Lesson 8Alphabet & ScriptBeginner15 min
Urdu Alphabet Lesson 8: Choti Hay, Do-Chashmi Hay, Hamza, Choti Yay and Bari Yay
چھوٹی ہے، دو چشمی ہے، ہمزہ، چھوٹی یے، بڑی یےThis is the last alphabet lesson. After it you will know all 39 letters. The two Hay letters and the two Yay letters each have different jobs, so read the tables carefully.
The letters
ہChoti Hey /h/
ہواHawa (Breeze / Air)
ھDo-Chashmi /ʰ/ (Aspiration)
گھرGhar (Home [گ+ھ])
ءHamza /ʔ/
چائےChaye (Tea)
یChoti Yay /j/, /iː/
یاسمینYasmeen (Jasmine)
ےBari Yay /eː/, /ɛː/ (word end)
انڈےAnday (Eggs)
Do-Chashmi Hay makes new sounds
ھ is not used alone. Put it after another letter to add a puff of air (aspiration).
| Letters | Sound | Example |
|---|---|---|
| بھ | bh | بھائی |
| پھ | ph (not f!) | پھول |
| تھ | th (soft t + air) | ہاتھ |
| کھ | kh (k + air) | کھانا |
| گھ | gh (g + air) | گھر |
| چھ | chh | چھت |
Choti Yay or Bari Yay?
| Letter | Use |
|---|---|
| ی | y at the start (یار), ee at the end (بھائی), and every Yay in the middle of a word |
| ے | Only at the end of a word, for the 'ay' or 'ai' sound (بچے، چائے) |
Words to read
گھرgharhome, house
ہاتھhaathhand
پھولphoolflower
کھاناkhaanafood; to eat
بھائیbhaaibrother
بچےbachaychildren
چائےchaaiteaء (Hamza) sits between two vowels to separate them.
یارyaarfriend (informal)
Tips
- Well done! You have now met all 39 Urdu letters. Go back to the alphabet cards on the homepage and test yourself.
- پھول is 'phool', not 'fool'. پھ is p with a puff of air.
- ے never appears at the start or in the middle of a word.
Practice
Choose the right answer. You will see the correct one straight away.