CONNECTOR

‘chhoTi he’ is a connector and follows the same principles of joining as the other connectors we’ve come across.

12.2.1: In the Initial position

Let’s look at the short-form the ‘chhoTi he’ assumes in the initial position. For this, let’s look at how it connects with ‘alif’:

Above: The word “haa”. Notice the short-form assumed by the ‘chhoTi he’.

Did you notice that the initial-position short-form of ‘chhoTi he’ does not resemble its full-form at all? Here’s a comparative:

Above: Comparative illustrating the short-form assumed by ‘fe’ in the initial position

Here’s a break-down of the word “haa”:

Above: ‘chhoTi he’ + ‘alif’ = “haa”

Or, in short-form notation:

Above: Short-form of ‘chhoTi he’ + ‘alif’ = “haa”

Let’s add a ‘re’ in there and look at the word “haar” (हार), meaning “necklace/defeat/loss”:

Above: ‘chhoTi he’ + ‘alif’ + ‘re’ = “haar”

And now let’s look at how the ‘chhoTi he’ connects with other consonants, for example, in the word “haT” (हट), meaning “move (away from)”:

Above: ‘chhoTi he’ + ‘Te’ = “haT”

Let’s take this a step furhter and look at the word “haTnaa” (हटना), meaning “to move”:

Above: ‘chhoTi he’ + ‘Te’ + ‘nuun’ + ‘alif’ = “haTnaa”

12.2.2: In the Medial position

To see the short-form assumed by the ‘chhoTi he’ in the medial position, let’s look at the word “pahan” (पहन), meaning “wear”:

Above: ‘pe’ + ‘chhoTi he’ + ‘nuun’ = “pahan”

Here’s an illustration showing the medial position short-form of ‘chhoTi he’ from the word “pahan”:

Above: Comparative illustrating the short-form assumed by ‘chhoTi he’ in the medial position

Here’s the word “pahan” again, in short-form notation:

Above: Short-form of ‘pe’ + short-form of ‘chhoTi he’ + ‘nuun’ = “pahan”

Similarly, here’s the word “Tahnii” (टहनी), meaning “tree branch/twig”:

Above: ‘Te’ + ‘chhoTi he’ + ‘nuun’ + ‘chhoTi ye’ = “Tahnii”

12.2.3: In the Final position

In the final position, the ‘chhoTi he’ may take upon its connected or non-connected/isolated form depending upon the letter preceding it. For example, in the word “bah” (बह), meaning “flow”, the ‘chhoTi he’ appears in its connected form as it is preceded by the ‘be’ which is a connector:

Above: The word “bah”. Notice the final-position connected form of the ‘chhoTi he’.

Here’s an illustration showing the final-position connected form of ‘chhoTi he’ from the word “bah”:

Above: Comparative illustrating the connected short-form assumed by ‘chhoTi he’ in the final position

Here’s a break-down of the word “bah”:

Above: ‘be’ + ‘chhoTi he’ = “bah”

And now, let’s look at the non-connected final-position form of the ‘chhoTi he’ in the word “raah” (राह), meaning “way”:

Above: ‘re’ + 'alif' + ‘chhoTi he’ = “raah”

Here’s another word - “nibaah” (निबाह), meaning “constancy”:

Above: ‘nuun’ + ‘be’ + ‘alif’ + ‘chhoTi he’ = “nibaah”

12.2.4: Some more words

Here are a few more words with the ‘chhoTi he’ for you to learn!

And now, let’s get to know another interesting aspect of this letter. It can also act as a vowel!