How Hindi writing works

Devanagari runs left to right, with spaces between words and no uppercase/lowercase distinction. A consonant normally carries a short inherent vowel, approximately the a in about. An attached vowel sign replaces that vowel; a halant can suppress it. Groups of consonants can form joined shapes.

A common school inventory has 33 basic consonants and 11 independent vowels, including ऋ. Hindi also uses vowel marks, nasal signs, halant and dotted consonants for additional sounds. Counts differ when loan letters, Sanskrit vowels, combined consonants or nasal signs are counted separately. क्ष is a consonant combination, not another basic consonant.

In का the long ā sign is on the right. In कि the short i sign is displayed on the left but read after k. Other signs appear above or below. The connecting headline joins many printed shapes, but words remain separated by spaces.

Listen first. You do not need to recognise these signs yet. The four introductory pages have no compulsory test.