Language/Marathi/Grammar/Devanagari-script
Welcome to your journey into the beautiful and intricate world of the Marathi Devanagari script! Understanding the script is fundamental for anyone looking to learn Marathi, as it opens the door to reading, writing, and appreciating the language in all its glory. In this lesson, we will explore the basics of the Devanagari script, including its letter forms, diacritics, and how these elements come together to form words.
The Devanagari script is not just a means of communication; it is a vital part of Marathi culture and identity. By learning to read and write in Devanagari, you not only gain a skill but also a deeper connection to the language and its speakers. This lesson will be structured as follows:
- Introduction to the Devanagari Script
- Basic Letters and Vowels
- Consonants and Their Diacritics
- Forming Words and Simple Sentences
- Practice Exercises
- Conclusion
Let’s delve into the world of Devanagari!
Introduction to the Devanagari Script[edit | edit source]
The Devanagari script is an abugida, which means that each character represents a consonant with an inherent vowel sound. This is an important aspect to grasp as we begin our exploration. In Marathi, the inherent vowel is usually 'अ' (a), but it can be modified with diacritics to represent different vowels.
The script consists of 14 vowels and 36 consonants. Additionally, it employs various diacritics to denote vowel sounds and nasalization. Learning these characters is crucial as they form the foundation of written communication in Marathi.
Basic Letters and Vowels[edit | edit source]
Let’s begin with the vowels in the Devanagari script. Here are the basic vowels and their representations:
| Marathi | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| अ | /ə/ | a (as in "America") |
| आ | /aː/ | aa (as in "father") |
| इ | /i/ | i (as in "it") |
| ई | /iː/ | ee (as in "see") |
| उ | /u/ | u (as in "put") |
| ऊ | /uː/ | oo (as in "food") |
| ऋ | /r̥i/ | ri (a unique sound) |
| ए | /eː/ | e (as in "they") |
| ऐ | /ai/ | ai (as in "aisle") |
| ओ | /oː/ | o (as in "go") |
| औ | /au/ | au (as in "how") |
| अं | /ə̃/ | um (as in "hum") |
| अः | /əɦ/ | ah (a sound of breath) |
These vowels are the building blocks of every word in Marathi. Each vowel has its unique form, and they can also be combined with consonants to create different sounds.
Consonants and Their Diacritics[edit | edit source]
Next, we will look at the consonants. The Devanagari script comprises 36 consonants, each with its unique sound. Here are some common consonants along with their diacritics:
| Marathi | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| क | /kə/ | ka |
| ख | /kʰə/ | kha |
| ग | /gə/ | ga |
| घ | /gʰə/ | gha |
| च | /tʃə/ | cha |
| छ | /tʃʰə/ | chha |
| ज | /dʒə/ | ja |
| झ | /dʒʰə/ | jha |
| ट | /ʈə/ | ta (retroflex) |
| ठ | /ʈʰə/ | tha (retroflex) |
| ड | /ɖə/ | da (retroflex) |
| ढ | /ɖʰə/ | dha (retroflex) |
| त | /t̪ə/ | ta |
| थ | /t̪ʰə/ | tha |
| द | /d̪ə/ | da |
| ध | /d̪ʰə/ | dha |
| न | /nə/ | na |
| प | /pə/ | pa |
| फ | /pʰə/ | pha |
| ब | /bə/ | ba |
| भ | /bʰə/ | bha |
| म | /mə/ | ma |
| य | /jə/ | ya |
| र | /rə/ | ra |
| ल | /lə/ | la |
| व | /və/ | va |
| श | /ʃə/ | sha |
| ष | /ʂə/ | sha (retroflex) |
| स | /sə/ | sa |
| ह | /hə/ | ha |
Each consonant can be combined with vowels to create various sounds. For instance, the consonant क (ka) can become का (kaa) when combined with the vowel आ (aa).
