Letter ड (da-r) (Topic 3) in Module 4 – Hindi-Letters (BG)

ड — Letter (da-r)

• English sound anchor: d (tongue curled back)

• Hindi words:
• डाल ('daal') — Branch
• डाकिया ('daakiya') — Postman
• डर ('dar') — Fear
• डफली ('dafali') — Small tambourine
• डेरा ('dera') — Camp / Abode

Half Letter ड् (da-r halant)

In Hindi, adding the virama (्) below ड creates the half letter ड् — it silences the inherent 'a' vowel and makes this consonant join the next one without a vowel between them. Ways to write the half letter: 1. Halant form: ड्   (the virama ् appears below the full letter)2. Conjunct form: When ड् is followed by another consonant, the two letters merge visually into a conjunct (e.g. ड्क = ड्क). Some conjuncts develop unique shapes; these are learned as whole units. Example words using ड्: - ड्रामा ('draama') — Drama - ड्राइवर ('draaiver') — Driver - गड्ढा ('gaddhaa') — Pit / Pothole - ड्राइंग ('draaiing') — Drawing - ड्रग ('drag') — Drug

How to Write ड

Watch the animated stroke order below. Each stroke is drawn in sequence — follow the arrows.

Stroke order animation via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.