The Pali Alphabet

There are 41 letters in Pali Alphabet. (Akkharāpādayo Ekacattālīsaṃ)

They are divided into two parts. They are- 

i. Vowels (Sarā)

ii. Consonants (byañjanā).

                                          

Look at these letters and practice them.

i. Vowels (Sarā)

a   ā   i   ī   u   ū   e   o

ii. Consonants (byañjanā).

                                                1       2       3       4       5

                                      ka     kha   ga     gha   ṅa

                                      ca     cha   ja      jha    ña

                                  ṭa     ṭha   ḍa  ḍha ṇa

                                      ta      tha    da     dha   na

                                      pa     pha   ba     bha   ma

                                      ya     ra      la      va    sa      ha   ¼a   (ŋ)  ½

Learn VOWELS

 

There are 8 vowels in Pali Alphabet. (Aṭṭha sarā)

a   ā   i   ī   u   ū   e   o

The Vowels are divided into two parts.

i. Short Vowels (Rassā) - a   i   u   

ii. Long Vowels (Dīghā) -    ā     ī    ū   e   o

Notice here that ‘e’ and ‘o’ are pronounced short before double or conjunct consonants.

Pronunciations of Vowels

   
a – kamma, Dhamma, tassa
 

ā – sammā, gāma, sikkhā   

i – sikkhā, itipiso, aniccā   

ī  – sīla,   ñātīnaṃ, dīghā

u –  Buddha,  anuttaro, sugato

 

ū –  pūjā, lokavidū, sūjū  ca

e - evaṃ, me sutaṃ, ekaṃ

o – opanaiko, oloketi, okāsa

‘e’ and ‘o’ pronounce short.

e – mettā, ettha, seyyo                                       o – sotthi, okkami, oṭṭho