This table shows how vowel signs attach to the consonant क (ka). The base consonant always carries an inherent a sound unless modified by a vowel sign.
Chapter 1 – Script and Pronunciation
Unit 3 — Vowel Signs
Overview
In Unit 2, you learned the 11 main independent Nepali vowel letters:
अ (a)
आ (ā)
इ (i)
ई (ī)
उ (u)
ऊ (ū)
ऋ (ṛ)
ए (e)
ऐ (ai)
ओ (o)
औ (au)
These vowel letters are complete अक्षर (akṣara). This means they can stand alone as full written units.
For example:
अ
a
आ
ā
ओ
o
Each of these can be read by itself.
In this unit, you will learn vowel signs, or मात्रा (mātrā).
Vowel signs are different from independent vowel letters. They cannot stand alone. They must attach to a consonant.
For example:
क
ka
का
kā
कि
ki
The consonant क (ka) stays the same. The vowel sign changes the vowel sound.
This pattern is very important in Nepali reading and writing.
In this unit, you will learn:
the main Nepali vowel signs
how vowel signs attach to consonants
how vowel signs change the sound of a consonant
how to read the क (ka) series
how to recognize vowel signs in simple Nepali words
You do not need to master everything right away. The goal is to become familiar with how vowel signs work so that you can begin reading Nepali words with more confidence.
Vowel Letters and Vowel Signs
Nepali vowels appear in two forms.
Independent vowel letters are used when a syllable begins with a vowel.
Vowel signs, or मात्रा (mātrā), are used when a vowel sound is attached to a consonant.
For example:
आ
ā
This is an independent vowel letter. It can stand alone.
का
kā
Here, the vowel sound ā is attached to the consonant क (ka) by using the vowel sign ा.
Simple Rule
Independent vowel letters stand alone.
Vowel signs attach to consonants.
Examples:
अ = a
क = ka
आ = ā
का = kā
इ = i
कि = ki
उ = u
कु = ku
The Inherent a Sound
In Devanagari, most consonants already include a built-in a sound.
For example:
क
ka
This means क is not just “k.” It is read as ka.
When you add a vowel sign, the built-in a sound changes.
Examples:
क
ka
का
kā
कि
ki
कु
ku
So, the consonant stays the same, but the vowel sound changes.
Simple Rule
A consonant has an inherent a sound.
A vowel sign replaces that sound.
Examples:
क → का
ka → kā
क → कि
ka → ki
क → कु
ka → ku
Table 1.3.1 – Nepali Vowels: Letters and Vowel Signs
| Vowel letter | Vowel sign |
|---|---|
| अ (a) | — |
| आ (ā) | ा |
| इ (i) | ि |
| ई (ī) | ी |
| उ (u) | ु |
| ऊ (ū) | ू |
| ऋ (ṛ) | ृ |
| ए (e) | े |
| ऐ (ai) | ै |
| ओ (o) | ो |
| औ (au) | ौ |
Vowel Signs with क (ka)
Now look at how vowel signs attach to the consonant क (ka).
The base consonant क has the sound ka.
When a vowel sign is added, the vowel sound changes.
Table 1.3.2 – Vowel signs with (ka)
| Vowel letter | Vowel sign | Syllable with क (ka) | Audio |
| अ (a) | — | क (ka) |
|
| आ (ā) | ा | का (kā) |
|
| इ (i) | ि | कि (ki) |
|
| ई (ī) | ी | की (kī) |
|
| उ (u) | ु | कु (ku) |
|
| ऊ (ū) | ू | कू (kū) |
|
| ए (e) | े | के (ke) |
|
| ऐ (ai) | ै | कै (kai) |
|
| ओ (o) | ो | को (ko) |
|
| औ (au) | ौ | कौ (kau) |
|
| ऋ (ṛ) | ृ | कृ (kṛ) |
|
Learner Tip
Some vowel signs appear after the consonant.
Example:
का
kā
Some vowel signs appear before the consonant.
Example:
कि
ki
Even though ि appears before क, you still read the consonant first.
कि is read as:
क + ि
k + i
ki
It is not read as ik.
Try It Now
Read the क (ka) series aloud:
क — ka
का — kā
कि — ki
की — kī
कु — ku
कू — kū
कृ — kṛ
के — ke
कै — kai
को — ko
कौ — kau
Read them slowly first.
Then read them again more naturally.
You can use the audio recorder below to record yourself. Listen to your recording and check whether each vowel sound is clear.
Vowel Signs in Words
Vowel signs are used in many Nepali words.
Look at these examples:
काम
kām
work
किताब
kitāb
book
कुर्सी
kursī
chair
केरा
kerā
banana
कोठा
koṭhā
room
In each word, vowel signs are attached to consonants.
Learner Tip
When you read a Nepali word, look carefully at the consonant and the vowel sign together.
For example:
कि
ki
का
kā
को
ko
Each consonant + vowel sign makes one complete अक्षर (akṣara).
Watch and Practice
Watch the short video below to practise Nepali vowels and vowel signs.
Let’s watch this short video, about 1 minute long, created by Joseph Wr to learn and practise vowel letters and vowel signs. The video was designed for Hindi, but the vowel signs are also useful for Nepali.
As you watch, try to notice:
the shape of each vowel sign
where the vowel sign appears
how the vowel sign attaches to the consonant
how the sound changes
Now watch this short video, about 3 minutes long, created by Sharad Dhakal, to learn and practise how to write Nepali vowel signs.
As you watch, focus on:
the direction of writing
the placement of each vowel sign
the difference between similar signs
how the signs combine with consonants
Practice Activity
Check Your Understanding
Review Questions
Answer the questions.
- What is a vowel sign called in Nepali?
- Can a vowel sign stand alone?
- What sound does क have by itself?
- What is the vowel sign for आ (ā)?
- What is the vowel sign for इ (i)?
- How do you read कि?
- Why is कि read as ki and not ik?
- What does का mean in transliteration?
- What does कु mean in transliteration?
- How does a vowel sign change the sound of a consonant?
Self Reflection
Key Takeaways
- Nepali vowels appear in two forms: independent vowel letters and vowel signs.
- Independent vowel letters can stand alone.
- Vowel signs, or मात्रा (mātrā), cannot stand alone.
- Vowel signs must attach to consonants.
- Most consonants have an inherent a sound.
- For example, क is read as ka.
- When a vowel sign is added, it changes the vowel sound.
- For example, क (ka) becomes का (kā), कि (ki), कु (ku), and so on.
- One consonant + one vowel sign forms one complete अक्षर (akṣara).
- Some vowel signs appear before the consonant, but the consonant is still read first.
- For example, कि is read as ki, not ik.
- You can now begin reading the full क (ka) series: क, का, कि, की, कु, कू, कृ, के, कै, को, कौ.
definition
mātrā is a vowel sign (vowel diacritics) added to a consonant in Devanagari (dewanāgarī) to change its vowel sound (e.g., क ka → का kā, कि ki, कु ku).
