A consonant in Hindi is called Vyanjan (व्यंजन). The standard Hindi alphabet has 33 consonants, which are classified into three main types based on how they are pronounced: Sparsh Vyanjan (स्पर्श व्यंजन — touch consonants), Antastha Vyanjan (अंतस्थ व्यंजन — semi-consonants), and Ushma Vyanjan (ऊष्म व्यंजन — fricatives). Additionally, there are 4 combined consonants called Sanyukt Vyanjan (संयुक्त व्यंजन). This guide covers the complete list of Hindi consonants with their classification, pronunciation, and examples.
Consonants in Hindi are called Vyanjan (व्यंजन).
There are 33 standard consonants in Hindi, plus 4 Sanyukt Vyanjan (combined consonants).
Sparsh Vyanjan (स्पर्श) = 25 consonants (क to म) — tongue touches a specific place in the mouth.
Antastha Vyanjan (अंतस्थ) = 4 consonants (य, र, ल, व) — semi-consonants.
Ushma Vyanjan (ऊष्म) = 4 consonants (श, ष, स, ह) — fricatives with warm breath.
Sanyukt Vyanjan (संयुक्त) = 4 combined consonants (क्ष, त्र, ज्ञ, श्र).
Alpapran = less breath (1st, 3rd, 5th in each group). Mahapran = more breath (2nd, 4th in each group).
Aghosh = unvoiced (1st, 2nd in each group). Saghosh = voiced (3rd, 4th, 5th in each group).
In Hindi grammar, a Vyanjan (व्यंजन) is a sound that cannot be pronounced without the help of a vowel (स्वर). Every Hindi consonant has an inherent "a" (अ) sound attached to it. For example, क is actually pronounced "ka," ख is "kha," ग is "ga," and so on.
The Hindi alphabet (वर्णमाला) is divided into two parts: • Swar (स्वर) — Vowels (11 in standard Hindi) • Vyanjan (व्यंजन) — Consonants (33 in standard Hindi)
The 33 consonants + 4 combined consonants (संयुक्त व्यंजन) form the complete set of Hindi consonants used in the language.
The 33 Hindi consonants are arranged in a systematic order based on the place of articulation in the mouth:
क वर्ग (Gutturals — throat): क, ख, ग, घ, ङ च वर्ग (Palatals — palate): च, छ, ज, झ, ञ ट वर्ग (Cerebrals — roof of mouth): ट, ठ, ड, ढ, ण त वर्ग (Dentals — teeth): त, थ, द, ध, न प वर्ग (Labials — lips): प, फ, ब, भ, म अंतस्थ (Semi-consonants): य, र, ल, व ऊष्म (Fricatives): श, ष, स, ह
The first 25 consonants (from क to म) are called Sparsh Vyanjan because the tongue touches a specific part of the mouth when pronouncing them. The next 4 (य, र, ल, व) are Antastha Vyanjan, and the last 4 (श, ष, स, ह) are Ushma Vyanjan.
Sparsh means "touch." These 25 consonants are called Sparsh Vyanjan because the tongue touches a specific place in the mouth when they are pronounced. They are arranged in 5 groups (वर्ग) of 5 consonants each:
In each group: • The 1st and 2nd consonants are Aghosh (अघोष — unvoiced) • The 3rd and 4th consonants are Saghosh (सघोष — voiced) • The 5th consonant is a nasal sound (अनुनासिक) • The 1st, 3rd, and 5th are Alpapran (अल्पप्राण — less breath) • The 2nd and 4th are Mahapran (महाप्राण — more breath/aspirated)
Antastha means "in between." These 4 consonants are called Antastha Vyanjan because they are produced between vowels and consonants — the tongue does not fully touch any part of the mouth, and the sound flows more freely than in Sparsh Vyanjan.
The 4 Antastha Vyanjan are: • य (ya) — Talavya (palatal) • र (ra) — Murdhanya (cerebral) • ल (la) — Dantya (dental) • व (va) — Dantoshthya (dental-labial)
These are also called semi-vowels because their pronunciation is between a vowel and a consonant.
Ushma means "heat" or "warmth." These 4 consonants are called Ushma Vyanjan because when they are pronounced, the air passes through a narrow gap in the mouth, creating friction and a warm breath sound.
The 4 Ushma Vyanjan are: • श (sha) — Talavya (palatal) • ष (ṣha) — Murdhanya (cerebral) • स (sa) — Dantya (dental) • ह (ha) — Kanthya (guttural)
All four Ushma Vyanjan are Mahapran (महाप्राण — aspirated), meaning they are pronounced with a noticeable release of breath.
Sanyukt Vyanjan are consonants formed by combining two or more consonants together. There are 4 standard Sanyukt Vyanjan in Hindi:
• क्ष (ksha) = क् + ष • त्र (tra) = त् + र • ज्ञ (gya) = ज् + ञ • श्र (shra) = श् + र
These are not separate letters but combinations of existing consonants. They are included in the Hindi alphabet because they are commonly used and have a distinct combined sound.
