A Beginner's Guide to the Gurmukhi Alphabet

Gurmukhi — meaning "from the mouth of the Guru" — is the script used to write Punjabi in India. It was standardised by Guru Angad Dev Ji, the second Sikh Guru, in the 16th century. If you want to read Punjabi signboards, scripture, or literature, Gurmukhi is where you begin.

The 35 Akhar (Letters)

The Gurmukhi alphabet is organised into a clean grid of 35 consonants, traditionally recited in rows of five. The first three letters are special — they're vowel carriers rather than true consonants:

ੳ (Ura) · ਅ (Aira) · ੲ (Eeri)

These three carry the independent vowel forms. Every Gurmukhi vowel attaches to one of these when it appears at the start of a word.

The remaining 32 consonants follow a logical pattern, grouped by where in the mouth the sound is produced:

• Velars (throat): ਸ ਹ ਕ ਖ ਗ ਘ ਙ
• Palatals (hard palate): ਚ ਛ ਜ ਝ ਞ
• Retroflexes (roof of mouth): ਟ ਠ ਡ ਢ ਣ
• Dentals (teeth): ਤ ਥ ਦ ਧ ਨ
• Labials (lips): ਪ ਫ ਬ ਭ ਮ
• Semi-vowels and sibilants: ਯ ਰ ਲ ਵ ੜ

Each row pairs unaspirated and aspirated sounds (e.g., ਕ "ka" vs ਖ "kha"), which makes the system predictable once you learn the pattern.

Vowel Signs (Laga Matra)

Punjabi has ten vowel sounds, each represented by a diacritical mark that attaches to a consonant:

| Vowel Sign | Name | Sound | |---|---|---| | (none) | Mukta | "a" as in "about" | | ਾ | Kanna | "aa" as in "father" | | ਿ | Sihari | "i" as in "sit" | | ੀ | Bihari | "ee" as in "see" | | ੁ | Aunkar | "u" as in "put" | | ੂ | Dulainkar | "oo" as in "food" | | ੇ | Lavan | "e" as in "play" | | ੈ | Dulavan | "ai" as in "air" | | ੋ | Hora | "o" as in "go" | | ੌ | Kanora | "au" as in "caught" |

Notice that Mukta has no visible mark — every consonant carries an inherent short "a" sound by default. This is one of the first things beginners need to internalise.

Other Important Marks

• ਂ (Bindi) — adds a nasal "n" sound
• ੰ (Tippi) — also nasalisation, used with specific vowels
• ੍ (Halant) — suppresses the inherent vowel, creating a "dead" consonant
• ੱ (Adhak) — doubles the following consonant sound

Tips for Learning Gurmukhi

Start with the vowel signs. Once you can recognise all ten matras, you can sound out almost any word — even if you don't know its meaning yet. Write by hand. The muscle memory of tracing each letter reinforces recognition far faster than flashcards alone. Alfaazo's stroke-by-stroke practice guides you through the correct stroke order for every letter, so you build proper writing habits from day one. Group similar-looking letters. ਖ and ਘ, or ਧ and ਥ, look alike at first. Practise them side by side so you learn to spot the differences early. Read Gurbani. Even if you're not Sikh, Sikh scripture is written entirely in Gurmukhi and is widely available with transliterations — it's excellent reading practice.

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> Gurmukhi isn't just an alphabet — it's a doorway into centuries of poetry, devotion, and identity. Learn the 35 letters and you unlock an entire world.

Related reading: Once you know the letters, try 10 essential Punjabi phrases to start using them, or learn about Gurmukhi vs Shahmukhi — Punjabi's two writing systems.

Ready to trace your first letters? Download Alfaazo and practise every akhar with guided stroke order and instant feedback.