Modern Hindi Grammar - Indian Institute of Language Studies (IILS)

2. PHONOLOGY

2.2. Phonotactics

2.2.1. Vowel Sequences

In Hindi only two vowel sequences are permissible.

ai: naa[- nai: new
ia: idAa dia: lamp
ie cailae calie let’s go
ui: sau[- sui: needle
uã: kuÐAa kuã: well
oi: rao[- roi: wept
oe Kaoe khoe lost

2.2.2. Consonant Clusters

2.2.2.1. Word-initial Consonant Clusters

Word-initial consonant clusters are not as frequent as the word-
medial consonant clusters.

ky @yaa kya: what
kr kma kram order gy gyaarh gya:rah eleven gr gaMqa granth book
jy jyaoYz jyešth elder
jv jvar jvar fever
tr T/ona tren train
dy D\yaaoDa dyoda: two and a half times
dr D/amaa dra:ma: drama
ty %yaaga tya:g sacrifice
tv %vacaa tvaca: skin
dhy Qyaana dhya:n attention
py Pyaar pya:r love
pr pRqvaI prithvi: earth
br ba`h\maa bramha: Brahma
by byaah bya:h marriage
šy Syaama šya:m Shyam
šr Eama šram labor
sv Svaasa šva:s breath