Pronunciation of Short and Long Vowel a & aa
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Pronunciation in Hindi is a lot more precise than it is in English. “You say ‘tomato’ (to-MA-toe) and I say ‘tomato’ (TOE-ma-toe)” might be something that happens in English, but would not occur in Hindi. Today, we look at two closely related sounds and letters that represent them: अ and आ. The first makes a “short” “a” sound like “uh”, and the other makes a “longer a” sound like the “a” in “father”. After hearing the many examples in this lesson, the difference between the two should become clear to you.
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Pronunciation of Short and Long Vowel a & aa – अ & आ:
In each consonant, is hidden a vowel sound – either short or long. The exact transliterated English might not help you in providing the correct pronunciation of the word (s).
While practising the pronunciation of short and long vowels – अ (a) & आ (aa), kindly note the difference as explained in the words given below.
English
Hindi
Transliteration
English
Hindi
Transliteration
Less
कम
Kam
Work
काम
Kaam
Breadth
दम
Dam
Cost/price
दाम
Daam
Gang/party
दल
Dal
Lentil
दाल
Daal
Answer/plough
हल
Hal
Condition/state
हाल
Haal
Walk/moveable
चल
Chal
Manner/action
चाल
Chaal
Yesterday/Tomorrow
कल
Kal
Time/period
काल
Kaal
Force/strength
बल
Bal
Child/hair
बाल
Baal
Mind
मन
Man
Honour
मान
Maan
Asceticism
तप
Tap
Heat
ताप
Taap
Wood
बन
Ban
Eager/temper
बान
Baan
New
नव
Nav
Boat
नाव
Naav
Few
चंद
Chand
Moon
चाँद
Chaand
Tree
पेड़
Ped
An Indian sweet
पेड़ा
Peda
Water
जल
Jal
Net/trap
जाल
Jaal
Wealth/fortune
धन
Dhan
Rice/paddy
धान
Dhaan
Moving
चर
Char
Four
चार
Chaar
Damp/Moist
नम
Nam
Name
नाम
Naam
Malignant/bad
बद
Bad
After/later
बाद
Baad
Tap
नल
Nal
Canal/Drain
नाला
Nala
Cold (n)
ठंड
Thand
Cold (adj)/cool
ठंडा
Thanda
N.B.:- Practice the pronunciation with the help of the recording of the lesson. Also try practising other words.

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