Contents | Previous Topic | Next Topic
The list below shows the forms and pronunciation of the consonants in the Urdu alphabet.
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. 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, 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. 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 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, 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. ﻳ + ﺎ + ﺩ =یاد yaad 'memory' ﭘ + ﻴ + ﺎ + ﺭ =پیار pyaar 'love' ﺭ + ﺍ + ﮮ =راے raay 'opinion' |
See also: