Retroflex plosives

These are plosive consonants which are formed in a retroflex way (i.e. with the tongue rolled back).

Devanagari scripture

ट / ṭa

ṭa

Spelling

  1. Draw a short, vertical line down followed by an anticlockwise bow to the bottom right.
  2. Draw the horizontal line from left to right over the letter.

Pronunciation

  • an unvoiced ṭ as in Aṣṭāṅga (sound doesn't exist in German)
  • retroflex (behind the front teeth) place of articulation

ठ / ṭha

ṭha

Spelling

  1. Draw a short vertical line down followed by an anticlockwise circle.
  2. Draw the horizontal line from left to right over the letter.

Pronunciation

  • an unvoiced, aspirated ṭh (sound doesn't exist in German)
  • retroflex (behind the teeth) place of articulation

ड / ḍa

ḍa

Spelling

  1. Draw a short vertical line down, followed by an s-shaped line.
  2. Draw the horizontal line from left to right over the letter.

Pronunciation

  • a voiced ḍ (sound does not exist in German)
  • retroflex (behind the front teeth) place of articulation

ढ / ḍha

ḍha

Schreibweise

  1. Draw a short, vertical line downwards followed by an anticlockwise bow with a small circle at the end.
  2. Draw the horizontal line from left to right over the letter.

Aussprache

  • a voiced, aspirated ḍh (sound doesn't exist in German)
  • retroflex (behind the front teeth) place of articulation

ण / ṇa

ṇa

Spelling

  1. Draw a u-shaped line from the top left to the top centre.
  2. Draw a vertical line from top to bottom next to it on the right.
  3. Draw the horizontal line from left to right over the letter.

Pronunciation

  • a nasal ṇ (sound doesn't exist in German)
  • retroflex (behind the teeth) place of articulation
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