वर्णमाला

Varnamāla

The Sanskrit alphabet has two kinds of letters — vowels (svaras) that carry sound, and consonants (vyanjanas) that shape it.

Vowels

स्वर— the soul of sound

Gutturals

कण्ठ्य— formed at the throat

Palatals

तालव्य— formed at the palate

Retroflexes

मूर्धन्य— tongue curls back

णṇa🏹the epic Ramayana

Dentals

दन्त्य— formed at the teeth

Labials

ओष्ठ्य— formed at the lips

Semi-vowels

अन्तस्थ— between vowels and consonants

यya🧘union

रra☀️sun

लla🌺goddess of wealth

वva🌳forest

Sibilants

ऊष्म— hissing sounds

शśa☮️peace

षṣa6️⃣six

सsa🌞sun

Aspirate

महाप्राण— the breath sound

हha🔱Shiva

Special Conjuncts

संयुक्त— combined letter forms

क्षkṣa🙏forgiveness

त्रtra🔺triangle

ज्ञjña🌟wisdom