What Is devanāgarī?

1. Overview

devanāgarī is the script used to write Nepali.

In this unit, you will learn the basic parts of the script and begin reading Nepali in small written units called akṣara, or syllable blocks.

Nepali writing is built from four main elements:

1. consonants
2. vowels
3. vowel signs
4. conjuncts, or consonant clusters

These elements combine to form the akṣara used in words and sentences.

2. Consonants

Consonants are the main letters in Nepali.

A key feature of Nepali orthography is that each consonant letter carries an inherent vowel sound, a. This vowel is already built into the consonant, so it has no separate visible form and does not need a vowel sign or diacritic.

For example:

क = ka, not just k

When this built-in a sound is removed, the consonant is sometimes called a bare consonant. In devanāgarī, this is shown with the halanta mark ्.

क् = k

Examples:

क = ka
ख = kha
ग = ga
घ = gha
ङ = ṅa

However, when a consonant combines with a vowel sign, something important happens: the inherent a sound is replaced by another vowel sound. Notice how the vowel signs, or diacritics, change the sound of the consonant in Nepali script.

For example:

क = ka
का = kā
कि = ki
कु = ku
के = ke
को = ko

Consonants can also combine with other consonants to form conjuncts, which you will study in detail in Unit 6.

3. Vowels and Vowel Signs

स्वर (swara) means a vowel sound in Nepali. In Nepali orthography, vowel sounds are written in two main ways:

1. as independent vowel letters, when the akṣara begins with a vowel
2. as vowel signs attached to consonants, when the vowel comes after a consonant

3.1 Independent Vowels

Independent vowels are used when an akṣara begins with a vowel.

Examples:

अ = a
आ = ā
इ = i
ई = ī
उ = u
ऊ = ū
ए = e
ऐ = ai
ओ = o
औ = au

These vowels stand on their own. They do not need to attach to a consonant.

3.2 Vowel Signs

Vowel signs are used when a vowel sound comes after a consonant. They attach to the consonant and replace the consonant’s built-in a sound.

Examples of vowel signs include:

ा = ā
ि = i
ी = ī
ु = u
ू = ū
े = e
ै = ai
ो = o
ौ = au

For example, with the consonant क:

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

In each example, the base consonant क remains the same, but the attached vowel sign changes the vowel sound.

4. Conjuncts

Sometimes two consonants occur together with no vowel between them. These form a conjunct, or consonant cluster, written as a single combined shape inside one akṣara.

Examples:

क् + त → क्त = kta
स् + त → स्त = sta
प् + र → प्र = pra
ग् + य → ग्य = gya

You will learn how conjuncts are formed and written in Unit 6. For now, treat each conjunct as one reading unit, or one akṣara.

4.1 Common Conjuncts

क्ष = kṣa
त्र = tra
ज्ञ = jña, often pronounced close to gya in modern Nepali

5. Common Writing Features

devanāgarī also uses several important writing features and marks. You will see these often when reading Nepali.

5.1 शिरोरेखा — śirorekhā

Many devanāgarī letters include a horizontal top line called the शिरोरेखा — śirorekhā.

When letters form a word, this line usually connects across the akṣara.

Example:

नेपाली = nepālī

5.2 हलन्त ् — halanta

The हलन्त ् — halanta removes the built-in a vowel from a consonant.

क = ka
क् = k

It also helps form conjuncts by allowing one consonant to join another.

5.3 चन्द्रबिन्दु ँ — candrabindu

The चन्द्रबिन्दु ँ marks nasalization.

Example:

आँखा = ā̃khā

5.4 बिन्दु ं — bindu

The बिन्दु ं marks a nasal sound.

Example:

गंगा = gaṅgā

5.5 पूर्ण विराम । — pūrṇa wirām

The पूर्ण विराम । marks the end of a sentence.

Example:

यो किताब हो। = yo kitāb ho.

5.6 विसर्ग ः — wisarga

The विसर्ग ः adds a light, breathy sound after a vowel. It appears mainly in Sanskrit-based or formal vocabulary.

Example:

दुःख = duḥkha

6. akṣara — The Basic Reading Unit

Nepali is read in akṣara, or syllable blocks.

Each akṣara contains:

1. one vowel element
2. one or more consonants, including conjuncts

For beginners, it is helpful to read Nepali one akṣara at a time, not letter by letter.

7. How Vowels Appear in an akṣara

A vowel can appear in an akṣara in several ways.

7.1 Built-in Vowel

क = ka

Here, the vowel a is built into the consonant क.

7.2 Vowel Sign

कि = ki
कु = ku
को = ko

Here, the vowel sign replaces the built-in a sound.

7.3 Independent Vowel

अ = a

Here, the akṣara begins with an independent vowel.

7.4 No Vowel with halanta

क् = k

Here, the halanta removes the built-in a sound.

8. Conjuncts Inside an akṣara

An akṣara can include a conjunct.

क्त = kta
one akṣara

Example:

रक्त = rakta
→ र ra + क्त kta

In this word, क्त is read as one akṣara.

9. One akṣara vs. Multiple akṣara

9.1 One akṣara

क
कि
को
क्त

9.2 Multiple akṣara

रक्त
→ र + क्त

Beginner focus:

Read Nepali one akṣara at a time, not letter by letter.