Language/Sindhi/Grammar/Basic-Consonants-and-Vowels

Sindhi → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Introduction to Sindhi Script → Basic Consonants and Vowels

Sindhi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by approximately 41 million people in Pakistan, India, and the Sindhi diaspora around the world. Sindhi is written in the Arabic script, which was introduced to the region by Arab conquerors in the eighth century. The script has been adapted over time to represent the unique sounds of the Sindhi language and includes a variety of diacritic marks, ligatures, and special characters. In this lesson, we will introduce you to the basic consonants and vowels of the Sindhi script, their pronunciations, and how to write them.

Basic Consonants

Sindhi has a rich set of consonants, including both voiced and unvoiced sounds. The table below shows the basic consonants of the Sindhi script, along with their IPA transcriptions and English approximations.

Sindhi	Pronunciation	English Approximation
ڀ	/bʱ/	'b' with added breathiness
پ	/pʰ/	'p' with added aspiration
ت	/t̪ʰ/	't' with added aspiration
ٽ	/ʈʰ/	't' pronounced with the tongue curled back
ٹ	/ʈ/	't' pronounced with the tongue curled back
ج	/dʒ/	'j' as in 'judge'
ڄ	/dʑ/	'j' pronounced with the tongue curled back
چ	/tʃʰ/	'ch' as in 'check'
ڇ	/tʃ/	'ch' as in 'check'
د	/d̪/	'd' as in 'dog'
ڊ	/ɖ/	'd' pronounced with the tongue curled back
ٽِ	/ʈʰɪ/	'ti' as in 'tip'
ٽُ	/ʈʰʊ/	'tu' as in 'tuck'
جِ	/dʒɪ/	'ji' as in 'jinx'
جُ	/dʒʊ/	'ju' as in 'jug'

These basic consonants form the building blocks of Sindhi words, and you will encounter them frequently in everyday conversation and written texts. In order to improve your pronunciation, it is important to practice these sounds regularly and pay close attention to how your tongue and mouth move when making them.

Basic Vowels

Sindhi features a set of five basic vowel sounds, which are indicated by diacritic marks above or below consonant letters in the script. These basic vowels are shown in the table below, along with their IPA transcriptions and English approximations.

Sindhi	Pronunciation	English Approximation
ا	/a/	'a' as in 'father'
ءِ	/ɪ/	'i' as in 'it'
ءُ	/ʊ/	'u' as in 'put'
ءَ	/ə/	'e' as in 'the'
آ	/aː/	'aa' pronounced for a longer duration than 'a'

Note that the diacritic marks used to indicate vowels in the Sindhi script can also change the sound of the accompanying consonant. For example, the letter ھ (h) can represent the sound /h/ or /ə/, depending on the placement of the diacritic marks. You will learn more about these special characters and ligatures in later lessons.

Writing Practice

To practice writing the basic consonants and vowels in Sindhi, you can use the following exercises:

• Write out the basic consonants and vowels multiple times, paying close attention to the shape and structure of each character. Try to create a consistent style for your writing to make it easier to recognize letters and words.
• Choose a short word in Sindhi and try to write it out using the basic consonants and vowels. If you are struggling to remember the proper shape or pronunciation of a letter, refer back to the tables provided in this lesson.
• Practice reading and writing simple Sindhi sentences that use only the basic consonants and vowels. This will help you build your vocabulary and reinforce your understanding of the script.

With regular practice and study, you will become more comfortable with the basic consonants and vowels of the Sindhi script and be better equipped to communicate in Sindhi with speakers and readers around the world.

Table of Contents - Sindhi Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

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Introduction to Sindhi Script

• Sindhi Alphabet
• Basic Consonants and Vowels

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Everyday Vocabulary

• Greetings and Introductions
• Numbers and Counting
• Days of the Week and Months
• Colors and Shapes
• Food and Beverages

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Basic Grammar Concepts

• Nouns and Pronouns
• Adjectives and Adverbs
• Verbs and Tenses
• Prepositions and Conjunctions

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Everyday Situations

• At Home
• At Work
• At School
• Shopping
• Travel and Transportation

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More Grammar Concepts

• Question Formation
• Negation
• Imperatives
• Comparatives and Superlatives
• Expressing Possession

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Culture and Traditions

• Festivals and Celebrations
• Traditional Clothing
• Music and Dance
• Cuisine
• History and Landmarks

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Advanced Grammar Concepts

• Conditional Sentences
• Passive Voice
• Subjunctive Mood
• Relative Clauses
• Reported Speech

Other Lessons

• Reported Speech
• Question Formation
• Questions
• Negation
• Verbs and Tenses
• Pronouns
• Adjectives
• Sindhi Alphabet
• Imperatives
• Plurals