Overview

In Unit 4, you learned the main Nepali consonant letters.

You also learned that most consonants have a built-in a sound.

For example:

क
ka

त
ta

म
ma

In this unit, you will learn how consonants combine with vowel signs to make syllable blocks.

These syllable blocks are called अक्षर (akṣara).

For example:

क
ka

का
kā

कि
ki

कु
ku

Each form is read as one complete sound unit.

This kind of practice is called बाह्रखरी (bāhrakharī). It is one of the most important steps in learning to read and write Devanagari (dewanāgarī).

In this unit, you will learn:

1. what an अक्षर (akṣara) is
2. how consonants combine with vowel signs
3. how the built-in a sound changes
4. how to read the बाह्रखरी (bāhrakharī) pattern
5. how to practise consonant-vowel combinations
6. how to recognize syllable blocks in Nepali words

You do not need to memorize every form right away.

The goal is to understand the pattern and begin reading syllables with more confidence.

1. What Is an अक्षर (akṣara)?

An अक्षर (akṣara) is one complete syllable unit in Nepali writing.

In English, we often think about individual letters.

In Nepali Devanagari, we often read in syllable blocks.

For example:

क
ka

का
kā

कि
ki

कु
ku

Each one is read as one complete unit.

Simple Rule

An अक्षर (akṣara) is one readable syllable block.

Examples:

क = ka
मा = mā
नि = ni
सु = su

2. Building Nepali Syllable Blocks

Most Nepali syllables are made by combining:

1. a consonant
2. a vowel sound

Sometimes the vowel sound is built in.

Sometimes the vowel sound is shown by a vowel sign, or मात्रा (mātrā).

Table 1.5.1 – Basic Syllable Patterns

Learner Tip

The consonant stays the same.

The vowel sound changes.

Example:

क
ka

का
kā

कि
ki

कु
ku

3. The Built-in a Sound

Most consonants already have a built-in a sound.

For example:

क
ka

म
ma

न
na

स
sa

This means that a consonant by itself is usually read with a.

When a vowel sign is added, the built-in a sound changes.

Examples:

क → का
ka → kā

क → कि
ka → ki

क → कु
ka → ku

Simple Rule

1. A consonant by itself has a built-in a sound.
2. A vowel sign changes that sound.
3. The consonant remains the same.

4. What Is बाह्रखरी (bāhrakharī)?

बाह्रखरी (bāhrakharī) is a practice chart.

It shows how one consonant combines with different vowel signs.

For example, the consonant क (ka) can combine with vowel signs like this:

क
ka

का
kā

कि
ki

की
kī

कु
ku

कू
kū

कृ
kṛ

के
ke

कै
kai

को
ko

कौ
kau

This helps you learn how vowel signs work with consonants.

Simple Rule

बाह्रखरी (bāhrakharī) shows consonant + vowel combinations.

5. The क (ka) Pattern

Start with क (ka).

Read across the row.

The consonant क stays the same, but the vowel sound changes.

Table 1.5.2 – The क (ka) Pattern

Learner Tip

Notice that the vowel sign ि appears 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.

6. Reading Order

In Devanagari, the written position of a vowel sign is not always the same as the reading order.

Some vowel signs appear:

1. after the consonant
2. before the consonant
3. above the consonant
4. below the consonant

But the reading order is usually:

consonant → vowel

Examples:

का
kā

कि
ki

कु
ku

के
ke

को
ko

Simple Rule

The vowel sign may appear in different places.

But you still read the consonant first.

7. The हलन्त (halanta)

The हलन्त (halanta) sign is written as:

्

It removes the built-in a sound from a consonant.

Example:

क
ka

क्
k

This is important because it helps create consonant clusters.

You will learn more about consonant clusters and conjunct consonants in the next unit.

For now, remember this simple rule:

Simple Rule

A हलन्त (halanta) removes the built-in a sound.

Example:

क = ka
क् = k

8. Practising the Main बाह्रखरी (bāhrakharī) Rows

The following charts show how consonants combine with vowel signs.

Read one row at a time.

Do not rush.

Focus on recognizing the pattern.

