If you want to be able to read and write in Gujarati then the first step is learning the alphabet.
This can be daunting at first but with the right resources you’ll master it in no time.
This guide will give you the resources you need and tell you how to learn the Gujarati alphabet.
So, how much do you actually need to learn?
Table of Contents
What Script Does Gujarati Use?
The Gujarati script is a version of the Devanagari script which is used by many Indian languages including Hindi, Marathi, Nepali, Konkani and many more.
The main difference between the 2 is that Devanagari has a characteristic horizontal line running above the letters whereas the Gujarati script doesn’t have this. There are also differences between some characters.
The Gujarati script is used to write both Gujarati and Kutchi, which as another Indian language spoken in the Kutch region of Gujarat, India.
How Many Letters Are There In The Gujarati Alphabet?
There are 47 letters in the Gujarati alphabet.
The Gujarati script is an abugida which means letters can be made up of a consonant and a vowel. This is different to English where each letter is either a consonant or a vowel.
Gujarati does have some stand-alone vowel letter,s but also letters which consist of a consonant and a vowel. As an example, ઇ is pronounced ‘i’ whereas ક is pronounced ‘ka’.
This might sound complicated but there are plenty of resources out there to help you learn the Gujarati alphabet. There’s lots of variety and different resources that meet different peoples needs.
Let’s have a look at some.
Learn How To Say The Gujarati Alphabet With Videos
YouTube is a fantastic resource for learning any language as there’s so many videos uploaded everyday from all around the world.
I’ve selected a few handy videos that you can use to help you learn the pronunciation of the Gujarati alphabet.
Video Resource 1
The below video by Kaushik Lele is super useful. He goes over each letter of the Gujarati script showing you how to pronounce each letter. It’s a great reference video.
Video Resource 2
The following 2 videos by Pebbles Gujarati are great videos for listening to the pronunciation of the Gujarati letters. They’re fun videos aimed at kids. The first video covers the vowel sounds and the second covers all the other letters.
Check them out below:
Video Resource 3
This video by EVidyalay is great because it not only covers the pronunciation of each letter, it also gives an example word in Gujarati so you can hear how the letter sounds in a word.
Check it out below:
Learn The Gujarati Alphabet With Online Apps
There’s plenty of great online resources that will help you learn the Gujarati alphabet, many of which are completely free. These are particularly great for recognition of letters.
Memrise
Memrise is an online language learning app that uses fun games to help it’s users learn their chosen language.
They have a free Gujarati alphabet course that will teach you to recognise the Gujarati letters and the sounds they make. It’s really interactive and gradually introduces all the letters slowly so you have time to consolidate them all. There’s also plenty of opportunities to practice what you’ve learnt.
The only issue is that it doesn’t have sound so I’d suggest using another resource alongside it to ensure you have the correct pronunciation. The next resource is perfect for this.
Let’s Learn Gujarati
This online resource is a great reference point and perfect for listening to the pronunciation of each letter. The website shows each letter, you can click on the letter and hear the pronunciation.
Check out the Let’s Learn Gujarati website.
Learn The Gujarati Alphabet With Practice Worksheets And Books
Worksheets and workbooks are especially good for learning how to write Gujarati letters.
A Gujarati workbook, like this Gujarati tracing book, is perfect for practicing how to write. This book teaches you the stroke order for each letter and has over 200 pages so there is plenty of room for you to master the alphabet.
If you’re looking for a free resource then check out the free PDF worksheets by the Language Reef. They have worksheets for plenty of languages including Gujarati. The worksheets allow you to practice writing each letter by firstly tracing the letter then writing it on your own.
Thanks for reading this guide on how to learn the Gujarati alphabet. I’ve covered a range of different resources for all different types of learners, hopefully you found something useful that suits your learning style.
If you want to learn some beginner phrases, try learning how to say ‘how are you’ in Gujarati.
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