Language/Urdu/Grammar/Joining-Sounds-to-Form-Words
As a long-time Urdu language teacher, I believe that understanding the basics of Urdu sounds and alphabets is crucial to becoming a proficient Urdu speaker. In this lesson, we will explore how Urdu words are formed by joining different sounds and how to correctly pronounce them.
Once you've mastered this lesson, take a look at these related pages: Question Words & Verbs and Tenses.
Basic Sounds in the Urdu Language
Urdu is a language that has 39 basic sounds. These sounds are made up of vowels, consonants, and diacritic symbols. Each of these sounds has its own unique pronunciation, and this is where most beginners struggle. However, with practice and patience, one can master these sounds quickly.
Here is a list of the Urdu vowels:
- ا
- آ
- و
- ی
- ہ
These are the Urdu consonants:
- ب
- پ
- ت
- ٹ
- ث
- ج
- چ
- ح
- خ
- د
- ڈ
- ذ
- ر
- ڑ
- ز
- ژ
- س
- ش
- ص
- ض
- ط
- ظ
- ع
- غ
- ف
- ق
- ک
- گ
- ل
- م
- ن
- و
- ہ
- ھ
- ی
Diacritic symbols, such as zabar, zair, and paish, are used to differentiate the vowels and their pronunciation.
Joining Sounds to Form Words
Urdu words are formed by joining different sounds together. The process of joining these sounds is called "Iztarari".
Here is an example of a simple Urdu word:
| Urdu | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| کتاب | kitāb | book |
In this example, the Urdu word "kitāb" is formed by joining the consonants "ک-ت-ا-ب". As you can see, each sound is pronounced separately and then joined together to form the complete word.
It is crucial to emphasize the importance of correctly pronouncing each sound separately before joining them together to make words. I advise my students to practice the pronunciation of the individual sounds until they feel confident.
Interesting Facts
Urdu language and culture are full of interesting facts and tidbits. A few of them include:
- Urdu is the national language of Pakistan and one of the 23 official languages of India.
- Urdu has its origins in the Hindi Language.
- The Mughal Empire, which ruled India from the early 16th to the mid-19th century, played a significant role in the development of the Urdu language.
- The word "Urdu" means "camp" or "army" in Turkish, and it refers to the army camps of the Muslim armies that first used the language.
- The oldest known Urdu epic poem is the "Hamzanama".
- More than 60 million people worldwide speak Urdu.
Practice Makes Perfect
To become proficient in the Urdu language, it is essential to practice regularly. I recommend that my students practice the Urdu sounds and alphabets daily, as this will make it easier for them to join sounds and form words. Regular practice will also help students recognize and distinguish between different sounds, leading to improved pronunciation and fluency.
Sources
- Urdu alphabet - Wikipedia
- 1.2 Alif and Non-Connectors – Basic Urdu
- Urdu language | History, Origin, Script, Words, & Facts | Britannica
Other Lessons
- Negation and Question Making
- Adjectives and Adverbs
- Future Tense
- Negation
- 0 to A1 Course
- Nouns and Pronouns
- Pronouns
- Conditional Mood
- How to Use Have
- Interrogation