Marathi, an Indo-Aryan language predominantly spoken in the Indian state of Maharashtra, uses the Devanagari script, similar to Hindi and Sanskrit. Understanding the Marathi alphabet is fundamental to reading, writing, and speaking in Marathi. The script is a phonetic system, meaning it largely represents linguistic sounds directly.

Overview of the Marathi Alphabet

• Script Type: Devanagari
• Number of Letters: 48 (12 vowels and 36 consonants)
• Unique Features: Marathi alphabet includes characters for vowels, consonants, vowel diacritics, and conjunct consonants.

Detailed Breakdown of the Marathi Alphabet

Vowels (स्वर / Swar)

1. अ (a)

   • Pronunciation: Like ‘a’ in “about.”
   • Example Word: “अन्न” (anna) – meaning “Food”

2. आ (ā)

   • Pronunciation: Like ‘a’ in “father.”
   • Example Word: “आम्ही” (āmhī) – meaning “We”

3. इ (i)

   • Pronunciation: Like ‘i’ in “pin.”
   • Example Word: “इथे” (ithe) – meaning “Here”

4. ई (ī)

   • Pronunciation: Like ‘ee’ in “see.”
   • Example Word: “ईश्वर” (īshwar) – meaning “God”

5. उ (u)

   • Pronunciation: Like ‘u’ in “put.”
   • Example Word: “उन्ह” (unh) – meaning “Heat”

6. ऊ (ū)

   • Pronunciation: Like ‘oo’ in “food.”
   • Example Word: “ऊस” (ūs) – meaning “Sugarcane”

7. ए (e)

   • Pronunciation: Like ‘e’ in “they.”
   • Example Word: “एक” (ek) – meaning “One”

8. ऐ (ai)

   • Pronunciation: Like ‘i’ in “mine.”
   • Example Word: “ऐक” (aik) – meaning “Listen”

9. ओ (o)

   • Pronunciation: Like ‘o’ in “note.”
   • Example Word: “ओळ” (oḷ) – meaning “Line”

10. औ (au)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘ou’ in “house.”
    • Example Word: “औषध” (auṣadh) – meaning “Medicine”

11. अं (aṁ)

    • Pronunciation: Nasal sound, like ‘n’ in “button.”
    • Example Word: “अंबा” (aṁbā) – meaning “Mango”

12. अः (ah)

    • Pronunciation: Pronounced with an exhalation, like ‘h’ in “aha!”
    • Example Word: “अः” (ah) – a standalone exclamation

Consonants (व्यंजन / Vyanjan)

Marathi has 36 consonants, each representing a unique sound. These are broadly divided into groups based on their place of articulation, like gutturals, palatals, cerebrals, dentals, and labials. Here are a few examples:

1. क (ka)

   • Pronunciation: Like ‘k’ in “kite.”
   • Example Word: “कबूतर” (kabūtar) – meaning “Pigeon”

2. ख (kha)

   • Pronunciation: Aspirated ‘k,’ like ‘k’ in “kit” with a puff of air.
   • Example Word: “खरा” (kharā) – meaning “True”

3. ग (ga)

   • Pronunciation: Like ‘g’ in “go.”
   • Example Word: “गणेश” (gaṇeś) – meaning “Ganesha”

4. घ (gha)

   • Pronunciation: Aspirated ‘g,’ like ‘g’ in “goat” with a puff of air.
   • Example Word: “घडी” (ghaḍī) – meaning “Watch”

5. ङ (ṅa)

   • Pronunciation: Nasal sound, like ‘ng’ in “song.”
   • Example Word: “बंगला” (baṅgalā) – meaning “Bungalow”

6. च (ca)

   • Pronunciation: Like ‘ch’ in “church.”
   • Example Word: “चटणी” (caṭaṇī) – meaning “Chutney”

7. छ (cha)

   • Pronunciation: Aspirated ‘ch,’ like ‘ch’ in “church” with a puff of air.
   • Example Word: “छत्री” (chhatrī) – meaning “Umbrella”

8. ज (ja)

   • Pronunciation: Like ‘j’ in “jug.”
   • Example Word: “जहाज” (jahāj) – meaning “Ship”

9. झ (jha)

   • Pronunciation: Aspirated ‘j,’ like ‘j’ in “judge” with a puff of air.
   • Example Word: “झेंडू” (jhendū) – meaning “Marigold”

10. ञ (ña)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘ñ’ in Spanish “niño.”
    • Example Word: “पाञ” (pāñ) – meaning “Lotus”

11. ट (ṭa)

    • Pronunciation: Retroflex, like ‘t’ in “star” with the tongue curled back.
    • Example Word: “टमाटर” (ṭamāṭar) – meaning “Tomato”

12. ठ (ṭha)

    • Pronunciation: Retroflex and aspirated, like ‘t’ in “star” with a puff of air.
    • Example Word: “ठणठणीत” (ṭhaṇṭhaṇīt) – meaning “Crisp”

