We’ve learnt a whole bunch of Hindi consonants now, can you remember them all? Head on back to the Consonants Section if you’ve forgot anything. We’ve only got a few more groups of letters left to learn, so do you think you’re ready to get going? Well here they are…

Think they look confusing? Keep reading then and I promise by the end of this lesson they’ll all make sense! This group of consonants is known as the labials. Ready to get to the first letter? Great! 

pa    

This is the letter प pa. We pronounce this just like the English p - but be careful, this letter is not aspirated. It is like the “p” in the word “spit”. Put your hand in front of your mouth and make sure no air is leaving as you say it. Click play above to hear it pronounced! This letter looks just like an English ‘p’ too, just back to front. What a easy letter hey!

In Hindi the word 'bed’ is पलंग palang. Can you see our new letter प pa at the start here? अच्छा acchaa - good! Ready for letter number two? Here goes,

  pha    

This is the letter फ pha. Of course you know by now that this is the aspirated version of the letter प pa! So how do we pronounce it? Well just say 'pa’ while breathing out, check by putting your hand over your mouth! Don’t forget to listen to the letter above. This letter can look a little like our very first consonant क ka - so be extra careful to not get them confused.

One of my favourite Hindi words is the word फुसफुसाना phusphusaanaa - it means 'to whisper’. I like it so much because it’s so fun to say, and it sounds like whispering!

Be careful here, the letter फ pha is not pronounced like an English 'f’ sound, like the ph in 'philosophy’, it’s a very easy mistake to make! (Hindi does actually have a separate letter 'f’, it’s this letter with an extra dot and you can learn about it here). 

Ok, ready for the next letter for today? 

  ba    

This is the letter ब ba. The pronunciation of this letter is also really easy, it’s just like the normal English 'b’, like in the words 'bin’ or 'bat’. It also looks a bit like a backwards b too, with a little line through the loop yeah? Another super easy letter! 

A word for villain or rogue in Hindi is बदमाश badmaash - can you spot our new letter at the start here? Excellent! Ready for letter number four?

  bha    

This is the letter भ bha. I’m sure you know what I’m going to tell you next! This is the aspirated version of the letter ब ba, which means to  pronounce it you should make the normal 'b’ sound with lots and lots of air leaving your mouth! Of course don’t forget to keep listening to the letter-  practicing saying this letter as you hear it. 

This is a word you might need to know, 'India’ in Hindi is भारत bhaarat! As a bit of a side note, the word इंडिया indeeya is also used to mean India - so you should be aware of both! Do you think you’re ready for the last letter of this group? अच्छा acchaa - great!

  ma    

This is the letter म ma. This is another easy letter because it’s pronounced just like a normal English ’m’, like in the word 'man’ or 'mouse’. Unlike the final letter of some of the groups we’ve learnt already, this letter is really common so be sure to know it!

आम aam is the Hindi word for 'mango’ (if you couldn’t figure it out that is a picture of a mango!). Mangoes are loved in India, they’re a lot more common than in some other countries. In fact they’re so common that the word आम aam also means 'common’ and 'ordinary’!

Phew wow! Well done for reaching the end of the lesson! That’s five more letter we’ve learnt. Be sure to keep practicing them - and all the letters you’ve already learnt! We only have two more groups of consonants left now!

Click to go back to the Consonants Section.