Gujarati Vowels and Vowel Signs Explained

Gujarati writes vowels in two ways: as independent letters, and as small signs (matras) attached to consonants. Once you understand this, every word becomes readable.

The independent vowels

Independent vowels appear at the start of a word or syllable:

અ (a), આ (aa), ઇ (i), ઈ (ee), ઉ (u), ઊ (oo), ઋ (ru), એ (e), ઐ (ai), ઓ (o), ઔ (au)

Also અં (an, a nasal sound) and અઃ (ah, a breath sound).

The inherent vowel

Every consonant letter carries an inherent short a. So ક is ka, મ is ma and ન is na. To change the vowel, you add a sign.

The vowel signs (matras)

Take ક as an example:

Sign	With ક	Sound
(none)	ક	ka
ા	કા	kaa
િ	કિ	ki
ી	કી	kee
ુ	કુ	ku
ૂ	કૂ	koo
ે	કે	ke
ૈ	કૈ	kai
ો	કો	ko
ૌ	કૌ	kau
ં	કં	kan (nasal)
ઃ	કઃ	kah

Unlike Bengali or Devanagari, Gujarati vowel signs are simple to place: most sit after, above or below the consonant, and none are written before it.

Short and long vowels

Gujarati distinguishes short and long i and u in spelling: ઇ / ઈ, ઉ / ઊ. In everyday speech, the difference is subtle, but spelling matters. For example, દિવસ (divas, day) has a short i, and દીવો (divo, lamp) has a long ee.

Reading examples

• પાણી (paani, water): પ + ા + ણ + ી
• ઘર (ghar, house): ઘ + ર
• દૂધ (doodh, milk): દ + ૂ + ધ
• મિત્ર (mitra, friend): મ + િ + ત્ર
• સૂરજ (sooraj, sun): સ + ૂ + ર + જ

The final "a"

In speech, a consonant at the end of a word often loses its inherent a. ઘર is pronounced ghar, not ghara. Reading by spelling alone would make you sound overly formal.

The nasal sign

The dot above (ં, anusvara) makes a nasal sound: હું (hu(n), I), છું (chhu(n), am), માં (maa(n), in).

Common beginner errors

• Confusing િ (short i) and ી (long ee).
• Forgetting the nasal dot.
• Reading the final inherent a.

Practice plan

1. Learn the vowel signs with a single consonant, such as ક.
2. Read simple words aloud.
3. Copy words by hand to feel the shapes.
4. Look up new words in script to confirm spelling.

Why script matters

Roman transliteration can't show spelling differences like short and long vowels. Looking up words in Gujarati script builds an accurate reading memory.

Look up Gujarati words in script with English Gujarati Dictionary →