Lesson 12Sounds & PhoneticsBeginner12 min
Urdu Sounds English Doesn't Have: Aspirated and Retroflex Pairs
مشکل آوازیںTwo kinds of sound trip up English speakers. Aspirated sounds have a puff of air (written with ھ). Retroflex sounds are made with the tongue curled back (ٹ ڈ ڑ). Getting them right matters, because they change the meaning of a word.
Puff of air or not?
Hold your hand in front of your mouth. You should feel air on the second word of each pair, but not the first.
پلpala moment
پھلphalfruit
کیلkeela nail
کھیلkhela game
ساتsaatseven
ساتھsaathwith, together
Soft or curled back?
د and ت are soft: the tongue touches the back of the top teeth. ڈ and ٹ are hard: curl the tongue back to the roof of the mouth.
دالdaallentils
ڈالDaalput! (informal); a branch
تبtabthen
ٹبTaba tub
سڑکsarakroadڑ is a quick flap with the tongue curled back.
Tips
- English t and d are already close to Urdu ٹ and ڈ. The soft ت and د are the ones to practise.
- پھ is never f. پھل is 'phal' with a puff of air.
- Record yourself on your phone saying each pair, then compare.
Practice
Choose the right answer. You will see the correct one straight away.