The five groups (vargas)
- Throat (kaṇṭhya): क ka, ख kha, ग ga, घ gha, ङ ṅa
- Palate (tālavya): च ca, छ cha, ज ja, झ jha, ञ ña
- Roof of the mouth, tongue curled back (mūrdhanya): ट ṭa, ठ ṭha, ड ḍa, ढ ḍha, ण ṇa
- Teeth (dantya): त ta, थ tha, द da, ध dha, न na
- Lips (oṣṭhya): प pa, फ pha, ब ba, भ bha, म ma
Semi-vowels and sibilants
- Semi-vowels (antaḥstha): य ya, र ra, ल la, व va
- Sibilants (ūṣman): श śa (as in "shut"), ष ṣa (sh with the tongue curled back), स sa
- Aspirate: ह ha
- Common conjuncts: क्ष kṣa, त्र tra, ज्ञ jña (often said "gya")
How the pattern works
In each group the five sounds follow the same pattern: unvoiced (ka), unvoiced with breath (kha), voiced (ga), voiced with breath (gha), and nasal (ṅa). Once you learn the pattern for one group, the others follow.
The "h" in kha, gha, tha, dha, pha and bha is a puff of breath — tha is not the English "th" in "thin", but a "t" with breath, as in "hot-house".
Ṭa (ट) and ta (त) are different sounds: ṭa is said with the tongue curled back to the roof of the mouth, ta with the tongue touching the teeth.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the Sanskrit alphabet arranged this way?
By the place of articulation — throat, palate, roof of the mouth, teeth, lips — and within each group by voicing and breath. It is one of the most systematic alphabets in the world.
What is the difference between श, ष and स?
स is "s"; श is "sh" as in "shut", made at the palate; ष is "sh" with the tongue curled back to the roof of the mouth.