13. ड (ḍa)

    • Pronunciation: Retroflex, like ‘d’ in “dark” with the tongue curled back.
    • Example Word: “डोळा” (ḍoḷā) – meaning “Eye”

14. ढ (ḍha)

    • Pronunciation: Retroflex and aspirated, like ‘d’ in “dark” with a puff of air.
    • Example Word: “ढोलकी” (ḍholakī) – meaning “Drum”

15. ण (ṇa)

    • Pronunciation: Retroflex nasal, like ‘n’ in “canyon” with the tongue curled back.
    • Example Word: “णक्कल” (ṇakkal) – meaning “Mockery”

16. त (ta)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘t’ in “tea.”
    • Example Word: “तारा” (tārā) – meaning “Star”

17. थ (tha)

    • Pronunciation: Aspirated ‘t,’ like ‘t’ in “tea” with a puff of air.
    • Example Word: “थंडी” (thaṇḍī) – meaning “Cold”

18. द (da)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘d’ in “dog.”
    • Example Word: “दरवाजा” (daravājā) – meaning “Door”

19. ध (dha)

    • Pronunciation: Aspirated ‘d,’ like ‘d’ in “dog” with a puff of air.
    • Example Word: “ध्वनी” (dhvanī) – meaning “Sound”

20. न (na)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘n’ in “nice.”
    • Example Word: “नदी” (nadī) – meaning “River”

21. प (pa)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘p’ in “pot.”
    • Example Word: “पाणी” (pāṇī) – meaning “Water”

22. फ (pha)

    • Pronunciation: Aspirated ‘p,’ like ‘p’ in “pot” with a puff of air.
    • Example Word: “फूल” (phūl) – meaning “Flower”

23. ब (ba)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘b’ in “bat.”
    • Example Word: “बालक” (bālak) – meaning “Child”

24. भ (bha)

    • Pronunciation: Aspirated ‘b,’ like ‘b’ in “bat” with a puff of air.
    • Example Word: “भाषा” (bhāṣā) – meaning “Language”

25. म (ma)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘m’ in “man.”
    • Example Word: “मोर” (mor) – meaning “Peacock”

26. य (ya)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘y’ in “yes.”
    • Example Word: “यमुना” (yamunā) – meaning “Yamuna (River)”

27. र (ra)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘r’ in “red.”
    • Example Word: “राजा” (rājā) – meaning “King”

28. ल (la)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘l’ in “love.”
    • Example Word: “लेखन” (lekhan) – meaning “Writing”

29. व (va)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘v’ in “van.”
    • Example Word: “विमान” (vimān) – meaning “Airplane”

30. श (śa)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘sh’ in “shun.”
    • Example Word: “शाळा” (śāḷā) – meaning “School”

31. ष (ṣa)

    • Pronunciation: Similar to ‘sh,’ but more retroflex.
    • Example Word: “षड्यंत्र” (ṣaḍyantra) – meaning “Conspiracy”

32. स (sa)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘s’ in “sun.”
    • Example Word: “सपाट” (sapāṭ) – meaning “Flat”

33. ह (ha)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘h’ in “hat.”
    • Example Word: “हस्त” (hasta) – meaning “Hand”

34. ळ (ḷa)

    • Pronunciation: Retroflex ‘l,’ with the tongue curled back.
    • Example Word: “ळालणी” (ḷālaṇī) – meaning “Cradle”

35. क्ष (kṣa)

    • Pronunciation: Combination of ‘k’ and ‘sh.’
    • Example Word: “क्षमा” (kṣamā) – meaning “Forgiveness”

36. ज्ञ (jña)

    • Pronunciation: Combination of ‘j’ and ‘ñ.’
    • Example Word: “ज्ञान” (jñān) – meaning “Knowledge”

Pronunciation Tips

• Vowel Length: Pay attention to the length of vowels, as it can change the meaning of words.
• Consonant Clusters: Marathi has many consonant clusters (जोडाक्षर / joḍākṣar) that create unique sounds.
• Nasal Sounds: Nasal consonants (अनुनासिक / anunāsik) are significant in Marathi.

Practice Exercises

• Listening and Speaking: Engage with Marathi audio resources and practice pronouncing words.
• Writing Practice: Write down each letter and practice forming words.
• Reading Practice: Start with simple texts to familiarize yourself with the script.

Additional Resources

• Language Learning Apps: Look for apps that offer Marathi language courses.
• Online Tutorials: Websites and YouTube channels often provide helpful lessons and pronunciation guides.
• Language Exchange: Engage with native speakers for practical experience.

Conclusion

Mastering the Marathi alphabet is essential for effective communication in Marathi. Regular practice in speaking, listening, reading, and writing will lead to proficiency and a deeper appreciation of the language’s rich literary heritage.