Urdu alphabet mnemonics draw each Urdu letter as something you already know, and most pictures' names start with the letter's sound. ب is drawn as a boat sitting on the water, with a little striped buoy below it for the dot.
How Do Urdu Picture Mnemonics Work?
Many Urdu letters share one shape and differ only in their dots. So their pictures keep the same shape, and the dots tell the letters apart. The same bowl is a Tub for ت with two soap bubbles above it, and a Parachute for پ with three parcels hanging below. Letters that differ by one dot often reuse a picture: ض is the ص spoon with one dot on top. The letters ٹ, ڈ and ڑ wear a small mark, and they are said with the tongue curled back.
Urdu is read from right to left, and most letters join the letter after them. That changes their shape, so the chart shows each letter on its own.
The Urdu Alphabet Chart With Pictures
Each sound is spelled with English letters, like sh for ش.
Free Urdu Alphabet Course
- Audio for Every Letter
- Spaced Repetition Review
- Real Example Words
0 of 12 Chapters Complete
Your First Letters 2
اaArmAn Arm raises straight up.
بbBoatThe Boat sits on the water, and the little striped buoy below it is the dot.
More on the Bowl 2
تtTubThe Tub is the long bowl, low at one end and tall at the other, and the two soap bubbles above it are the two dots.
نnNoodleThe Noodle bowl is deep and round, and the meatball above it is the dot.
The Bowl Fills Up 3
پpParachuteThe Parachute canopy is the bowl, and the three parcels hanging under it are the three dots below.
ٹṭTugboatThe hull is the bowl, and the little funnel standing on it is the mark this letter wears.- T with the tongue curled back
ثsSundaeThe dish is the bowl, and the three scoops of Sundae high above it are the three dots.
The Deep Hook 4
جjJawThe Jaw hangs open, and the candy sitting inside it is the dot.
چchCHerriesThe same jaw as ج, and the three CHerries inside it are the three dots.
حhHah (fogging a window)Her arms curve forward beneath her open mouth as her breath fogs the window.
خkhKh (dragon with a horn)The same deep hook, with one dot above it.
Letters That Make Gaps 4
دdDolphinThe Dolphin dives, and the curve of its back is the whole letter.
ڈḍDesk lampThe bent arm is the wedge, and the little lamp head above the bend is the mark this letter wears.- D with the tongue curled back
ذzZucchiniThe Zucchini bends into the same wedge, and its own little stem on top is the dot.
وvVineThe Vine curls into a small loop, then its tendril sweeps down and away.
The Long Curve 4
رrRampThe Ramp drops down and curves away to the left.
ڑṛRibbon- R flapped with the tongue curled back
زzZipperThe Zipper teeth run down in that curve, and the pull ring above them is the dot.
ژzhFeatherThe feather sweeps down in the same curve, and the three drops above it are the three dots.- The s in treaSure
Teeth and Loops 4
سsStegosaurusThe Stegosaurus has three plates in a row, then its tail sweeps down and round.
شshSHipThe SHip sails on the deep curve, and the three lanterns hanging above it are the three dots.
صsSpoonThe round bowl of the Spoon is the loop, and its handle runs away as the long tail.
ضzSpoon + dotThe same spoon as ص, with one dot on top.
Standing Strokes 4
طtTurtleThe Turtle's raised neck is the tall stroke, its shell is the loop, and its front foot runs along the bottom.
ظzTurtle + dotThe same turtle as ط, with one dot on top.
ع'Ear- Silent: it carries whichever vowel sits on it
غghGargle (gargling bubbles)The same open curve, with one dot above it.
Rings and Kites 4
فfFootballThe Football is the round loop, and the leg behind it is the tail.
قqCookiesThe same round loop on a deeper bowl, with two Cookies above.
کkKangarooThe Kangaroo tail lies along the ground, its back rises up, and its ears are the little hook at the top.
گgKangaroo + lineThe same kangaroo as ک, with one more line on top.
Letters of Their Own 4
لlLeashThe Leash hangs straight down, then curls into a hook at the bottom.
مmMushroomThe Mushroom cap sits on the line, and its long stem runs straight down below it.
ہhHutThe little Hut is one round loop, and its round window is the hole in the middle.
ھhNoseThe nose's nostrils are the loops, and the puff of air is what this letter adds.- A puff of air on the letter before it
Two Kinds of Ye 5
ء'Broken cupThe cup broke! Its curved handle makes the top of ء, and the slanted piece below makes the bottom stroke.- A small break
یyYogurtThe bowl of Yogurt is the round bowl, its raised rim is the short stroke, and the spoon standing in it is the long stroke.
ےeApeThe Ape's body lying flat is the long stroke, and its raised arm is the short one.- آāAlif + maddaا wearing a little wave, the madda. It says the same long "aa".
ںṉEmpty bowlThe same deep bowl as ن, with the noodle taken away. No dot, and no tongue on the roof of your mouth.- The n in French "bon"
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Letters Are in the Urdu Alphabet?
Lists count 39 or 40 letters. This chart shows 40: the 39 main letters, plus آ, which is ا wearing a little wave called the madda.
Which Urdu Letters Make the Same Sound?
In Urdu, ث, س and ص all say s, and ذ, ز, ض and ظ all say z. ت and ط both say t. A word is always spelled with the same one, so you learn which it uses as you read.
Which Urdu App Should a Beginner Choose?
Our Urdu app comparison covers the apps that teach Urdu and what each one is good for. For a plan beyond the alphabet, see the fastest way to learn Urdu.
