KKSongs Brajabhasa Pronunciation Guide

Krsna Kirtana Songs est. 2001 www.kksongs.org

Welcome to the KKSongs Braja-Bhasa Pronunciation Guide!

Audio: Brajabhasa Pronunciation Guide

The Braja-bhasa language is the language of the land of Krsna. Braja-bhasa has become evident as early as the 1500s when poets like Surdas, Dina Duhkhi Krsna Dasa, Rai-dasa, and Mira Bai started to use this language in their writings to glorify Krsnsa. For the most part, this language resembles what is known as “Suddha Hindi” or “pure Hindi.” The Braja-bhasa language recognizes eleven vowels and thirty-three consonants, a nasal element, and an aspirate element.

VOWELS:

अ	आ	इ	ई	उ	ऊ	ऋ	ए	ऐå	ओ	औ
a	ā	i	ī	u	ū	ṛ	e	ai	o	au

The letter “a” is pronounced as “u” in “but.”

The letter “ā” is pronounced as “a” in “father.”

The letter “i" is pronounced as “i” in “sin” (say “seen” with a shorter “ee” sound)

The letter “ī” is pronounced as “ee” in “seed”

The letter “u” is pronounced as “u” in “should” (say “shood” with a shorter “oo” sound)

The letter “ū” is pronounced as “oo” in “roof”

The letter “ṛ” is pronounced as “ri” in “rip” (say “reep” with a shorter “ee” sound)

The letter “e” is pronounced as “ay” in “pay” (avoid adding the “y” sound at the end)

The letter “ai” is a combination of the letters “a” and “i”

The letter “o” is pronounced as “o” in “no” (avoid the u/w sound as the end)

The letter “au” is pronounced as “ough” in “ought.”

Here is the table of consonants in Braja-bhasa.

क	ख		ग		घ		ङ
ka	kha		ga		gha		ńa
च	छ		ज		झ		ञ
ca	cha		ja		jha		ña
ट	ठ		ड		ढ		ण
ṭa	ṭha		ḍa		ḍha		ṇa
त	थ		द		ध		न
ta	tha		da		dha		na
प	फ		ब		भ		म
pa	pha		ba		bha		ma
य		र		ल		व
ya		ra		la		va
श		ष		स
śa		ṣa		sa
ह		ं		ः
ha		ḿ		ḥ

The first set of five consonants is known as the gutturals. They are sounds pronounced through the throat.

The letter “k” is pronounced as “k” in “kite”

The letter “kh” is pronounced as “ck-h” in “kick-hard”

The letter “g” is pronounced as “g” in “goat”

The letter “gh” is pronounced as “g-h” in “dig-hard”

The letter “ń” is pronounced as “n” in “song.” (Just the n, not the g. This is the nasal element for the gutturals)

The second set of five consonants is known as the palatals. They are sounds pronounced through the palette.

The letter “c” is pronounced as “ch” in “church.”

The letter “ch” is pronounced as “ch-h” in “staunch-heart”

The letter “j” is pronounced as “j” in “jiffy”

The letter “jh” is pronounced as “dge-h” in “hedge-hog”

The letter “ñ” is pronounced as “ny” in “canyon” (This is the nasal element for the palatals)

The third set of five consonants is known as the cerebrals. They are sounds pronounced through the tongue touching the roof of the palette.

The letter “ṭ” is pronounced as “t” in “hot”

The letter “ṭh” is pronounced as “t-h” in “hot-house”

The letter “ḍ” is pronounced as “d” in “road”

The letter “ḍh” is pronounced as “d-h” in “red-hot”

The letter “ṇ” is pronounced as “na” in “nut.” (This is the nasal element for the cerebrals).

The fourth set of five consonants is known as the dentals. They are sounds pronounced through the tongue touching the teeth.

The letter “t” is pronounced as “t” in “hot”

The letter “th” is pronounced as “t-h” in “hot-house” or “thick”

The letter “d” is pronounced as “d” in “road”

The letter “dh” is pronounced as “d-h” in “red-hot” or “th” in “though”

The letter “n” is pronounced as “na” in “nut.” (This is the nasal element for the dentas).

The fifth set of five consonants is known as the labials. They are sounds pronounced through the lips.

The letter “p” is pronounced as “p” in “popcorn.”

The letter “ph” is pronounced as “p-h” in “up-hill” or “f” as in “foot.”

The letter “b” is pronounced as “b” in “baby”

The letter “bh” is pronounced as “b-h” in “tub-hot”

The letter “m” is pronounced as “m” in “mother.”

The set of letters are known as semi-vowels, or letters that will serve dual-functions as consonants and vowels.

The letter “y” is pronounced as “y” in “yes.”

The letter “r” is pronounced as “r” in “right.”

The letter “l” is pronounced as “l” in “light.”

The letter “v” is pronounced as “v” in “victory.” If “v” is the second half of a combined letter, then it will be pronounced like a “w.”

The next three letters are known as sibilants, or sounds based on a special hissing.

The letter “ś” is pronounced as “sh” in “shut.” (This is the palatial s)

The letter “ṣ” is pronounced as “sh” in “shine.” (This is the cerebral s)

The letter “s” is pronounced as “s” in “seven.” (The is the universal and dental s)

The letter “h” is pronounced as “h” in “heaven.”

The nasal element known as the anusvara is ḿ. It is pronounced as “n” in “wrong” (no “g” sound included). It assumes any appropriate nasal element.

The aspirate element known as the visarga is ḥ. It causes a “ha” sound to come. For instance, aḥ is pronounced as “aha” or iḥ is pronounced as “iḥ.”