9. क-Series बाह्रखरी (ka-series bāhrakharī)

The क-series includes:

क, ख, ग, घ, ङ
ka, kha, ga, gha, ṅa

Practise one row at a time.

Table 1.5.3 – क-Series बाह्रखरी

Try It Now

Read the first row aloud:

क, का, कि, की, कु, कू, कृ, के, कै, को, कौ
ka, kā, ki, kī, ku, kū, kṛ, ke, kai, ko, kau

Read slowly first.

Then read again more naturally.

10. च-Series बाह्रखरी (ca-series bāhrakharī)

The च-series includes:

च, छ, ज, झ, ञ
ca, cha, ja, jha, ña

Table 1.5.4 – च-Series बाह्रखरी

Learner Tip

Watch carefully for the vowel sign ि.

Examples:

चि
ci

छि
chi

जि
ji

The ि sign appears before the consonant, but it is read after the consonant sound.

11. ट-Series बाह्रखरी (ṭa-series bāhrakharī)

The ट-series includes:

ट, ठ, ड, ढ, ण
ṭa, ṭha, ḍa, ḍha, ṇa

These sounds are different from the त-series sounds.

The tongue curls slightly back.

Table 1.5.5 – ट-Series बाह्रखरी

Try It Now

Read these slowly:

ट, टा, टि, टी, टु, टू, टृ, टे, टै, टो, टौ
ṭa, ṭā, ṭi, ṭī, ṭu, ṭū, ṭṛ, ṭe, ṭai, ṭo, ṭau

12. त-Series बाह्रखरी (ta-series bāhrakharī)

The त-series includes:

त, थ, द, ध, न
ta, tha, da, dha, na

These sounds are common in everyday Nepali.

Table 1.5.6 – त-Series बाह्रखरी

Learner Tip

The त-series is very useful because many Nepali words use these letters.

Examples:

त
ta

न
na

द
da

Practice this row more than once.

13. प-Series बाह्रखरी (pa-series bāhrakharī)

The प-series includes:

प, फ, ब, भ, म
pa, pha, ba, bha, ma

These sounds are made with the lips.

Table 1.5.7 – प-Series बाह्रखरी

Try It Now

Read the म row aloud:

म, मा, मि, मी, मु, मू, मृ, मे, मै, मो, मौ
ma, mā, mi, mī, mu, mū, mṛ, me, mai, mo, mau

14. य, र, ल, व बाह्रखरी

These letters combine with vowel signs in the same way.

य, र, ल, व
ya, ra, la, wa

Table 1.5.8 – य, र, ल, व बाह्रखरी

Learner Tip

Pay attention to रु and रू.

The vowel sign appears below the letter.

Examples:

रु
ru

रू
rū

15. श, ष, स, ह बाह्रखरी

This set includes:

श, ष, स, ह
śa, ṣa, sa, ha

Some learners confuse श, ष, and स at first.

That is normal.

Practise slowly and look carefully at the shape of each letter.

Table 1.5.9 – श, ष, स, ह बाह्रखरी

16. Common Conjuncts बाह्रखरी

Some common conjuncts also combine with vowel signs.

The most common ones are:

क्ष
kṣa

त्र
tra

ज्ञ
jña / gya

For beginners, it is helpful to recognize these as complete visual units.

Table 1.5.10 – Common Conjuncts बाह्रखरी

Learner Tip

You do not need to master all conjunct forms right away.

For now, try to recognize:

क्ष
kṣa

त्र
tra

ज्ञ
jña / gya

17. Try It Now

Choose one consonant and read across the row.

Example with क:

क, का, कि, की, कु, कू, कृ, के, कै, को, कौ
ka, kā, ki, kī, ku, kū, kṛ, ke, kai, ko, kau

Now try म:

म, मा, मि, मी, मु, मू, मृ, मे, मै, मो, मौ
ma, mā, mi, mī, mu, mū, mṛ, me, mai, mo, mau

Then try न:

न, ना, नि, नी, नु, नू, नृ, ने, नै, नो, नौ
na, nā, ni, nī, nu, nū, nṛ, ne, nai, no, nau

Read slowly first.

Then read 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.