INTRODUCTION

In this unit, we’ll learn about the ‘daal’ group (Devanagari: दाल | IPA: /daalː/ | Pronunciation:   ) . This group consists of three consonants - ‘daal’, ‘Daal’ and ‘zaal’ shown below: 

ذ
  • zaal
  • ज़ाल
ڈ
  • Daal
  • डाल
د
  • daal
  • दाल

Above: Letters in the ‘daal’ group

Once again, as is with any other group of letters in the Urdu alphabet, letters of the ‘daal’ group share a common basic-shape. Let’s get on to looking at these letters in a bit more detail now.

7.1.1: ‘daal’

This is the letter - ‘daal’ (Devanagari: दाल | IPA:  /d̪aːl/ | Pronunciation:  ).

It creates the sound of a soft ‘d’ (द |  ) as in “brother”, “mother” or as in the Hindi/Urdu words - “ल”, “आर”, “बा” etc.

7.1.2: ‘Daal’

This is the letter - ‘Daal’ (Devanagari: डाल | IPA:  /ɖaːl/ | Pronunciation: ).

It creates the sound of ‘D’ (ड | ) as in “door”, “adam”, “bad” or as in the Hindi/Urdu words - “र”, “झंडा”, “ला” etc.

7.1.3: ‘zaal’

This is the letter - ‘zaal’ (Devanagari: ज़ाल | IPA:  /zaːl/ | Pronunciation:  ).

It creates the sound of ‘z’ (ज़ |  ) as in “zebra”, “maze” or as in the Hindi/Urdu words - “ज़ा”, “अज़ान”, “काग़” etc.

zaal

ज़ाल

Seeing as easy at it was, let’s quickly move to making some words with these new letters!