Marathi Guide
Marathi Pronunciation: Key Sounds Guide
Retroflex consonants, nasals, visarga, anusvara, vowel length and conjuncts — Marathi pronunciation explained with examples from Unit 06.
What you will learn
The six sound patterns that make or break Marathi pronunciation — straight from Unit 06 of the Bol Marathi curriculum, each with Marathi explanation and English meaning.
Retroflex · Retroflex Consonants
ट ठ ड ढ ण = मूर्धन्य. जिभेचे अग मूळाकडे वाकून.
Ṭa, ṭha, ḍa, ḍha, ṇa are retroflex (mūrdhanya) sounds - curl the tongue tip back to the palate. Mind the contrast with dental ta, tha, da, dha, na.
Note: टोपी, ठंड, डोळे.
Hear it: Retroflex
Nasals · Nasal Consonants
ङ ञ ण न म = नासिक्य. अंबा, पिंपळ, सांगणे.
The five nasals (nāsikya): ṅa, ña, ṇa, na, ma. Examples: aṃbā (mango), piṃpaḷ (sacred fig), sāṅgaṇe (to tell).
Note: अनुस्वार = nasalization.
Hear it: Nasals
Visarga · Visarga ः
विसर्ग (ः) = ह् ध्वनी. दुःख, पुनः.
Visarga (ḥ) is a light breath after the vowel: duḥkha (sorrow), punaḥ (again). It is written as two small dots.
Note: संस्कृत-व्युत्पन्न शब्द.
Hear it: Visarga
Anusvara · Anusvara ं
अनुस्वार = स्वरे नासिक्यता. संकट, पंडित.
Anusvara (ṃ) nasalizes the preceding vowel: saṅkata (crisis), paṇḍita (scholar). Written as one dot above the letter.
Note: पुढील व्यंजनानुसार बदलते.
Hear it: Anusvara
Vowel Length · Vowel Length
मला (to me) vs माला (garland). पण vs पाण.
Vowel length changes meaning: malā (to me) versus mālā (garland); paṇ (but) versus pāṇ (water, poetic).
Note: अर्थ बदलतो.
Hear it: Vowel Length
Conjuncts · Conjunct Consonants
क्ष त्र ज्ञ श्र द्व. महाराष्ट्र, क्षण.
Conjunct consonants blend two letters into one glyph: kṣa, tra, jña, śra, dva - as in Mahārāṣṭra and kṣaṇa (moment).
Note: हलंत वापरून जोडतात.
Hear it: Conjuncts
Common questions
Which Marathi sound trips Hindi speakers most?
Start with vowel length: मला (to me) vs माला (garland) differ only in length — the Unit 06 notes above drill exactly this. Then retroflex ट ठ ड ढ ण, where tongue placement matters.
How should I practice these sounds?
Say the Unit 06 examples aloud, starting with the मला (to me) vs माला (garland) pair above. In the app, listening quizzes and speaking checks drill the same sounds with instant feedback.