Pronunciation Guide

1. Svarita	indicated by the absence of any markings. This is the prime or reference note.
2. Udātta	indicated by a vertical line over the syllable. This has a pitch that is above the reference note.
3. Anudātta	indicated by a horizontal underline. This has a pitch that is below the reference note.

GUTTURAL (pronounced from throat)
vowels	a	as in but
	ā	as in father
plain	k	as in kin
	g	as in good
aspirate	kh	as in sinkhole
	gh	as in leghorn
	h	as in hand
nasal	n	as in encore

PALATAL (pronounced from palate)
vowels	i	as in tin
	ī	as in teeth
plain	c	as in church
	j	as in judge
aspirate	ch	as in coachhorse
	jh	as in hedgehog
semi-vowel	y	as in you
sibilant	s	as in sure

RETROFLEX (pronounced with tip of tongue curled up)
vowels	r	as in sabre
	r	as in chagrin
plain	t	as in cart
	d	as in ardent
aspirate	th	as in carthorse
	dh	as in Fordham
nasal	n	as in friend
semi-vowel	r	as in rib
sibilant	s	as in hush

DENTAL (pronounced with tip of tongue against upper teeth)
vowels		as in able
		(is rare)
plain	t	as in theater
	d	as in they
aspirate	th	as in withheld
	dh	Buddha
nasal	n	as in boon
semi-vowel	l	as in lip
sibilant	s	as in sun

LABIAL (pronounced with lips)
vowel	u	as in bull
	ū	as in rule
plain	p	as in pat
	b	as in bee
aspirate	ph	as in uphill
	bh	as in abhor
nasal	m	as in man

GUTTURAL AND PALATAL
vowel	e	as in prey
	ai	as in aisle

GUTTURAL AND LABIAL
vowel	o	as in go
	au	as in cow

DENTAL AND LABIAL
semi-vowel	v	as in van

NASAL
or makes preceding vowel nasal

ASPIRATE
makes preceding vowel aspirate