Marathi Sounds
Before इ, ई and ए, च and ज sound like English ch and j.
How It Works
Marathi has two sound habits that surprise new learners.
The final short a. A word that ends in a consonant letter ends in a consonant sound. घर sounds like ghar, कमळ sounds like kamal, and करतो sounds like kar-to, because the अ after र is dropped too.
| Letter | Everyday words before अ आ उ ऊ ओ औ | Before इ ई ए |
|---|---|---|
| च | ts: चहा, चौक | ch: चिमणी, चेंडू |
| ज | dz: जास्त, जोडी | j: जिलेबी, जेवण |
Some words keep ch and j before these vowels, often formal words from Sanskrit. The spelling does not show the difference, so listen for the sound when a word is spoken.
झ also has both sounds. छ has just one: ch with a puff of air.
Examples (5)
- आमचे घर पुण्यात आहे.
Our house is in Pune.
घर ends in a closed r sound.
- चहा गरम आहे.
The tea is hot.
च in चहा sounds like ts.
- जास्त साखर नको.
I do not want too much sugar.
ज in जास्त sounds like dz.
- चिमणी झाडावर बसली आहे.
The sparrow is sitting on the tree.
च before इ sounds like ch.
- जिलेबी गोड आहे.
The jalebi is sweet.
ज before इ sounds like j.
Common Mistakes
Writing a final vowel because you hear a vowel in your own language.
आमचे घरा पुण्यात आहे.आमचे घर पुण्यात आहे.घर has no vowel letter at the end, and no vowel sound.
Writing the Hindi word for tea.
चाय गरम आहे.चहा गरम आहे.Marathi tea is चहा, and च sounds like ts in it.
Related Patterns
Practice Marathi Sounds in Bubblegum
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