Hindi Pronunciation Guide: Master Every Sound in 2025

Proper pronunciation is crucial for being understood in Hindi. This guide covers every sound in Hindi with clear explanations for English speakers.

Hindi Vowels (स्वर)

Short Vowels

**अ** (a) - like 'u' in "but"

**इ** (i) - like 'i' in "sit"

**उ** (u) - like 'u' in "put"

Long Vowels

**आ** (aa) - like 'a' in "father"

**ई** (ee) - like 'ee' in "feet"

**ऊ** (oo) - like 'oo' in "food"

Practice vowels with our [Barakhadi chart](/barakhadi).

Consonants (व्यंजन)

Retroflex Sounds (Unique to Hindi)

These don't exist in English - curl tongue back:

**ट** (ṭ) - retroflex t

**ठ** (ṭh) - aspirated retroflex t

**ड** (ḍ) - retroflex d

**ढ** (ḍh) - aspirated retroflex d

Practice tip: Touch tongue to roof of mouth, not teeth.

Aspirated vs Unaspirated

Hindi distinguishes aspirated (breathy) consonants:

**क** (k) vs **ख** (kh) - unaspirated vs aspirated

**प** (p) vs **फ** (ph) - unaspirated vs aspirated

Common Pronunciation Mistakes

Mistake #1: Not Aspirating

Wrong: क (k) and ख (kh) sound the same

Right: Feel air on hand when saying ख (kh)

Mistake #2: Dental vs Alveolar

Hindi त, थ, द, ध are dental (tongue on teeth)

English t, d are alveolar (tongue behind teeth)

Mistake #3: Ignoring Nasalization

The chandrabindu (ँ) nasalizes vowels - essential!

Practice Strategies

**Listen actively**: Watch Bollywood with our [Bollywood learning guide](/blog/bollywood-learn-hindi)

**Record yourself**: Compare to native speakers

**Use minimal pairs**: Practice similar sounds

**Learn with [30 common words](/word-meanings/30-words)**

Stress and Intonation

Hindi doesn't have strong word stress like English. Practice with our [conversation phrases](/blog/hindi-conversation-phrases).

Master pronunciation to sound natural and be easily understood!