Hindi consonants are also classified based on the amount of breath used during pronunciation:
Alpapran (अल्पप्राण — Less Breath): Consonants pronounced with a minimal release of breath. In each Sparsh Vyanjan group, the 1st, 3rd, and 5th consonants are Alpapran. Examples: क, ग, ङ, च, ज, ञ, ट, ड, ण, त, द, न, प, ब, म
Mahapran (महाप्राण — More Breath/Aspirated): Consonants pronounced with a strong puff of breath. In each Sparsh Vyanjan group, the 2nd and 4th consonants are Mahapran. All 4 Ushma Vyanjan are also Mahapran. Examples: ख, घ, छ, झ, ठ, ढ, थ, ध, फ, भ, श, ष, स, ह
Hindi consonants are also classified based on whether the vocal cords vibrate during pronunciation:
Aghosh (अघोष — Unvoiced): The vocal cords do not vibrate. In each Sparsh Vyanjan group, the 1st and 2nd consonants are Aghosh. All Ushma Vyanjan except ह are also Aghosh. Examples: क, ख, च, छ, ट, ठ, त, थ, प, फ, श, ष, स
Saghosh (सघोष — Voiced): The vocal cords vibrate during pronunciation. In each Sparsh Vyanjan group, the 3rd, 4th, and 5th consonants are Saghosh. All Antastha Vyanjan and ह are also Saghosh. Examples: ग, घ, ङ, ज, झ, ञ, ड, ढ, ण, द, ध, न, ब, भ, म, य, र, ल, व, ह
A consonant in Hindi is called Vyanjan (व्यंजन). A Vyanjan is a sound that cannot be pronounced independently without the help of a vowel (स्वर). Every Hindi consonant carries an inherent "a" (अ) sound — for example, क is pronounced "ka," ग is "ga," and प is "pa."
There are 33 standard consonants (व्यंजन) in Hindi. These are divided into: Sparsh Vyanjan (25 — from क to म), Antastha Vyanjan (4 — य, र, ल, व), and Ushma Vyanjan (4 — श, ष, स, ह). Additionally, there are 4 Sanyukt Vyanjan (combined consonants): क्ष, त्र, ज्ञ, श्र.
Sparsh Vyanjan (स्पर्श व्यंजन) are the 25 "touch consonants" in Hindi — from क to म. They are called Sparsh (touch) because the tongue touches a specific part of the mouth during pronunciation. They are arranged in 5 groups: क वर्ग (throat), च वर्ग (palate), ट वर्ग (roof of mouth), त वर्ग (teeth), and प वर्ग (lips).
Antastha Vyanjan (अंतस्थ व्यंजन) are the 4 semi-consonants in Hindi: य, र, ल, व. They are called "Antastha" (in between) because their pronunciation is between a vowel and a consonant — the tongue does not fully touch any part of the mouth.
Ushma Vyanjan (ऊष्म व्यंजन) are the 4 fricative consonants in Hindi: श, ष, स, ह. They are called "Ushma" (heat/warmth) because when they are pronounced, air passes through a narrow gap in the mouth creating friction and a warm breath sound. All four are Mahapran (aspirated).
Sanyukt Vyanjan (संयुक्त व्यंजन) are 4 combined consonants formed by joining two consonants: क्ष (क् + ष), त्र (त् + र), ज्ञ (ज् + ञ), and श्र (श् + र). They are not separate letters but commonly used combinations with distinct sounds.
Alpapran (अल्पप्राण) consonants are pronounced with minimal breath — the 1st, 3rd, and 5th consonant in each Sparsh group (e.g., क, ग, ङ). Mahapran (महाप्राण) consonants are pronounced with a strong puff of breath — the 2nd and 4th consonant in each Sparsh group (e.g., ख, घ). All 4 Ushma Vyanjan are also Mahapran.
Aghosh (अघोष) consonants are unvoiced — the vocal cords do not vibrate. These are the 1st and 2nd consonant in each Sparsh group (e.g., क, ख). Saghosh (सघोष) consonants are voiced — the vocal cords vibrate. These are the 3rd, 4th, and 5th consonant in each group (e.g., ग, घ, ङ). All Antastha Vyanjan and ह are also Saghosh.
Strips Meaning in Hindi
Strips meaning in Hindi is पट्टियां (pattiyan) or धारियां (dhaariyan). Strips = long narrow pieces or lines. All meanings with examples in Hindi.
सुमित्रानंदन पंत का जीवन परिचय (Sumitranandan Pant)
सुमित्रानंदन पंत का जीवन परिचय पढ़ें। जानें प्रकृति के सुकुमार कवि की प्रमुख रचनाएं (वीणा, पल्लव, चिदंबरा) और उन्हें मिले ज्ञानपीठ पुरस्कार के बारे में।
सुंदर का विलोम शब्द (Antonym of Sundar)
हिंदी व्याकरण: जानें 'सुंदर' (Beautiful) का सही विलोम (विपरीतार्थक) शब्द क्या होता है (कुरूप/बदसूरत)। वाक्यों में विलोम शब्दों का सही प्रयोग करना सीखें।
सूरज का पर्यायवाची शब्द (Synonyms of Sun in Hindi)
हिंदी व्याकरण: जानें 'सूरज' (Sun) के सबसे महत्वपूर्ण पर्यायवाची शब्द (जैसे सूर्य, रवि, दिनकर, भास्कर, और भानु) अर्थ और वाक्य प्रयोग के साथ।
सूरदास का जीवन परिचय
सूरदास: जन्म 1478 ई., सीही (दिल्ली)। सूरसागर, सूर-सारावली। भाषा: ब्रजभाषा। गुरु: वल्लभाचार्य। कृष्ण-भक्ति के महान कवि।
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