Forming Words and Simple Sentences[edit | edit source]
Now that we have a basic understanding of vowels and consonants, let’s see how they come together to form words. Here are some examples:
| Marathi | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| कुटुंब | /kuʈʊmb/ | Family |
| घर | /ɡʱər/ | Home |
| शाळा | /ʃaːɭaː/ | School |
| मित्र | /mɪt̪rə/ | Friend |
| पुस्तक | /pʊst̪ək/ | Book |
| शाळेतील | /ʃaːɭeːt̪il/ | Of the school |
| खेळ | /kʰeːɭ/ | Game |
| भाजी | /bʱaːdʒi/ | Vegetable |
| चहा | /tʃaːɦaː/ | Tea |
| संगीत | /səŋɡit̪/ | Music |
Notice how the letters come together to create meaningful words. With practice, you'll become familiar with these combinations, which will help you read and write Marathi with ease.
Practice Exercises[edit | edit source]
Now that you have a grasp of the Devanagari script, let’s put your knowledge to the test with some exercises.
Exercise 1: Identify the Vowels[edit | edit source]
Write down the Devanagari script for the following vowels:
1. a
2. aa
3. i
4. ee
5. u
Solution:
1. अ
2. आ
3. इ
4. ई
5. उ
Exercise 2: Write the Consonants[edit | edit source]
Write down the Devanagari script for the following consonants:
1. ka
2. kha
3. ga
4. cha
5. na
Solution:
1. क
2. ख
3. ग
4. च
5. न
Exercise 3: Form Words[edit | edit source]
Using the consonants क, म, and त, form meaningful words in Marathi.
Solution:
1. कमल (kamal) - Lotus
2. मत (mat) - Opinion
3. कतम (katam) - To cut (contextual)
Exercise 4: Translate to English[edit | edit source]
Translate the following Marathi words to English:
1. घर
2. मित्र
3. शाळा
4. भाजी
5. चहा
Solution:
1. Home
2. Friend
3. School
4. Vegetable
5. Tea
Exercise 5: Identify the Word Parts[edit | edit source]
Break down the following words into their constituent vowels and consonants:
1. कुटुंब
2. शाळा
Solution:
1. कुटुंब (क + उ + ट + ं + ब)
2. शाळा (श + ा + ल + ा)
Exercise 6: Fill in the Blanks[edit | edit source]
Fill in the blanks with the correct vowel or consonant:
1. म__त्र (Friend)
2. __हा (Tea)
Solution:
1. मित्र
2. चहा
Exercise 7: Create Sentences[edit | edit source]
Create a simple sentence using the words: घर (home), मित्र (friend), and आहे (is).
Solution:
- माझं घर माझ्या मित्राकडे आहे. (Mājha ghar mājhyā mitrākāḍe āhe.) - My home is at my friend’s place.
Exercise 8: Match the Word with Meaning[edit | edit source]
Match the Marathi words with their English meanings:
1. शाळा
2. पुस्तक
3. संगीत
4. खेळ
5. कुटुंब
Solution:
1. School - शाळा
2. Book - पुस्तक
3. Music - संगीत
4. Game - खेळ
5. Family - कुटुंब
Exercise 9: Transcribe the Sentence[edit | edit source]
Transcribe the following sentence from Roman script to Devanagari:
"My friend is at home."
Solution:
"माझा मित्र घरी आहे."
Exercise 10: Write a Short Paragraph[edit | edit source]
Write a short paragraph about your family using at least three words learned in this lesson.
Solution Example:
"माझं कुटुंब एकत्र राहातं. माझा भाऊ आणि बहिण शाळेत जातात. आमचं घर खूप सुंदर आहे."
"My family lives together. My brother and sister go to school. Our home is very beautiful."
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Congratulations! You've taken your first steps in mastering the Devanagari script for Marathi. The letters you’ve learned today are the foundation for reading and writing in Marathi. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll find yourself reading simple texts and expressing yourself in writing. Remember, learning a new script is a gradual process, so be patient with yourself. In the next lesson, we will build on these foundations and venture into more complex aspects of Marathi grammar. Happy learning!
Sources[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Nouns
- Give your Opinion
- Spelling and grammar check
- Future Tense
- Punctuation
- Causative verbs
- 0 to A1 Course
- Nouns namo नामो
- Adverbs