Sanskrit Pronunciation Guide

VOWELS

a—like the a in organ or the u in but ṛ—like ree in reed ā—like the a in far, but held twice as long as short aḷ—like l followed by ṛ (lṛ) i—like the i in pin e—like the e in they ī—like the i in pique, but held twice as long as short iai—like the ai in aisle u—like the u in pusho—like the o in go ū—like the u in rule, but held twice as long as short uau—like the ow in how

CONSONANTS

k—as in kite d—as in dove, but with the tongue against the teeth kh—as in Eckhartdh—as in red-hot, but with the tongue against the teeth g—as in given—as in nut, but with the tongue against the teeth gh—as in dig-hardp—as in pine ṅ—as in singph—as in uphill (not pronounced like f) c—as in chairb—as in bird j—as in joybh—as in rub-hard jh—as in hedgehogm—as in mother ñ—as in canyony—as in yes ṭ—as in tub, but with the tongue against the roof of the mouthr—as in run ṭh—as in light-heart, but with the tongue against the roof of the mouthl—as in light ḍ—as in dove, but with the tongue against the roof of the mouthv—as in vine ḍh—as in red-hot, but with the tongue against the roof of the mouthś (palatal)—as in the s in the German word sprechen ṇ—as in nut, but with the tongue against the roof of the mouthṣ (cerebral)—as the sh in shine t—as in tub, but with the tongue against the teeths (dental)—as in sun th—as in light-heart, but with the tongue against the teethh—as in home

SPECIAL LETTERS

ṁ (anusvāra)—a resonant nasal like the n in the French word bon ḥ (visarga)—a final, echoed h-sound: aḥ is pronounce like aha; iḥ like ihi