced like the English m in map or time. Examples:

ﻣ + ﺎ + ﻝ = مال

maal 'property'

ﻟ + ﻤ + ﺒ + ﺎ = لمبا

lambaa 'long, tall'

ﮐ + ﻢ = کم

kam 'few, little'

ﻣ + ﻌ + ﻠ + ﻮ+ ﻡ = معلوم

maaluum 'known'

Independent

Final

Medial

Initial

Transliteration

Remarks on Pronunciation

ﻥ

شیطان

ﻦ

کن

ﻨ

لگنا

ﻧ

نظر

n

Pronounced like the English n in no or nine. Examples:

ﻧ + ﻈ + ﺮ = نظر

nazar 'a look, a glance'

ﻟ + ﮕ + ﻨ + ﺎ = لگنا

lagnaa 'to stick to something'

ﮐ + ﻦ = کن

Kin 'whom (plural)'

ﺷ + ﻴ + ﻄ + ﺎ + ﻥ =شیطان

shaitaan 'devil'

Note: In the medial position, ن (nuun) is also used to convey nasalization.

تینتیس taiNtiis '33'

See ں below.

Independent

Final

Medial

Initial

Transliteration

Remarks on Pronunciation

ﮞ

جوں

ﮟ

میں

-

-

N

This letter does not represent any sound. It can be found only in the final position after vowels.
When it occurs in a word, the preceding vowel is nasalized.
While articulating a nasalized vowel, the stream of air passes not only through the mouth, but also through the nose. Examples:

ﻣ + ﺎ + ﮞ =ماں

maaN 'mother'

ﺟ + ﻮ + ﮞ =جوں

juuN 'a louse'

ﻣ + ﻴ + ﮟ =میں

maiN 'I'

Independent

Final

Medial

Initial

Transliteration

Remarks on Pronunciation

ﻭ

الاو

ﻮ

دیو

-

-

v

Pronounced like the English v in very or give. Examples:

ﻭ + ﺍ + ﺩ + ﻯ =وادی

vaadii 'a valley'

ﺳ + ﻮ + ﺍ =سوا

sivaa 'except'

ﺩ + ﻳ + ﻮ =دیو

deev 'a demon'

ﺍ + ﻝ + ﺍ + ﻭ =الاو

alaav 'a bonfire'

Note: This letter is not joined to the letter following it.

Independent

Final

Medial

Initial

Transliteration

Remarks on Pronunciation

ﻩ

دروازہ

ﻫ

دودھ

ﮧ

مونہ

ﻫ

مجھ

ﮩ

لہر

ﻫ

بھائ

ﮧ

بہ

ﻫ

بوڑھا

h

See also ﺡ above.

The pronunciation resembles that of the English h in help or have, but differs a little bit from the latter.
In the initial position and in the middle of a word between two vowels, this letter has a strong sound which may be described as a "voiced h".
Before a consonant, the sound is voiceless and almost identical to the sound of h in English.
In the final position, it is hardly heard or may be completely inaudible. Examples:

ﮨ + ﺮ =ہر

Har 'each, every'

ﻟ + ﮩ + ﺮ =لہر

lahar 'a wave'

ﻣ + ﻮ + ﻧ + ﮧ =مونہ

muuNh 'mouth, face'

ﺩ + ﺭ + ﻭ + ﺍ + ﺯ + ﻩ =دروازہ  

darvaazaa 'a door'

Note: ہ followed by ا is written ہا:

ﮦ + ﺎ + ﮞ =ہاں

haaN 'yes'.

Also, see the note on aspirated consonants.

Independent

Final

Medial

Initial

Transliteration

Remarks on Pronunciation

ﮰ

راۓ

-

ﻴ

پیارا

ﻳ

یاد

y

This letter has no initial or medial form of its own. Instead, the corresponding forms of the letter ی  (ye-maaruuf) are used.
This letter is pronounced like the English y in year, day. It is rather rare in the final position. Examples:

ﻳ + ﺎ + ﺩ =یاد

yaad 'memory'

ﭘ + ﻴ + ﺎ + ﺭ =پیار

pyaar 'love'

ﺭ + ﺍ + ﮮ =راے

raay 'opinion'