What Are Swar and Vyanjan in Hindi for Kids? Easy Guide for Beginners

Hindi is the language spoken by the largest number of people in the world. It is the national language of India as well. The first thing your child should learn if they are beginning to learn Hindi is Hindi Swar and Vyanjan – the vowels and consonants of the Hindi alphabet.

Hindi too has its own set of vowels and consonants as English does. These are called Swar (स्वर) and Vyanjan (व्यंजन).

After the child has mastered the vowels and consonants of Hindi, he can begin to read and write simple Hindi words. This is the root of all kids learning hindi.

Here we will tell you what Swar and Vyanjan are, give you all the letters in easy tables and some tips to help your child learn at home.

What Are Swar in Hindi? (Hindi Vowels)

Swar (स्वर) means vowels in Hindi. These are letters that can make their own sound. They don't require a second letter to form a sound.

In Hindi there are 13 Swar (some books give 11 or 16, but the 13 are the ones that are taught in Nursery to Class 1). Each swar has its own sound and symbol.

Imagine, a child says "अ" or "आ", it is clearly audible without the need for any other letter. This is why they are called vowels!

All 13 Hindi Swar (Hindi Vowels)

Quick Fact: The term "Swar" is Sanskrit for "sound" or "note. Vowels are the basis of all the words in the Hindi language. 

What Are Vyanjan in Hindi? (Hindi Consonants)

Vyanjan (व्यंजन) means consonants in Hindi. Here are letters that require a vowel sound to be sounded out. If you say a vyanjan alone, the vowel 'अ' is automatically added to it.

For example:

• क is spoken as "ka" (क + अ)

• ख is spoken as "kha" (ख + अ)

There are 33 Vyanjan in the standard set of Hindi. They are classified according to the manner in which the sound is produced in the mouth (throat, palate, teeth, or lips).

All 33 Hindi Vyanjan (Hindi Consonants)

Individual Vyanjan with Examples

Note: The most common consonants taught to beginners are listed above. Advanced vyanjan (ष, ण, ञ, ङ) are taught step by step.

Key Differences Between Swar and Vyanjan

There are many children (and adults!) who mix up Hindi Swar and Vyanjan. The easiest comparison is to the baseless, unstructured, and unorganized nature of the early church.

Swar vs Vyanjan – A Simple Comparison

To make this easy for children to understand: Swar are sounds that are free — they come out of your mouth easily! Vyanjan are sounds that require a bit of force – they are sounds that begin with the mouth closed and then open up.

How to use Swar with Vyanjan? Understanding Matras

After children have mastered the individual vowels and consonants, they need to learn how to combine them. This is accomplished with the help of Matras (मात्राएँ) – signs placed on the consonants indicating vowels.

For example:

• क + आ = का (as in काम, meaning "work")

• क + इ = कि (as in किताब, meaning "book")

• क + ऊ = कू (as in कूड़ा, meaning "garbage")

Tips for Teaching Kids Hindi Vowels and Consonants at Home

The best way to learn Hindi for children is to make it enjoyable instead of a task. Here are some simple suggestions for parents and teachers:

1. Always teach Hindi vowels first and then consonants.Swar are independent sounds and are easier for young children to understand.

2. Pictures with each letter: Children remember letters best when they are associated with a familiar picture. For instance, अ is used for अनार (pomegranate), ग for गाय (cow).

3. Practice a little each day – 10-15 minutes daily is much more beneficial than a long session once a week. Repetition builds memory.

4. There are a number of easy songs for the Hindi vowels and consonants. Children learn letters quicker when they sing them.

5. Tracing and writing practice: Muscle memory is powerful. Children remember letters when they trace and write the letters several times.

6. Matching games: Write letters on cards and match them to the pictures. This is great for Swar and Vyanjan both.

Once your child has learned a few Swar and Vyanjan, encourage him/her to read simple 2-letter words such as मम (mama), नल (tap), कमल (lotus).

Latest Blog: 

Best Hindi Books for Kids to learn Swar and Vyanjan

The selection of appropriate hindi books for kids is very significant in terms of their learning speed and confidence.

The Mitali Hindi Literacy Series by Lil Legends Books is a great choice. It is structured in a step by step manner, which is very suitable for children in Nursery, LKG, UKG and Class 1:

The series begins right where a beginner should begin — with Hindi Swar — and then slowly progresses to reading whole sentences. There are tracing activities, fun activities and visuals in the books to ensure young learners stay engaged. Also available as a 5 pack for parents who wish to have a complete programme of Hindi learning for their kids at home.

Summary

Learning Swar and Vyanjan of Hindi is the first step towards learning Hindi. To recap the key points:

• Hindi vowels are called Swar (स्वर) there are 13 Swar in Hindi. They are able to produce a sound independently.

• Vyanjan (व्यंजन) is the Hindi consonant (33 in all). They need a vowel to make a complete sound.

• Vowel marks that are used with consonants to make words and syllables are called matras.

• Begin teaching the vowels in Hindi, then the consonants, then Matras and then simple words.

• It is best to build a strong foundation of Hindi by using good hindi books for kids with structured lessons, pictures and writing practice.

• If your child is just beginning to learn or if they need a bit more practice, starting with the Hindi vowels and consonants will put them on track to reading and writing with confidence in Hindi.