Learning Urdu for Spanish Speakers
- Introduction to Urdu
- Personal Information
- Everyday conversation
- Food and Culture
- Travel and Transportation
- Work and Profession
- Health and Wellness
- Public Services and Institutions
- Dealing with Emergencies
- Idiomatic Expressions
- Dialects of Urdu
Introduction to Urdu
Understanding Basic Urdu Alphabets and Their Pronunciation
Indo-Aryan language spoken in South Asia.
Urdu, a language rich in culture and history, has a unique script that is written from right to left. This script is an adaptation of the Persian alphabet, which itself is derived from the Arabic alphabet. In this unit, we will introduce the Urdu alphabet and guide you through the pronunciation of each letter.
Introduction to the Urdu Alphabet
The Urdu alphabet consists of 38 letters. Unlike Spanish, Urdu has separate letters for vowels and consonants. The alphabet is written and read from right to left, which might be a new experience for Spanish speakers.
Pronunciation Guide for Urdu Alphabets
Pronunciation in Urdu can be challenging due to the presence of several sounds that are not found in Spanish. However, with practice, these sounds can be mastered. Here is a basic guide to the pronunciation of Urdu alphabets:
-
Alif (ا): This is the first letter of the Urdu alphabet and it can represent various sounds depending on its position and the diacritical marks associated with it.
-
Be (ب): This letter is pronounced like the 'b' in 'bed'.
-
Pe (پ): This letter is pronounced like the 'p' in 'pet'.
-
Te (ت): This letter is pronounced like the 't' in 'top'.
-
Tte (ٹ): This letter represents a retroflex 't', a sound not found in Spanish.
-
Se (ث): This letter is pronounced like the 's' in 'see'.
-
Jeem (ج): This letter is pronounced like the 'g' in 'game'.
-
Che (چ): This letter is pronounced like the 'ch' in 'chat'.
-
He (ح): This letter represents a sound similar to 'h', but pronounced deeper in the throat.
-
Khe (خ): This letter represents a sound similar to 'ch' in 'Bach'.
The rest of the alphabet follows a similar pattern, with each letter representing a unique sound.
Understanding the Diacritical Marks Used in Urdu
Diacritical marks are symbols added to letters to alter their pronunciation. In Urdu, diacritical marks can change the vowel sounds associated with a letter. There are three basic diacritical marks in Urdu:
- Zabar (ـَ): It is placed above a letter and gives an 'a' sound.
- Zer (ـِ): It is placed below a letter and gives an 'i' sound.
- Pesh (ـُ): It is placed above a letter and gives an 'u' sound.
Understanding the Urdu alphabet and its pronunciation is the first step towards mastering the language. With consistent practice and exposure to the language, you will soon be able to read and write in Urdu.